First Anniversary of the Violent Attacks on Christians

TAMIL NADU, Aug. 27, 2009, 10.00 Hrs (Jebamalai raja SJ):

To mark the first anniversary of the violent attacks on Christians by the Sangh Parivars at Kandhamal, Ecumenical Christian Forum for Human Rights - Madurai organised the Inter Religious Harmony Day and Candle Light Homage to those who were killed at Kandhamal last year, at Bishop Aruldass Shopping Comlpex, Arasaradi, Madurai on 24th Aug 2009. Nearly 800 human rights activists, secular thinkers, lay persons, pastors, priests and sisters participated in this event.

Rev. Dr. Gnanavaram, Principal of Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary presided over the event. Rev. Wilson Mohanraj invoked the Spirit and prayed for the suffering people of Kandhamal. Fr. Benedict welcomed the gathering. Fr. Jebamalai raja SJ spelt out the historical background of the riots and clearly gave the picture of the present condition of the victims in Kandhamal. He forcefully put forward the actions to be done to bring justice to the victims immediately by the State and Central Governments.

Sr. Syria who had worked as a medical person at the camp in Raikia shared her painful experiences and observations about the living condition of the victims. Fr. Edward Mudavassery the Jesuit Provincial of South Asia put forth his views on the religious fundamentalism from the national perspective and demanded the central government to start the relief and rehabilitation activities and peace building as early as possible. The candles were lit by Mrs. Gnanavaram to mark our homage to those who were killed last year by the religious fundamentalist groups. The historical hate campaign and its impacts all over the nation were clearly pointed out by Fr. Xavier Arockiasamy. In his presidential address Dr.. Gnanavaram had explained the demands and emphasized the urgency of actions to solve the issue
of religious fundamentalism. Dr. Durairaj expressed gratitude and thanked all the participants who took part in this event. This event was campiered by Rev. Manohar, TTS.

Demands and Recommendations which the State (Orissa) and Central Governments to implement in Orissa:

i. Justice to be done to all the victims; supply a substantial number of investigating officers and public prosecutors, and implement fast- track courts in at least four locations in Kandhamal district and arrest all the culprits.

ii. There must be a Witness Protection Programme put into immediate operation giving serious consideration to the need for a suitable atmosphere for victims and witnesses to testify, in order to expedite prosecutions and convictions.

iii. Request that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) carry out an investigation into the assassination of Lakhmanananda Saraswati Swami and the subsequent anti-Christian violence from 24th August 2008, paying specific attention to the root causes of this violence, including the propagation of anti-Christian hatred;

iv. The Government should take measures to carry out an extensive research with the view to rehabilitating the victims of violence, make the recommendations public, and implement them without loss of time.

v. Provide education to displaced children and job opportunity to the affected women and youth;

vi. Provide further compensation for those who have been affected by the violence, including covering the loss of crops, livestock and employment, and assess required levels of compensation on a case-by- case basis through certified independent evaluators;

vii. Undertake to follow the recommendations of the National Commission for Minorities in September 2008 on the establishment of Peace Committees, and further to take measures to ensure that all communities are adequately represented within such Peace Committees, to enable these to promote reconciliation and inter- communal understanding with integrity;

viii. Establish a State Commission for Minorities (in the model of its national counterpart) and ensure that members of the commission are appointed by transparent and non-partisan procedures.