The Derbyshire Churches in Partnership with The Church of North
India
Problems in Orissa
The following is a statement from the General Secretary of the CNI, Rev Dr Enod Das Pradhan, on the problems of violence between Hindus and Christians in the state of Orissa. The Bishop of Phulbani, one of the two CNI dioceses in Orissa, visited Derbyshire in 2007.
There are also pictures of the situation in Orissa. Click here for them
Dr Pradhans letter
9th January 2008.
Dear All,
Warm Greetings to you from the Church of North India.
The year 2007 ended with leaving a black spot of hatred and communal
disturbance, at least in the state of Orissa. You may have read the news
through national and international print and electronic media about the
shocking and most distressing attoricities against tribal and dalit
Christians in Kandhamal hill district of Orissa (where most of our CNI
Churches under the Diocese of Phulbani are situated) in the Christmas week
from December 22nd 2007 till January 2008. The story is tragedy foretold,
of
political and official condoning, if not actual support to the activities
criminals and political activist spreading bigotry, the ideology of hate
and
violence. It is also a painful narrative of police and administrative
indifference, repeated complicity and consistent incompetence. And
finally
it is the documentation of an utter collapse of the law and order
machinery
on 24th, 25th, 26th and 27the December 2007. The destruction and
desecration
of churches and burning of houses of the innocent people are outrageous
and
violates any norm of civic societies.
It is beyond doubt that the violence was premeditated, pre planned and the
work of a well disciplined group to ensure simultaneous eruption across
the
Kandhamal district within hours of the first incident, and to sustain it
for
five days despite the presence of the highest police officers in the
region.
I have just received a fact-finding report from the Bishop of Phulbani,
The
Rt. Rev. B. K. Nayak who made an extensive tour of the affected area
accompanied by the Bishop of Cuttack, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Samson Das, the
member of the CNI Synod Executive Committee Mr. B. D. Das and the Rt. Rev.
P. K. Samantaroy, Bishop of Amritsar on the loss of properties in the the
Diocese of Phulbani. It is pertinent to mention that all the troubles had
been fomented by the fundamentalist groups at the time of Christmas to
disrupt the church services. This is the first time in Orissa's history
that
church worship services could not be held in many places on the Christmas
Day despite police presence.
According to the reports received from Bishop Nayak 123 houses of CNI
members at Barakhama were burnt down along with all belongings. Till
writing
of this report it is reported that the fire is burning on their houses,
people are in the relief camps, out of fear some are in jungle, some are
out
of the district and some are missing. The situation is still critical.
TOTAL CNI CHURCHES DESTROYED:
A. Balliguda Pastorate union
1. Balliguda town Church
2. Barakhama
3. Purubhata
4. Barakhamba.
5. Sendrigam
6. Budaguda
7. Sirsipanga
8. Raningpadar
9. Medubadi
B. Udayagiri pastorate union
1. Dalagam
2. Kalingia
3. Magdingia
4. Mallipada
5. Balkided
6. Danndikia
7. Biraguda
That the Christmas Eve violence against Christians at Kandhamal and
Phulbani
districts of Orissa has shaken the faith and confidence of Christian
minority in the State. The Church of North India , with 26 Dioceses and
5000
congregations having 1.5 million membership strongly condemns the communal
violence against the Christians and we are also dismayed and shocked at
the
inability of the Orissa State Government to control the spread of the
communal tension and violence. The Synod of the Church of North India has
assisted the Diocese of Phulbani in providing relief to the affected
persons
and we appeal to all of you to come forward in extending help in
re-building
the Church burnt down and damaged so that CNI members may be able to
continue worshipping which is dear to their heart. We urge the Union and
the
State Governments and the National Commission for Minorities to deploy
adequate CRP Forces in the troubled areas of Kandhamal and Phulbani
District
as the people are living in anxiety and fear. We have received reports
that
many people have taken shelter in the neighboring CNI Diocese of
Sambalpur.
We have also requested to make adequate security to be provided to Rt.
Rev.
Bijay Kumar Nayak, Bishop of Phulbani Diocese, Guduripadi, G.Udaygiri,
Orissa
We urge you to pray for Bishop B. K. Nayak and the members of the Diocese
of
Phulbani that they may stand firm and remain true to their faith and keep
witnessing through their lives at this hour of oppression and atrocities.
Yours in His Mission,
Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan
GENERAL SECRETARY
SYNOD OF THE CHURCH OF NORTH INDIA