For, I can see that in the midst of death, life persists, in the midst of untruth, truth persists, in the midst of darkness, light persists. Hence, I gather that God is life, truth, light. He is love. He is the supreme good. (Mahatma Gandhi)
Christians hide in forests as Hindu mobs ransack villages
As death toll rises, Prime Minister denounces 'national shame' in state of Orissa where 60 churches were burned down.
By Gethin Chamberlain, in The Observer, Sunday August 31 2008
Thousands of terrified Indian Christians are hiding in the forests of the volatile Indian state of Orissa after a wave of religious 'cleansing' forced them from their burnt-out homes with no immediate prospect of return.
A mob of Hindu fundamentalists rampaged through villages last week, killing those too slow to get out of their way, burning churches and an orphanage, and targeting the homes of Christians. Up to 20 people were reported dead, with at least two deliberately set alight, after the murder of a Hindu leader last Saturday provoked the violence...
...But Christian leaders who had spoken to those who have fled said that even among the trees they were not safe. Some of their tormenters have pursued them, trying to finish the job...
...'They said that it was a horrifying experience. Groups arrived at their villages carrying guns, swords and homemade weapons and even small bombs, which they used to blast the places. The groups targeted every Christian house in their villages. The people had a list of the Christian houses and institutions and none were spared.' The Church said nearly 3,000 houses had been destroyed, most of them owned by Christians. More than 60 churches were burned down and at least half a dozen convents.
'It is the result of a sustained hate campaign against Christians in Orissa,' Rev Joseph said...
...The violence erupted after the murder of Hindu leader Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati at an ashram last Saturday night, along with four other activists from the hardline Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) party.
It was claims by the VHP that Christians were to blame for the deaths that acted as a trigger for the killing spree, although Maoist guerillas have since claimed responsibility for the murders. Reports said that about 30 Maoists opened fire on the ashram. A spokesman for the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army said it had targeted Saraswati, who had campaigned against conversions and the killing of cows, for 'fascist activities'...
...Underlying the violence is a long-simmering dispute between Hindus and Christians in the state over the conversion of low-caste Hindus to Catholicism. The success of the Christian churches has fuelled resentment among hardline Hindus. The Vatican has condemned the violence. Most of India's billion-plus citizens are Hindu, while just 2.5 per cent of them are Christians....
If only Mahatma Gandhi were alive today! Who will call us, all the religions of the world, back to our original dependence on God? Who will remind us that we hold nothing in our hands? The following statement, buried in the above article, gives me hope and confirms what Gandhi taught:
Some of the 150,000 Christians in the Kandhamal area have been sheltered by Hindu neighbours...Perhaps one of them will receive Gandhi's charism and begin to speak?
No comments:
Post a Comment