Orissa, India: Top Indian court tells Orissa Officials: Protect Christian community, or Step down: Christians in the Areas have suffered a genocide

(Social Justice South Africa; Catholic Watchdog South Africa; c.f. Catholic World News (Catholic; Independent) 06/01/2009)

Article by Marc Aupiais

India's top court has lamented: that it took +-50 000 people to flee their homes: before any protection to Christians: was given. Christians: who were raped, beaten up, murdered, and had possessions, and property: either stolen or burnt, have suffered "Ethnic Cleansing", Blitz, or Genocide: since Hinduist sectarians: have attacked them: blaming an assassination, of a radical leader: conducted by Maoist Rebels, on Christians: instead of on those claiming responsibility: and using this to springboard a genocide.

The Court: has demanded: that minority rights be protected: claiming that the government must either start to protect Christians, who still are endangered by roaming mobs of Hindu Nationalists, thought still to be operating, or these authorities should resign. It also lamented the fact: that no protection was afforded Christians: before the 50 000 or so fled their homes.

Nuns were arrested for crimes, such as kidnapping, of orphans in their care: which it was later proven (after arrests) that they did not do: and authorities have been accused of covering up negligence. Authority forces: have also been accused of standing by, doing nothing: as mobs attacked, beat up, stole from, and abused: minority Christians. Forced conversions: proved by violence to be done against fellow Christians: have occurred.

South Africa's the "Times" and "Sunday Times", has published several "letters" attacking Christians in India: in their articles section online. The paper: has regularly presented a certain view of Christianity.

India, recently fell foul of a terrorist attack, which authorities in India: are blaming on a Pakistani militant group.

Orissa, India, Asia: Christian Death Toll breaks 100 mark: 118 dead according to "reliable sources"

(Catholic Watchdog South Africa; c.f. News 24 (secular)25/11/08)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Of about a 50 000 or so population which fled homes in Orissa, under heavy persecution for religious views: by Hindu Nationalist fundamentalists: 10 000 currently reside in internal refugee camps, into which attacks have been recorded as succeeding. According to News 24, at least 91 corpses have been identified, while another 27 are confirmed dead by what they deemed reliable sources.

The violence follows the assassination of a radically anti-Christian leader, who was killed by Maoist rebels. After his death, Hindu Extremists: used this as fuel on which to intensify persecution of Christians. Training camps for millitia have been set up, and recruiting of anti-Christian millitia continues. The Indian Government has been accused by sources on the ground of a mass cover-up, and of negligence, over the entire situation. A major Hindu political party also attacked the papacy for prayers for peace in Orissa, using a classical power game: claiming that India is "sovereign", as though this extended to some right to kill others, or watch them die.

Violence in Orissa, is condemned by major religions in the area, including less radical Hindu leaders.

India, AsiaNews.IT: Vishwa Hindu Parishad "Training" combattants: bounties out for killing Christians, as Hindu nationalists aim at finishing their Genocide, via payments

(Catholic Watchdog South Africa ; Philippine Bishops' Conference News (CBCP News)23/11/08)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Vishwa Hindu Parishad, whose claims are a central motivator for the Orissa violence, as violence is said to be an "act" of "revenge" against Christians for the death of a leader of the group, even though it is Maoist Rebels, who have claimed responsibility for the assassination: is now rumored to be creating "centers" of sorts, where youth can "learn" to be more effective in attacks on those professing Christianity. This is, according to the Philippine's Bishops' news service's source in this, based on an article by AsiaNews: if it is to believed. The development, follows others in the region around Orissa, India.

 Efforts, by the vengeful Hindu Nationalist groupings, in which the VHP has been accused of playing a role: at getting rid of remaining slithers of Christian influence, wealth and livelihood, include relatively inexpensive bounties on still professing Christians, as well as on Priests: such as US 250 per priest, or else basic necessities are traded for some acts of violence.

Illegal activities: for which Indian hit men, are supposedly to get paid for, in anti-Christian attacks, include burning down churches, or the slaying of important Christians. Previously, what seemed to be ideologically motivated volunteers would carry out attacks, these continue to, but, of late: their influence has yet to kill every Christian. Also, volunteers, generally hurt, or chase Christians, but are less prone to be effective killers.

Those who are getting paid for attacks are not paid wealthy sums, desperation, and self interest still cannot be ruled out in the attacks. Some have linked these to the destructions wrought on the cast system in Orissa, by the conversion of Christians to Christianity. Others have noted the appropriation of property by attackers, which could be seen as opportunism.

This latest development: is as winter comes around the corner, and Christians are lucky if left to suffer as internal refugees, in camps, which dispatches from AsiaNews.it on earlier dates have alleged to be: as unsafe, and prone to attacks. The fleeing persecuted's own houses have often been taken over by perpetrators of attacks, as with some of their goods. The Indian government is at this late hour: fronting claims of a special task force to protect Christians, the reality of these claims is yet to be seen in the future if lives are saved, as over 50 000 Christians have been adversely affected, and at last count: dozens had died. The attacks were already happening in September.

It could be hoped that: training camps, much like those run by militants at one stage in Afghanistan: aimed, in this case at Hindu Nationalists, attempting to kill Christians with more primitive weapons, even crude weapons: including swords, would not be successful in wiping out what remains of a persevering Christian outpost, in such a region of such a country, a country, whose government has, according to sources on the ground: been negligent at best at preventing deaths, and has been accused of a coverup over the genocide, by an important local church representation, which alleges this is to cover up the negligence with which local officials handled the situation.

Humanitarian Issues still not resolved

(Social Justice South Africa)

Article by Marc Aupiais

We would like to update on some issues- the situations in India, DRC, Somalia, and other areas we reported on are still largely happening, with some or other manifestation. Such issues are overcome by actions and by prayers.

Orissa, India- "Pillar of Church" and candidate for a future bishop dies- thought to be from wounds sustained in tactical anti-Christian violence

(Social Justice South Africa; c.f. UCAN (Catholic) News 29/10/08)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Church representatives have called him a pillar, a martyr, whose blood may help cure the dire hemoraging of the Indian Catholic church, and democracy, and a nun in the area has even noted that he was a candidate to be the next bishop in the area. All of this did not prevent a crowd of Hindu Nationalists from severely beating the man who died having blood clots enter his brain. Father Bernard Digal, who is 47, died yesterday at 8:45 p.m (probably local time).

In India, Christians face what seems to fit the 1950's declaration by the UN General Assembly, of what genocide is to be considered as, so as to allow the punishment of war criminals. At least 59 people have been killed, 50 000 left homeless, as Christians are killed, beaten, have their houses and possessions either burnt or appropriated, and face what a bishops in Orissa's capital- say is an unwillingness by the Indian government to react. This is as International calls for peace in the region were attacked by India's Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as against India's sovereignty.

Leaders from all major religions in the region have condemned the violence.