There are fears of a new and orchestrated outbreak of violence against Christians in India over Christmas.

 
Ultra-nationalist Hindu groups in Orissa have confirmed they will hold a strike on Christmas Day. Previous strikes last Christmas and in the summer triggered waves of anti-Christian violence.
 
 
Both attacks left more than 100 dead or missing, and drove ten of thousands from their homes. Some observers have described the violence as orchestrated ‘religious cleansing’ by militants who believe that India should be for Hindus only.

 
The Hindu newspaper says right-wing Hindu groups opposed to other religions in India are planning a state-wide shut-down for 12 hours on Christmas Day.
 
 
British-based human rights organisation Release International fears a repeat of the mob violence that accompanied previous strikes. ‘The strike action is deliberately provocative,’ says Release CEO Andy Dipper.
 
 
‘Combined with a continuing hate campaign against Christians, there is now a serious risk of a fresh outbreak of violence over Christmas. The authorities must take urgent action to keep order.’

 
Last Christmas, a strike called by tribal organisation, Kui Samaj, resulted in unprecedented attacks against Christians in one district.
 
 
This latest Christmas Day protest has been called to highlight the failure of the authorities to arrest the killers of an ultra-nationalist leader, who was assassinated on August 23.

 
Although Maoist guerrillas have claimed responsibility for killing Lakshmanananda Saraswati, a leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Hindu militants have taken revenge against Christians in Orissa.

 
Release International’s partners, the All India Christian Council (AICC), have called for police reservists to be drafted in to keep the militants away from Christian areas on December 25. The AICC say they have reliable reports that 118 people have been killed since the violence began.

 
‘We appeal to police, politicians and the media to seek peace instead of hostility,’ says John Dayal, the AICC Secretary General. ‘Specific actions like positioning adequate Central Reserve Police Forces and banning the entry of VHP and Bajrang Dal [ultra-nationalist] leaders from the sensitive Kandhamal District are essential.’

 
The AICC say more than 8,000 remain in government relief camps without adequate food and medical care. According to the Chief Minister of Orissa militants destroyed 4,215 houses and 252 churches and prayer halls.

 
AICC President  Dr Joseph D’souza says: ‘The climate of intimidation and fear among Christians continues in Orissa. Although we hope the state and central authorities act to protect thousands of innocent victims and prevent future mob violence, we’re deeply worried. We are appealing for preventative action through all legal avenues.’

 
There is growing international concern about the violence against India’s Christian minority. Hearings have been held in Washington DC and London, and a European Union delegation conducted a fact-finding trip to Orissa in mid-December.

 
On December 18 the House of Lords debated the growing anti-Christian violence. The debate was initiated by Baroness Cox, who conducted a fact-finding visit to the worst-affected areas in October. She described the attacks as the ‘attempted religious cleansing of the region’.

 
Baroness Cox told the Lords: ‘The recurring problem of violence, perpetrated by Hindu fundamentalists against religious minorities, is a product of the ideology called Hindutva, which conceives of India as one nation, one culture, one religion. It is an ideology that denigrates religious minorities and rejects the right to change one’s religion, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.’

 
She continued: ‘We are now approaching the first anniversary of the previous outbreak of violence and radical groups are aggressively pushing for a state-wide shutdown on 25 December, which would make life very difficult for beleaguered Christians wishing to celebrate Christmas. It could easily lead to another eruption of violence.’

 
The House of Lords was told the death toll included 69 confirmed killed and 50 still unaccounted for. Baroness Cox said: ‘Among those killed were one man who was buried alive, several who were burned to death and others who were cut to pieces.’

 
She added: ‘At least 160 churches of all Christian denominations, approximately 5,000 homes and an unspecified number of Christian businesses have been destroyed, and 54,000 people have been displaced from their homes and forced to take shelter in 14 state-sponsored relief camps in Kandhamal district, together with many hundreds who are living in non-state camps.’
 
 
She estimated that some 20,000 people were still living in the jungle or had fled to cities. In addition to the violence in Kandhamal, 13 other districts had experienced atrocities, including killings as well as the looting and burning of churches and homes. Two other relief camps had to be established for around 2,700 more people forced to flee their homes.

 
Lord Alton of Liverpool described the unrest as the ‘worst spate of communal violence ever faced by Indian Christians since independence in 1947.’

 
The House of Lords also heard claims that the Orissa state government had failed to provide protection for the Christian minority, allowing killings, rape, looting and the destruction of places of worship, homes and other property, as well as the forced conversion of some Christians to Hinduism.

 
ENDS

 
NOTES TO THE EDITOR

 
Excerpts of the House of Lords debate are available at: http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/2660/47/

 
A country profile of India can be found at:
 
http://www.releaseinternational.org/pages/country-profiles/india.php

 
For further information please contact Release International on 01689 823491 or by email at info@releaseinternational.org

 
For more information on Release International please go to: www.releaseinternational.org