Saturday, September 06, 2008

Persecution Index 11: Orissa

http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2008/09/persecution-ind.html

[Times Online] 6 Sep 2008--One of the biggest waves of anti-Christian violence for some years is currently sweeping through the state of Orissa in India. Websites and blogs from the area have for many months been reporting deaths, mainly of Dalits or low-caste Indians, and thousands fleeing for their lives. But as sites here are reporting now, the persecuction is reaching a new intensity. The All Indian Christian Council has this today: 'The situation in Orissa's riot-hit Kandhamal district continues to be volatile on 02 September 2008 with at least 80 houses being torched in fresh violence.' And our own Lapido Media is carrying a report that eight churches have been burned down and 15 Christians murdered by Hindu extremists.

Anglican Mainstream has set up a fund for donations to aid agencies in the area and reports this: 'As of September 1st, over 50,000 people have been displaced; 300 villages attacked; over 4000 homes totally destroyed; 10000 people who fled into the forest are still hiding there waiting to get into relief camps; 13000 are now in relief camps; 20 bodies have been recovered and more bodies are found each day.' The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has written privately to Joel Dal, Moderator of North India, calling for an end to the violence. The conflict is on Google News as well.

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