Friday, October 10, 2008

India: Christians Consider Self-Defense Against Violence

http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/11582700/

[crosswalk.com] 10 Oct 2008--Faced with continuing violence by Hindu extremists Christians in India are considering appropriate ways of self-defense.

Retaliation is, however, out of the question, as Rev. Pran R. Parichha, President of the Orissa Chapter of the All India Christian Council (AICC), explained to the German evangelical news agency “idea."

In the federal state of Orissa, where anti-Christian attacks continue, police and paramilitary security forces are not providing sufficient protection for the Christian minority, said Parichha during a visit to idea’s main office in Wetzlar, October 6. Christians were living in constant fear.

In defiance of curfews militant Hindus are carrying out further attacks, according to Parichha. He recalls one incident in a village, where Christians had defended themselves and one person was killed. Any form of self-defense had to be considered very carefully, emphasized Parichha.

On the other hand, Christians were wondering how long they could run away from the Hindu attacks and give up their homes and their belongings.

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