Dr. John Dayal
Secretary General
For more information, contact:
Sam Paul , aicc National Secretary of Public Affairs
+91-9989697778
+91-40-2786-8908
For immediate release
Orissa Victims Outside Kandhamal District Struggle for Justice
All India Christian Council signs agreement with Human Rights Law Network to
assist victims of 2008 anti-Christian riots in Gajapati District Free legal
services will help hundreds of families gain income, independence, and
improved lives
HYDERABAD June 19, 2009
The All India Christian Council (aicc) signed an agreement with the Human
Rights Law Network (HRLN) to provide free legal intervention for victims of
anti-Christian violence and to usher long-term solutions for inter-faith
harmony in Gajapati District in India's eastern state of Orissa. Kandhamal
District was the epicenter for riots from August to October 2008. But
Gajapati District had the second largest number of crimes. At least 337
families lost homes or businesses. Most rehabilitation as well as public
attention has focused on Kandhamal District.
Dr. Sam Paul, aicc National Secretary of Public Affairs, said, We are
pleased to help where help is very much needed. HRLN lawyers and social
workers have assisted victims in Gajapati District since the unprecedented
anti-Christian riots in 2008. We are privileged to strengthen and enhance
their ongoing efforts by providing needed resources and using our network of
Christian leaders in the area.†Most victims are from Scheduled Castes
(Dalits) or Scheduled Tribes and extremely poor.
Both organisations anticipate the investment in the District will result in
more than just favorable court verdicts. This partnership is unique because
our goal is legal intervention that will result in more than just
convictions for the perpetrators of crimes. We will help victims replace
lost identity documents like ration cards and voters ID cards, apply for
government assistance including employment through the Nation Rural
Employment Guarantee Scheme, and much more. Our efforts will result in
income, independence, and, eventually, improved lives for people in these
communities, said Sam Paul.
The agreement between aicc and HRLN provides needed equipment and covers
fees for legal experts, including lawyers, social workers, and other
personnel. The team will offer free legal services including filing of
police cases, legal training for lawyers, awareness workshops, publications,
and civil society campaigns.
Sam Paul visited the District from June 10-14, 2009, and verified a recent
survey by the Gajapati United Christian Forum (an associate organisation of
aicc) which documented: 320 houses damaged, one death, five people injured,
20 churches demolished, and 19 businesses destroyed. These anti-Christian
attacks occurred in 22 villages located in three blocks of Gajapati District
in August 2008. A separate HRLN survey found over 700 families were affected
and 2-3 years of legal intervention is needed. According to media reports,
initially thousands were displaced and about 800 lived in two government
relief camps for several months. While victims have now returned to their
villages, the vast majority have not received any compensation promised by
the state government.
Sam Paul was accompanied by the aicc National Legal Secretary, Ms. Lansinglu
Rongmei, and the leadership team of HRLN Gajapati District Unit. Ms.
Lansinglu was appointed to her aicc position on Oct. 27, 2008. She is a New
Delhi-based advocate who practices at the Supreme Court level and works
part-time on aicc cases across India.
Anti-Christian violence spread throughout 14 (of 30) districts in Orissa
after Lakshmanananda Saraswati, a Hindu swami and rightwing leader, was
killed on Aug. 23, 2008. Maoist militants claimed responsibility but
extremist Hindus blamed Christians. During violence which lasted until
mid-October, the aicc recorded: 315 villages damaged, 4,640 Christian houses
burnt, 54,000 Christians homeless, 70 people killed (including least 6
pastors and one Roman Catholic priest killed) and another 50 missing and
presumed dead, 10 priests/pastors/nuns seriously injured, estimated 18,000
Christians injured, at least two women (including a nun) raped, an estimated
300 churches and prayer halls destroyed (252 according to the state
government), and 13 Christian schools and colleges damaged. See dedicated
webpage at: http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/2332/45/ Most of
the violence was in Kandhamal District where over 2,500 cases have been
filed by a legal team headed by Roman Catholic staff.
>From Dec. 24, 2007-Jan. 2, 2008, attacks in Kandhamal District killed at least
four Christians and destroyed over 100 churches and 730 Christian homes. Most of
the victims were Dalits, formerly known as untouchables.
The All India Christian Council (http://www.christiancouncil.in), birthed in
1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and
the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian
denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.
The Human Rights Law Network (http://www.hrln.org), begun in 1989, is a
collective of lawyers and social activists dedicated to the use of legal
system to advance human rights. HRLN collaborates with social movements,
human rights organizations, and grass-roots development groups and provides
pro bono legal services, conducts public interest litigation, engages in
advocacy, conducts legal awareness programmes, investigates violations,
publishes 'know your rights' materials, and participates in campaigns.
Released by
Madhu Chandra
Regional Secretary
aicc
New Delhi
9868184939
No comments:
Post a Comment