Summary
The wave of violent
attacks against religious minorities has spread
throughout India to more than 25 states in 1998.
According to sources, incidents of reported violence
against the Christian community have continued, during
1997-1998. Between 1964 to 1996, there were 38 cases,
while there were 15 in 1997 and 90 in 1998. The number of
cases recorded in Gujarat state in 1998 is 38. (An Index
to the Unofficial White paper prepared by the Indian
Christian minority documenting the Violence Against
Christians in India since 1964 is available from Hotline
Asia upon request). The violence has escalated more
sharply, culminating in the gang-rape of four nuns in the
Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh (An Urgent Appeal UA980930(6)
was issued in September 1998). The violence has not ended
and instead increased the fears and insecurity of the
Christians.
Christmas Day Violence
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's efforts to assuage
the fears of the Christian community in India received a
serious setback on Christmas Day when Hindu Jagran Manch
(Forum to Awaken Hindus, hereafter referred to as the
"Manch") activists attacked churches, hospitals
and schools in the Dangs District in the state of Gujarat.
With regard to violence against Christians during 1998,
Dangs was one of the worst affected districts in Gujarat.
The Manch held a rally on Christmas day calling for an
"awakening of the Hindus" and branded all
priests and nuns "robbers" who had abused
government funds to build schools for converting tribal
communities. When a group of tribal Christian women were
going towards the bus station after attending a meeting
in a church in Ahwa, they were pelted with stones by
participants at the Manch rally. Three women were injured
and hospitalized. Afterwards, there were an exchange of
stoning between the attackers and the people in the
church. The police fired tear gas to disperse them. At
the end of rally, scores of armed youths stormed into the
religious-run Deep Darshan School and destroyed the
building. No arrests have been made. Later in the night
about thirty kilometers away, the Jesuit-run Adivasi (tribal)
Navjot High School and hostel in Subir area of Dangs
district was burnt down. It was also reported that a
hospital and three other churches were set on fire and
two Jesuit priests injured.
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| Action Requested Please write letters to the Indian
government:
1. expressing concern about the continuing violence in
Gujarat and other states of India
2. calling for the protection of the rights of religious
minorities by Central and State governments as stipulated
in the Indian Constitution to ensure the freedom of faith
and secularism in India
| Send Letters and Faxes to: |
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1. Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee
Prime Minister of India
South Block, New Delhi 110 001, India
Fax: 91-11-301 9817 |
Fax : 91-11-301-9817 |
2. Justice Venkatachellaih
Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission
Sardar Patel Bhavan
Sansad Marg, New Delhi 11001, India |
Fax: 91-11-334-0016 |
| c.c. Copy to: |
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| Diplomatic representatives of the Philippines
in your country. |
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Background
The recent violence has occurred mostly
in the north and west, where extreme Hindu nationalist
groups have broader support. These Hindu extremists
condemn the conversion of Hindus by Muslims and
Christians. They also allege that social and educational
services provided by these other religions are as an
excuse to convert.
The Christian community make up about 2.5 percent of
India's 950 million people. According to analysis
reports, the violence against the Christian community has
been launched on three fronts: a) direct violence against
the clergy; b) attacks on evangelists and disruption of
prayer meetings and c) pressure on Christian institutions
including schools, colleges, hospitals and churches from
municipal authorities regarding land permits and charges
of encroachment. In September 1998, an extreme Hindu
group named Bajrang Dal, announced a campaign - 'Quit
India'- seeking the expulsion of Christian missionaries
from India.
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