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All India
Christian Council signs agreement with Human Rights Law
Network to assist victims of 2008 anti-Christian riots
in Gajapati District
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’re 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 voter’s 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. 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, 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 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.
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