Violence against Christians –Proposals by Jesuits

We, the members of the JCSA gathered at Atmadarshan, Patna from 20-26 October 2008, are gripped by the need for a serious reflection on the recent violence against Christians in Orissa, Karnataka and elsewhere in the country. As we strongly condemn this ethnic and communal violence, we express our sense of pain and anguish for the innocent people who became the victims of that violence and carnage. Furthermore, we are touched and inspired by the deep commitment of the simple people to their Christian faith in the face of death and destruction.
Our own reflection together with scholars, social activists and those closely connected with relief work among the victims points out to the political and economic factors prevalent on the ground. With approaching local as well as national elections, political parties are vying with one another to woo the electorate. Extreme religious ideology serves as a convenient emotive instrument for the politics of "identity threat". In this scenario, a perceived threat to the religious identity of the majority community is cleverly used to trample on the human rights as well as constitutional rights of fellow-citizens, particularly the minorities.
Since many Jesuits and their collaborators were directly involved in responding to the violence and the pleas of the victims, we also wish to express our strong support for and feelings of solidarity with them. We are deeply edified by the first hand reports of eye witnesses who praised the commitment of many women and men of goodwill who risked their lives to help the victims. In addition, we express our gratitude to the leaders of civil society who not only condemned and protested against the violence but stood for the secular, pluralistic and democratic values of our country and its constitution. We also wholeheartedly endorse the statement on the violence against Christians in Orissa and Karnataka, by the National Executive of the Conference of the Religious of India (CRI) which met on October 9, 2008 in Patna.
Now, we would like to recommend the following short-term and long-term measures for implementation by the Jesuits in South Asia.
Short Term Measures: We endorse fully the recommendations made by the Jesuits for Social Action (JESA) to the Jesuit Conference of South Asia (JCSA) in its gathering at Guwahati from October 14 -16, 2008. JESA urges competent Jesuits to assist the Provincial of Jamshedpur in the following areas:
1. To provide Legal Assistance
2. To train trauma counsellors for mental health of the victims
3. To offer management expertise in planning and carrying out relief work
4. To assist in the area of communication and media
5. To carry out documentation work
6. To do advocacy work, nationally and internationally
7. To raise financial resources for relief and rehabilitation work.
Long-Term Measures:
1. To counter the hate propaganda that is being put out by the fundamentalist groups. For this we need to educate men and women of goodwill (parents of our school children, alumni, beneficiaries of our social services etc) about the true nature of our commitment and service.
2. To raise our voice and not stand as mute spectators when human rights of any citizens are violated.
3. To maintain regular contacts with the national and regional Press in order to disseminate our viewpoints, especially in times of crisis. For this a professional PRO office needs to be maintained especially in times of crisis.
4. To train lay collaborators as lawyers, journalists, human rights activists, community leaders. Tribals and Dalits should be encouraged and helped to enter into the judicial and civil service.
5. To network with the local CRI wing, civil society groups, local Bishop and other Christian Groups in order to ensure a carefully coordinated response to acts of threat or violence.
6. To explore ways of entering into dialogue with a representative group of the CBCI to embark on a process of analysis, reflection and action so that the Christian community knows how to respond to communal violence.
7. To urge all our communities in the Province to devote some time to an in-depth reflection on the recent anti-Christian violence in the country. Also, a systematic study of Hindutva, its history and ideology would be of value in understanding the functioning of the Bajrang Dal, the VHP and other organizations of the Sangh Parivar.
We, the Members of National Executive of Conference of Religious of India gathered in Seva Kendra, Patna on 9-10 0ctober 2008
reflected on the tragic and painful happenings against Christians, in Orissa and Karnataka and in other parts of the country. Our hearts go out in solidarity with the victims of this ghastly violence and terrorism. Your strong faith and suffering have strengthened the church in India.
We reassure you our continued support with our prayers and various affirmative actions. These violence and threats will not deter us from carrying out our mission of being with the crucified Lord and the crucified of this world.
We strongly condemn the well-planned, systematic and protracted violence of the 'mob-terrorism' caused by the Hindutva ideologues and their foot-soldiers against Christians, in a number of states in the country.
We condemn the burning and raping of women, including a Christian nun, in the full view of the public and the armed police of Orissa.
We are deeply anguished at the deliberate, partisan attitude of the State Governments in not controlling the violence with a firm hand.
We are very much disturbed at the ineffective and delayed intervention of the Central Government and its lack of decisive action with regard to the orchestrated violence against Christians across the country.
We appeal to the Central and State Governments to provide security to the victims and to rehabilitate the displaced and to prosecute the perpetrators of violence and terrorism.
We demand that the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the country for its citizens be restored fully to the Christians in Orissa.
We demand impartial investigation into the manner in which the Christians have been targeted in the name of religion in Karnataka and in other parts of the country while the state administration chose to look the other way.
We appeal to all men and women of good will of our beloved country, to protect and reaffirm the secular and democratic ethos of our Motherland and to uphold the diverse and composite culture expressed through the celebrated axiom "Vasudhaivakutumbakam" (One Global Family).
As citizens of this country, we appeal to all to join hands in building a mass movement to uphold the Constitution of India and the rule of Law.
We pledge to continue the substantial contribution that the Christian community makes in the nation building particularly in the fields of education and health, especially for the weaker sections of the society.
We rededicate ourselves to the empowerment of the weaker sections of the society to live with dignity. Violence and threats shall not deter us in being true to our faith that does justice and promote peace and harmony.
We pledge to respond to the culture of violence with the alternate sublime world of 'grace'. caljesuits@gmail.com