BHUBANESWAR (ICNS): A woman, working as a cook in a missionary-run orphanage, was burnt alive on Monday in Orissa by Hindu fanatic groups protesting the murder of their leader.Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Laxamanananda Saraswati and four others were shot dead by Maoist rebels on Saturday night in the leaders' residence. The VHP-sponsored shut-down in the state, protesting the killing of Sarawati, turned violent in several places. Mobs attacked at least 10 Christian institutions including orphanages, convents, and parish houses across the state. The woman was killed when she tried to stop a mob from attacking orphan children. A mob reportedly ordered people out of the orphanage building before setting fire to it. The woman was thrown into the fire when she tried to stop them from attacking the children. Earlier some Catholic priests said the woman killed was a Catholic nun, which they now said they could not verify. Most priests are hiding in forests fearing attack from fanatic groups. Unconfirmed reports also said a nun was rapped. Christian leaders in the villages are out of touch. Those in cites and towns are shut inside rooms, and do not move out. They do not have details of the violence on the streets. "We are afraid to move out. Christians are hiding in jungles," Sambalpur Bishop Lucas Kerketta told a New Delhi newspaper. The killed religious leader was a controversial figure, who persistently spoke against Christian missions. The Hindu violence against Christians last December in Orissa was linked to this leader. Violence began after Hindus accused Christians of attacking him. Christian leaders say the attack on the Swami last December was stage-managed to give a reason for the violence against Christians. Hindu extremists have targeted Christians in Orissa before. Nine years ago an Australian missionary and his two sons were burnt alive by a mob that set their car on fire.Vatican cardinal speaks for Orissa Christians NEW DELHI (ICNS): In the wake of continuing violence in Orissa, a senior Vatican cardinal has called on the international community to pressure Indian government to ensure and respect constitutional religious freedom. Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, made his remarks in Italy's leading daily, Il Corriere della Sera. He also made similar remarks in the Vatican daily, L'Osservatore Romano, on Aug. 26. "One cannot but condemn all this," the cardinal told Il Corriere della Sera soon after the news of violence broke on Monday. At least 10 people are reported killed In the violence that continued for the fourth day on Wednesday. Armed men continue to ransack and torch churches, presbyteries, convents and Christian health-care centers and hostels. "It is a sin against God and against humanity. There is no possible justification for it. Certainly one cannot invoke religion (to justify) crimes of this kind." Hindu radical violence against Christians began on Sunday after a Hindu religious leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, and five of his associates were killed on Aug. 23 in the state's Kandhamal district. Maoists reportedly claimed responsibility for the killings, but some Hindu groups have alleged Christians masterminded the killing, a charge all Christian Churches and denominations have denied. L'Osservatore Romano reported that the cardinal had appealed to the international community to put pressure on the Indian government, "because the main reason for the attack on Catholics" is their charitable work. Cardinal Tauran said "it cannot be denied that Catholics are being targeted by fanatics" and "this happens because we are building schools and orphanages." "They accuse us of proselytism, because once in a while someone converts (to Catholicism)," he elaborated. "But we are only asking the possibility to carry out our duty as Christians: to help the one who is poor, the one who is in grave need," he continued. "The fanatics who attack us are those who want an India with only one religion: Hinduism. Clearly we cannot accept this," he stated. "We will respond to violence," the Vatican official continued. "We will do so with charity, by combating discrimination, educating children, by giving them a future." He said the both the group have "a great need to get to know each other better," the cardinal stated, revealing plans to "organize a meeting next year in India to analyze relations between Hinduism and the Catholic Church. The Cardinal said he was "very proud of the Catholics in India, who are determined to continue living in the midst of their fellow citizens and to give testimony to the love of Christ for the poor, even at the price of their own life."Orissa Government Was Forewarned of Violence Says Gujarat-Based Human Rights Association By SAR NEWSAHMEDABAD, Gujarat (SAR NEWS) -- "Sufficient warning was given to the Orissa Government, of the deteriorating situation, as early as in September 2006, with the publication of "Communalism in Orissa" - the Report of the Indian People's Tribunal on Environment and Human Rights - headed by Justice K. K. Usha (Retd.) former Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court" Father Cedric Prakash, Director of PRASHANT, a Gujarat-based human-Rights Organisation, told SAR News August 26th. Condemning the killing of Swami Saraswati and four of his associates during the attack on the VHP Ashram in the Kandhamal District of Orissa on Saturday 23rd August 2008, Father Cedric also expressed sympathy for the bereaved members of the families who have lost their loved ones. In a statement to The Government of Orissa and the Central Government, PRASHANT called upon them to "do all in their power to bring to book immediately, those responsible for this dastardly act; that anti-social elements do not take law and order into their own hands and above all, to ensure that peace and calm prevail in the area, and in other parts of Orissa". Father Cedric held that " in the last several months, the Government of Orissa has allowed some fascist and fundamentalist forces to terrorize the poor, the marginalized and the minorities of the State. These forces have carried on their virulent propaganda and their violent acts with apparent immunity". He accused the Government of Orissa and police authorities of "total abdication of responsibility" "They should now also be held totally responsible for these deaths and for allowing the situation to go out of control" he added.John Dayal reports ORISSA ANTI CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE UPDATE 25th August 20081. NUN REPORTED BURNT ALIVE: A Christian woman, possibly a nun, wasreported burnt alive on 25th August 2008 by a group of Vishwa HinduParishad mob which stormed the orphanage she ran in the district ofBargarh (Orissa). Police Superintendent Ashok Biswall has told this tonews reporters. A priest who was at the orphanage was also badly hurtand is now being treated in hospital for multiple burns.2. NUN RAPED: A young Catholic Nun of the Cuttack Bhubaneswar dioceseworking Jan Vikas Kendra, the Social Service Centre at Nuagaon inKandhamal was reportedly gang raped on 24th August 2008 by groups ofHindutva extremists before the building itself was destroyed.3. SENIOR PRIEST AND NUN INJURED: Fr Thomas, director of the DiocesanPastoral Centre in Kanjimendi, less than a kilometer away from theSocial Service Centre, and another Nun were injured when the centrewas attacked. They were taken to the police station in a disheveledstate as the armed mob bayed for their blood. The Pastoral centre wasthen set afire.4. BALLIGUDA CHURCH BUILDINGS DESTROYED AGAIN: On 24th August 2008evening lynch mobs at the block headquarters of Balliguda, in the veryheart of Kandhamal district, which had seen much violence between 24thand 26th December 2007, attacked and destroyed a Presbytery, conventand hostel damaging the properties.5. The mobs in Balliguda caught hold of two boys of the Catholichostel and tonsured their heads.6. PHULBANI CHURCH DAMAGED: On 25th august 2008 morning followers ofthe late Lakshmanananda Saraswati damaged the Catholic Church inPhulbani, the district headquarter town.7. MOTHER TERESA BROTHERS ASHRAM ATTACKED: mobs attacked the MotherTeresa Brothers' residence and hospital in Srasanada, destroyed oncebefore and rebuilt two months ago, and beat up the patients.Fundamentalists have targeted Priests, religious and also the Faithfulin Pobingia also.8. BHUBANESWAR BISHOP'S HOUSE ATTACKED: On the morning of 25th August2008, violent mobs made several attempts to enter the compounds ofCatholic Church and Archbishop's house in the heart of the Capital ofthe State of Orissa. They could not enter because of the policepresence. They threw stones at the guesthouse of Archbishop's House,damaging windows.9. DUBURI PARISH; Another group of fundamentalists entered presbyteryin Duburi parish, managed by the SVDs and destroyed and damagedproperty. Two priests of the parish are missing.10. Mr. Jamaj Pariccha, Director of Gramya Pragati, is attacked andhis property, vehicle etc. damaged, burnt and looted.11. A Baptist Church in Akamra Jila in Bhubaneswar is also damaged.12. Christian institutions like St. Arnold's School (Kalinga Bihar),AND NISWASS report some damage.13. BOUDH DISTRICT [Adjoining Kandhamal]: Fundamentalists enter theCatholic parish church and destroy property. People are fleeing tosafer places. But nothing seems safe.14. Muniguda Catholic Fathers and Nuns' residence have been damaged.15. Sambalpur HM Sister's residence (Ainthapalli) has suffereddamage.16. Padanpur: One priest is attacked and admitted to a hospital.Hostel boys and the in charge have moved away from the place.17. Madhupur Catholic Church currently under attack.18. SMALL CHURCHES: Attempted violence on small churches in variousdistricts, including Padampur, Sambalpur near GM College, Talsera,Dangsoroda, Narayanipatara, Muniguda, Tummiibandh, Tangrapada,Phulbani, Balliguda, Kalingia, Chakapad, Srasanranda.19. VILLAGE CHRISTIAN HOUSES ATTACKED: Houses attacked on foresthamlets of Balliguda, Kanjamandi Nuaguam (K.Nuaguam), Tiangia(G.Udayagiri), Padangiri, Tikabali.20. KALAHANDI DISTRICT: houses burnt even though the district is morethan 300 kilometers from the place where Swami Lakshmanananda waskilled.21. Pastor Sikandar Singh of the Pentecostal Mission beaten up and hishouse burnt in Bhawanipatna.22. Kharihar: 3 Christian shops were looted and burnt. Pastor Alok Dasand Pastor I M Senapati beaten up.23. Aampani: Pastor David Diamond Pahar, Pastor Pravin Ship, PastorPradhan and Pastor Barik beaten up and chased away with theirfamilies.24. Naktikani: Mob surrounds village to attack Christians. Thegovernment has sent forces, it is reported.[This list is compiled with assistance from Archbishop's House,Bhubaneswar and other sources]
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