From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org


ABCUSA: Religious Violence Aimed At Christians In India


From "Jayne, Andy" <Andy.Jayne@abc-usa.org>
Date Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:21:30 -0500

VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 01/11/08) - Several people (reports range from 3 to 10) were killed as 90 churches and some 600 homes were burned by a violent Hindu faction in Orissa state in eastern India. The incidents, targeting Christians, began on Dec. 23 and lasted for several days.

Swarupananda Patra, general secretary of the All Orissa Baptist Churches Federation, reported that, on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, in Bamunigham in the Kandhamal District of Orissa, two Christians were shot and injured, many shops operated by Christians were destroyed, 20 churches were damaged, and three churches were razed to the ground.

Patra further reported that on Christmas Day, Christians were terrorized, Christmas worship services were disrupted, churches were forced to close, and Christians hid in forests to evade attacks.

In a letter to the Indian Ambassador to the United States, Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley, general secretary, American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA), and Dr. Reid Trulson, executive director, International Ministries, ABCUSA, expressed their deep concern over the violence extended towards Christians in Orissa state. "American Baptists love your country," said Medley and Trulson, "and have enjoyed promoting peace, life and community transformation in partnership with related churches and organizations in India. We request your government to take immediate and proper actions to end the violence and to restore the protection and the respect of the religious minorities of your country."

India's Christian population is estimated at 3.5 percent of a total 1.12 billion people.

Bonny Resu, general secretary for the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation and Baptist World Alliance regional secretary for Asia, said, "Orissa is a place where a Baptist community of about 500,000 live and most of them are in these areas where persecution is most intense. They are also among the poorest of the poor of India, which is why they are often voiceless."

Andrew C. Jayne American Baptist Churches USA Mission Resource Development http://www.abc-usa.org/


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