wfn.org | NCC India Calls for "Stop Violence in Gujarat"

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

PRESS REALESE
"STOP VIOLENCE IN GUJARAT; CHANGE LEADERSHIP IF NECESSARY"

The National Council of Churches in India is deeply concerned about the 
escalating violence, slaughter of human beings and bloodletting in Gujarat. 
It discerns facets of a fascist agenda resembling ethnic cleansing.  It 
condemns the killing of minorities yesterday when five people were burnt to 
death in fresh outbreak of violence on the eve of the Prime Minister's 
visit.  Continued violence, which in several ways seems organized, will 
lead to more killings and atrocities targeting minority communities.

The Central Government should take immediate action based on the reports 
and recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission in order to 
stop the carnage and should not protect an inefficient leadership in 
Gujarat. The National Council of Churches in India is also alarmed at the 
observations made by Amnesty International in its report, which speaks of 
failed intervention by the police to stop the violence and also that in 
several places the authorities actively connived with the attackers.  The 
guilty should be punished without reference to their religious or political 
affiliations.

We demand that peace be restored in Gujarat even if it requires a change of 
leadership in the state.  The present leadership has not demonstrated a 
political will, efficiency and a neutral position to contain the violence 
and provide protection to the most vulnerable sections of the communities 
including women and children even after so many days. The National Council 
of Churches in India also demands increased protection for the minorities 
and a proactive government response to stop the violence. It also expresses 
its unconditional support and solidarity with the suffering masses in 
Gujarat, particularly the religious minorities.  The churches would gladly 
participate in and support any peace initiative to restore normalcy in the 
state.

Rev Dr. Ipe Joseph					Rev. Chandran Paul Martin
General Secretary, NCCI					Press Secretary
04.04.02, Nagpur