Christians in Asia ’s largest democracy wait in vain for justice

Fifteen months after the beginning of pogrom-like riots against Christian native people in the federal state of Orissa in India the victims of violent attacks by extremist Hindus are still waiting for fitting punishment of the criminals. In a fax to the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, the Society for Threatened Peoples STP (Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker GfbV) issued the following criticism on Monday in Göttingen: "India’s reputation as a democracy is at risk if the politically motivated murders, arson, plundering and the large-scale expulsion of Christian Adivasi native people are not atoned and almost all those responsible remain unpunished.” Representatives of the Council of Indian Christians, expelled native people, human rights organisations and lawyers issued a joint call at the end of last week for an end to the impunity.

Only 24 persons have so far been sentenced for acts of violence in the riots, which have lasted many weeks, in the Kandhamal district in August and September 2008 and 95 persons accused were acquitted for lack of proof, reported the STP consultant, Ulrich Delius. Although the victims of violence lodged more than 2,500 complaints, in which 11,000 suspects were named, only 827 enquiries were initiated and less than 700 arrested. One of those acquitted is a delegate of the radical Hindu party BJP in the state parliament, Manoj Pradhan. The parliamentarian is seen as one of the wire-pullers of the riots. He has already been acquitted of five cases of arson since there were no clear proofs of his involvement in the crimes. Ten other cases have been opened against him.

It is absolutely essential that the cases be dealt with at courts outside the crisis region since a fair trial is not possible in Kandhamal, say the lawyers of the Christians. The judges are for the most part prejudiced, many witnesses are not called and some are systematically threatened and intimidated.

After the murder of the radical Hindu leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati on 23rd August 2008 by Maoist rebels Hindu extremists held Christians responsible for the crime and flooded the Kandhamal district with a wave of violence. Well organised Hindu gangs attacked 315 villages immediately after the murder and murdered 120 people, among whom were ten ministers and nuns. 50,000 Christians had to flee, 252 churches and 13 Christian schools were destroyed, 4,640 houses were plundered and burnt down.

Ulrich Delius can also be reached at asien@gfbv.de