By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NEW DELHI, India – Religious clashes among the Hindus and the Christian minority has caused violence to erupt in two Christian villages in the state of Orissa.  Two homes and one church were set on fire, resulting in the killing of one person.  Christians have responded with some violence.

What has sparked the violence was the murder of Hindu holy man Swami Laxamananda Saraswati and four of his followers on August 23rd.  Holding Christians responsible, Hindu attacks on Christian villages, churches and people followed.  Since the murder in August, 32 people have died and thousands of Christians fled their homes.  The number of Christians living in relief camps has increased from 12,000 to 20,000.

Christians make up 2.3 percent of India’s population.  Tension began to mount as early as the 1990’s when Hindus blamed missionaries of converting Hindus to Christianity.  In response to the violence, Premier Manmohan Singh’s stated that the attacks in Orissa were a “national shame” and that his government had taken a “firm stand” to halt it.  Authorities have imposed a curfew in at least nine towns and over 3,700 federal police have been deployed in Orissa, yet the violence continues.  It is believed that the government is turning a blind eye to the attacks.

Amnesty International urged that “India should match its words with its actions and ensure that members of the Christian minority community in Orissa are protected against renewed communal violence.”  They also state that New Delhi should “conduct a prompt and impartial investigation into the attacks… publish the results and bring those responsible to justice.”

Pope Benedict has also condemned the attacks and urged the European Union to treat persecution of Christians as a humanitarian emergency.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Amnesty Urges India to Protect Minority Christians – 2 October 2008

The Economist – Hindu-Christian Tensions in India – 25 September 2008

Reuters – India Authorities Impose Curfew, Christians Attacked – 1 October 2008