Kære Appelven,
”Jeg taler fredens sag, men de råber på krig.” Citatet er hentet fra Salme 120 i Bibelen på hverdagsdansk. Salmisten råber til Gud om at blive reddet fra løgnerne, som snyder og bedrager. I frustration henvender salmisten sig til Gud i bøn om hævn over bedragerne, i hvis område han er tvunget til at bo. Som salmisten understreger, er dommen og straffen Guds. Hvor urimelige forhold kristne end bydes, og hvor meget ondt de forfulgte kristne må lide, forbliver den kristnes opgave dog at tilgive og bede Gud om udholdenhed og ikke at råbe på krig.
Ordene om at tale fredens sag, men være omringet af folk, som råber på krig, rammer meget nøjagtigt ind i den situation, som udspiller sig i delstaten Orissa i Indien. Indiens forfatning garanterer statsborgerne fri religionsudøvelse. Alligevel er vi i medierne vidne til en voldsom forfølgelse af de kristne i Indien. Vidner bekræfter, at mere end 100 kristne allerede er dræbt i delstaten Orissa, 115 kirker er destrueret, og mere end 50.000 er blevet hjemløse under de voldsomme uroligheder.
De, som råber på krig, er den hinduistiske organisation Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Den ekstremistiske organisation har som dagsorden at bringe hinduismen til hele Indien, og de kristne står i vejen for denne vision. Én af årsagerne til dette had mod kristne indere er det ældgamle kastesystem, som ganske vist officielt er afskaffet, men lever i bedste velgående. Når mennesker i de laveste kaster og de, som rangerer så lavt på ranglisten over, hvad et menneske er værd, at de falder helt udenfor og kaldes kasteløse, omvender sig til Kristus, så forlader de kastesystemet, og det skaber kaos. For hvem skal så udføre de lavest betalte jobs, udføre de nødvendige praktiske og religiøst urene arbejder i samfundet samt være med til at sikre, at de rigestes velfærd forbliver uændret?
Myndighederne i Indien bør opfordres til at kortlægge disse voldshændelser og gribe ind over for ekstremisternes handlinger, således at religionsfriheden respekteres, og alle lovlige religiøse grupperinger kan leve i fredelig sameksistens.
Tak, om du vil tale fredens sag sammen med os!
Med venlig hilsen
Dansk Europamission
Benjamin Bach
Netværkskoordinator
Appelbrevet:
Honorable Chief Minister of Orissa, Mr Navin Patnaik
It is with great alarm over the recent violence in the Orissa State against Christian minorities that I write to you today. Our friends in India report that more than 45 Christians have been violently killed by armed crowds, who have also burned down or destroyed more then 115 churches and Christian institutions and over 4,000 homes of Christians.
I am aware that some federal intervention has begun, but that there are still reports of sporadic violence, so these efforts need to be intensified. Currently, eight Catholic priests and 25-30 protestant pastors are in hiding after receiving death threats from radical elements. Over 50,000 Christians are displaced and there is an acute need for foodstuffs, clean water and medical supplies.
The violence appears to be religiously motivated and perpetrated by a radical group intent on eradicating “foreign” religions from Orissa and India.
Respect for religious freedom, including the right to change one’s religion and to manifest one’s religion publicly, is one of the cornerstones of peaceful coexistence between religious groups and necessary for a well functioning democratic society. The constitution of India guarantees this freedom. Unfortunately, some radical elements within the Indian society have in recent years abused and twisted the meaning of religious freedom and equated all conversion as fraudulent or coercive. This has stimulated an environment of intolerance and hatred of religious minorities, especially Christians.
I write to urge you to resolve this issue. We understand the police have taken action to get the situation under control by implementing a curfew, but the destruction of buildings, properties, and churches has not stopped despite these reports. Women and children are the biggest victims of this outburst of violence. We urge you in whatever capacity you are able, to act quickly on behalf of the persecuted and bring justice to stop the burning, looting, manhunts and violence against the minority women, children, and men. A speedy and effective response is imperative to preserve the reputation of India, the world’s largest democracy, which laws and society promote freedom of conscience for religious minorities as well as their safety and well being.
I also ask, honored Chief Minister, that you relay the message to the government of India that it is important for a democracy as old and established as India’s to take urgent and concrete steps to address the severe problems and challenges in Orissa. This necessarily entails launching an investigation into. 1) the causes of this violence, 2) reports that the Orissa police stood passively by while atrocities were being perpetrated against Christians and 3) why the federal government was so slow in responding. Furthermore, it is imperative that the perpetrators are brought to justice that the victims receive effective remedies, that immediate measures are taken to restore peace and normalcy and that steps are implemented to ensure that this type of tragedy is not repeated.
Thank you for taking the time to read and act upon this letter.
Sincerely,
