Danger in Manipur

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Gospel for Asia missionaries and support personnel have recently been targeted by anti-Christian extremists in Manipur, India. As a result of political and religious tension, all GFA workers in the state are exercising extra caution as they minister.

Recently, anti-Christian extremists accosted and physically abused Kumar Ojayit and Vayu Dulal, two Bridge of Hope staff members who serve at a center in Manipur. Kumar and Vayu were leaving a local market, where they had purchased food for the children, when a group of radicals approached them.

Surrounded by the radicals, Kumar and Vayu were questioned, and then one of the men repeatedly slapped Kumar. This quickly degenerated into more serious abuse against the workers. Kumar and Vayu were eventually released, but the extremists continued threatening them as they walked away.

“You Christians are trying to convert our people to Christianity,” one of the men yelled. “If you come back here again, you are dead.”

Kumar’s injuries were more serious, and he was in a great deal of pain for two days. Vayu’s physical injuries were minor.

In another incident, GFA missionaries were traveling from one village to another when they witnessed a murder. The missionaries were forced to stop their car when a group of soldiers detained the vehicle in front of them.

As the missionaries looked on, the soldiers made everyone in the front vehicle get out. The women and children immediately fled into the forest, and the soldiers searched the two men. One of the soldiers found a gun and a knife on the men. Because it is illegal in India for civilians to carry weapons, they suspected that the men were part of a militant rebel group that was active in the area.

As the missionaries continued to watch the scene unfold before them, the soldier began beating the men with the gun he had found and kicking them. Then he pretended to let them go. As the two men walked away, the soldier fired several shots into their backs, killing them instantly.

Terrified by what they just witnessed, the missionaries were afraid that they, too, would be killed. However, the soldiers allowed them to leave. The GFA workers were extremely thankful that the alleged militants did not shoot at the soldiers when they were detained, because they could have been killed in the crossfire.

There have been many other violent incidents that have occurred throughout Manipur in the last year, including shootings and bombings. Many parents have stopped sending their children to the Bridge of Hope centers in the state because they fear it is not safe for them to travel.

The GFA missionaries and Bridge of Hope staffers request prayer that peace will come to their state. They also ask for prayer that those who are against Christianity will come to know Christ’s saving love.

Anti-Christian Violence Spirals Out of Control in India

HYDERABAD, INDIA (ANS) — Reports from eastern India of burning Christian homes, murdered pastors, and massive destruction of Christian property continued for a sixth day. All India Christian Council (aicc) leaders in Orissa state reported 17 Christians are dead and expect the figure to rise when communication is made with remote regions.

“Differences over religion cannot be blamed for these crimes. We are distressed at the defiance of law and order by Hindu fundamentalist leaders and their public comments which are spreading lies and hate. Their unpardonable excuse is that followers are uncontrollably angry about Christian conversions in the region,” said Dr. Joseph D’souza, aicc President. “We are also deeply troubled by the state and central government’s inadequate response. The fact that identical attacks happened in the same area exactly nine months ago is unbelievable. What will convince authorities to protect human rights and enforce constitutional guarantees?”

Although some state authorities claimed there were no new attacks, the situation continues to spiral out of control, especially in rural villages. Yesterday police were given shoot on sight orders in Kandhamal District, the epicenter of the violence, because mobs were violating curfews. Also, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr. Prakash Jaiswal, was supposed to visit affected areas. But his trip was canceled due to security concerns. Aicc had reliable reports of increased violence in Gajapati District in the southern part of the state.

Today Human Rights Watch, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), and Dalit Freedom Network (DFN) sent joint letters to the U.K. Foreign Secretary, U.S. Secretary of State, French Foreign Minister, and European Commissioner for External Relations urging them to issue statements of concern about the anti-Christian attacks in Orissa. CSW and DFN are aicc partners in Britain and the USA, respectively. France currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Yesterday, in his afternoon address at Vatican Square, Pope Benedict XVI said he was deeply saddened by the violence against India’s Christians. A senior Vatican official called the attacks “a sin against God and humanity” according to one newspaper.

A seven member inter-denominational delegation from the aicc Orissa state chapter met with the governor, Mr. Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, for about 30 minutes this afternoon. “We apprised him of the situation and requested emergency deployment of the army, compensation for the victims, rebuilding of houses and churches, construction of relief camps, and restoration of the rule of law,” said Rev. P.R. Parichha, aicc Orissa state president. This evening the aicc Secretary General was scheduled to meet Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the ruling Indian National Congress Party in Delhi.
The aicc is supporting the call from major Indian church networks to close all of India’s Christian schools on Friday, August 29, 2008. The groups want children – and parents – to learn about the situation in Orissa and realize that communal divisions are harmful for India. They have encouraged people to pray for victims as well as perpetrators. It is estimated that about 30,000 schools will close their doors across India.

Christian leaders are also calling for a day of prayer and fasting across India on September 7, 2008.

In the aftermath of the murder of a Hindu swami by unknown assailants on August 23, 2008, mobs attacked the Christian community across the eastern state of Orissa. On Monday, a 12 hour strike called by hardliner Hindu nationalist organizations resulted in the spread of violence. Media reports and eye witness accounts indicate thousands of Christian properties burnt, sexual assaults of nuns, and pastors killed in their homes. See dedicated webpage at: http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/2332/45/

From Dec. 24, 2007-Jan. 2, 2008, attacks in Kandhamal district killed at least four Christians and destroyed over 100 churches and 730 Christian homes. Most of the victims were Dalits, formerly known as untouchables.

The All India Christian Council (www.aiccindia.org), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.

Christians Flee to Forests as Mob Violence Escalates in Indian State of Orissa

Mob violence in India’s Orissa state continues to escalate, and reports coming from Gospel for Asia leaders in Orissa say that as many as 20 GFA-related churches were destroyed and hundreds of Christian families have been burned out of their homes. At least a dozen members of GFA-related churches have been murdered, but no one knows the overall death toll.

“The Christians in Orissa have fled for their lives into the forests,” GFA President K.P. Yohannan said, “and some have been in hiding for three days without food or water.

“Several of our pastors are in the forest along with their church people, and one said that he could have escaped, but would rather die with his people than leave them.”

Dr. Yohannan called the situation “unprecedented in his 30 years of ministry in South Asia.”

“I have never seen persecution so bad in my life,” Dr. Yohannan said, “and I have seen a lot of opposition to the Gospel over the years.”

Orissa, the state where Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons were burned to death by anti-Christian militants in 1999, has a long history of opposition to the Gospel.

“Yet this past year, we have seen more people place their faith in Jesus Christ in Orissa than in any other Indian state,” Dr. Yohannan noted. “So it is no surprise that opposition is increasing.”

The latest reports coming in include a long list of specific attacks against pastors, missionaries and their followers—including Christians being hacked to death. One believer’s body was cut into seven pieces.

“They are raping Christian girls—and some gang rapes are taking place,” Dr. Yohannan said. “We are praying that the young women on our Bible college campus will remain safe. There are 250 students there, and 90 of them are girls. A handful of police officers are trying to protect them, and that is a blessing. But we have had people come on campus and attack students in the past, so I am asking for all Christians to pray for their protection.”

The violence began after the Saturday night murder of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati, a top leader of the VHP (World Hindu Council) and an outspoken opponent of Christianity. He was killed in an attack by 20 men armed with guns and hand grenades. While the murderers are suspected of being Maoist rebels, the Hindu radicals seized on the killing as an excuse to incite violence against the area’s Christian community.

“What is most disturbing,” Dr. Yohannan said, “is that the radicals have not only incited this violence, but they are also orchestrating it. And the latest reports are that they are bringing in militants from Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and other states to carry out their evil plans.”

Because the swami’s goal was to stop the spread of Christianity, especially among tribal and lower-caste Indians, an attack on him last December incited a similar wave of violence—again targeting Christians.

“Between December 24 and January 15, some 730 Christian homes and more than 100 churches were destroyed,” Dr. Yohannan recalled. “Several dozen Christian women were sexually assaulted, and more than 40 shops owned by Christians were looted.”

“Most of the victims were Dalits, formerly known as Untouchables,” he noted.

“Basically, what we are facing is genocide—ethnic cleansing—against Christians, and so far, no government has spoken out against it.”

Dr. Yohannan asks that concerned people in the West call on their government officials—as well as those in India—to intervene in this disaster.*

“But most important is prayer,” Dr. Yohannan emphasized. “Please pray that God will intervene in this situation, that His peace will descend on the people of Orissa, and that His message of love will fill the hearts of all of India’s people.

Muslims ‘murder’ Pakistani Christian woman

By Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service in Pakistan

KASUR, PAKISTAN (ANS) — At least four Muslim men allegedly murdered a Christian woman last month since she was pursuing a theft case against two of the four men named in the Police First Information Report (FIR) in connection with her murder.

Dara Masih, husband of the ”murdered” woman

The two Muslim men named Yaqoob and Hadyat had allegedly robbed the deceased of gold ornaments and cash some six months before her murder.

Noban, 65, a resident of village Khraper in district Kasur of the Punjab province of Pakistan had accused the two Muslim men of theft, but the Police apparently showed indifference and apathy toward the Christian woman instead of arresting the accused.

The Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan’s (SLMP) Chief Coordinator, Sohail Johnson, told ANS that police “pressured Noban to withdraw application against the Muslim men.”

Johnson said that the deceased remained steadfast believing that firmness of her stance against the accused would force the Police to apprehend them.

“On the contrary, the Muslim men threatened her with death if she did not stop pursuing the case against them,” he said.

Johnson went on to say that undeterred by the threats, Noban insisted that she would not compromise on anything less than justice.

Hadyat and Yaqoob along with two accomplices allegedly hit Noban in the head with a pickaxe while she was asleep on the night of July 2, 2008, and she died as a result of the head injury.

The Police of Ganda Singh Wala registered a case vide First Police Information Report (FIR) No. 153/2008 offence under section 302/34 of Pakistan Penal Code.

Dara Masih, husband of the deceased, approached the SLMP after experiencing the police’s ruthlessness.

“The Police are pressuring him to broker reconciliation with the accused instead of arresting them,” Sohail Johnson told ANS.

The Police have arrested Hadyat and Sharif, two of the four men named in the Police FIR, but Sohail Johnson said the police say they did not find them guilty during investigation.

The investigation of the case was later transferred from Station House Officer (SHO) to the Superintendent of Police due to the efforts of SLMP.

Sohail said that he regretted that shifting of the investigation to the Superintendent as this “did not make much difference” as like the SHO, the Superintendent of Police “was also pressuring Dara Masih for reconciliation.”