National solidarity forum: Victims of the Orissa pogrom are still without justice
In 2008, Hindu nationalist violence destroyed 395 churches and places of worship of Adivasi and Dalit Christians; 6500 houses. At least 100 people killed; 40 women raped, harassed and humiliated; schools, social services, health centers destroyed or vandalized; more than 75 thousand people displaced; many cases of forced conversion to Hinduism. Until now, no criminal jailed. Out of 3,300 complaints, only a few hundred accepted. Many families are unable to return to their villages of origin for fear of being killed
New Delhi (AsiaNews) - Open trials for 315 cases of violence; justice for the dead and compensation for the destruction as required by a decree of the Supreme Court; favouring the development of minorities; involving their representatives in administrative decisions; cancelling the anti-conversion law in Odisha and making religions neutral towards the state.
These are some of the urgent requests of the victims of the Orissa pogroms (2007 and 2008), contained in an appeal by the National Solidarity Forum (Nsf), published on the occasion of the 12-year anniversary of the massacres and destruction, which many organizations mark tomorrow, August 25th.
In August 2008, a few days after the celebration of Indian independence, a campaign of destruction was unleashed in Orissa against Christians and against their institutions (churches, centers, cooperatives, leper hospitals, dispensaries, ...). The spark that caused the violence was the killing of swami Lakhsamananda Sarasvati, one of the leaders of the VHP (Hindu nationalist and extremist association), immediately attributed to Christians, but in reality the work of a Maoist group. For the NSF, "the organized sectarian attack [was] the largest in the history of India in the past three centuries."
One of the most affected districts was that of Kandhamal.
The Nsf lists the destructions: 395 churches and places of prayer of the Adivasi and Dalit Christians; 6500 houses; at least 100 people killed; 40 women raped, harassed and humiliated; schools, social services, health centres destroyed or vandalized; more than 75 thousand people displaced; many cases of forced conversion to Hinduism.
There were 3,300 reports of violence in Kandhamal, but only 820 were accepted by the police; 518 were registered; the others were considered "false". Of the 518 cases, 247 have already been dealt with; the others are still pending. Among the cases already dealt with, the majority of those were declared innocent. At present, no criminal responsible for the destruction is in prison. According to a study by a Supreme Court adviser, quoted by the NSF, there was a percentage of 5.13% of convictions. Looking at the entire volume of complaints, the percentage is minimal: 1%.
The NSF also recalls that "On August 2, 2016, the Supreme Court ... declared that the amount and extent of the compensation was not satisfactory". Furthermore, the Court found it "sickening" that so many "lawbreakers" were not registered and ordered the review of 315 cases of violence, until then rejected by the police. "Up to now, - continues the NSF - the cases have not been reopened even after 4 years, also due to the fact that the Supreme Court has not set any statue of limitation".
In addition, “there are homes, churches, institutions and voluntary organizations, whose properties have been destroyed and [whose name] has never been found on the list of those to be compensated. There are many who have yet to receive compensation for their destroyed home, despite the Supreme Court order. And there are other properties and shops belonging to thousands of people that have not been included in the list or even considered”.
Finally, the NSF points the finger at the insecurity of the survivors: "It is truly a tragedy that even after 12 years there are hundreds of families unable to return to their ancient villages for fear of losing their lives. This has a high price on their existence. The displaced within the district now live in new colonies without access to the resources to live on. Migrants, who have left the district forever, are now in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic. Widows and relatives of the killed are fighting a legal battle, but also one to survive, given the fear of threats from fanatics”.
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29/08/2020 10:22
