Church groups in the Indian region of Kandamar, where a brutal massacre of Christians took place in 2008, have welcomed the news of the Vatican’s creation of a commission of recent martyrs – witnesses of the faith.
(Vatican News Network) They bore witness to their faith amid violence and persecution, some even gave their lives, others with the meekness of the Gospel endured insults and torture, forgiving their perpetrators: this is Ori, East India The experience of Saban Christians. In 2008, what human rights organizations called “genocide” was staged in this state, and Christians were subjected to the most brutal, intensive and organized atrocities in Indian history.
The Christian community in the Kandhamal region, where the atrocity took place while the administration and the police turned a blind eye, rejoiced at the news of the Vatican’s creation of the Commission of the Newest Martyrs – Witnesses to the Faith. This committee was also established in anticipation of the Jubilee year to be celebrated in 2025,
Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, Archbishop John Barwa, said how many people were tortured and killed, even burned alive in their own homes by xenophobes, they are “Example of unshakable faith until taken into the arms of the Father”. The massacre took place in the area to which this diocese belongs.
Father Ajay Kumar Singh, coordinator of India’s National Solidarity Forum (NSF), called the Pope’s initiative “a step in the right direction”. Launched the day after the violence, the forum has forged alliances with more than 70 organizations and groups in civil society. Fr Singh prepared a detailed report on the whole incident, entitled “The Violent Massacre of Christians in Kandamar Province in 2008” and submitted it to the Holy See. The report said there were at least 36 “Catholic martyrs”.
Survivors of the atrocity also expressed support for the establishment of the committee. Asalota Nayak, the widow of Bikram Nayak, one of 36 Catholic martyrs on file, said, “In honor of the bloodshed of these innocents, we Thanks Pope”. The unprovoked violence killed hundreds of worshipers, displaced at least 64 people, and led to the demolition of more than 360 churches, the destruction of 6,000 homes and the break-in of a school for more than 12,000 children.
In order to bear fruit the testimony of those who refused to renounce their Christian faith at the cost of their lives, the local Church holds a special “Day of Remembrance” every August 25 in memory of the victims of the massacre of Christians in Odisha. The commemoration will include a prayer meeting, a service, and a webinar on the brutal campaign. The National Solidarity Forum accused the government of “doing nothing to prevent the appalling crime and painting the massacre as an inter-clan feud without acknowledging the seriousness of the attack”.
According to Sasi KP, a filmmaker and documentary filmmaker, “people were killed, tortured, tortured, harassed, raped, and burned. Survivors such as Dalits, Adivasi, Fishermen and women are still fighting for their rights.” Journalist Anto Akkara’s 2016 book Who Killed Swami Laxmananda? (Who Killed Swami Laxmanananda?)
Akara explained that the trigger for this violence actually stemmed from the killing of the Hindu religious leader Laxmananda by the Maoist organization. The massacre was instigated by Hindu extremists’ hate propaganda by blaming Christians for the murder. Furthermore, the Catholic Church in Orissa has always stood by the families of the victims, ensuring legal and psychological assistance with human, spiritual and material actions and care.
Link URL:www.vaticannews.cn
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2023-07-17 11:54:27
