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India: Up to 50,000 Catholics seek refuge from violence, says bishop
(AKI) - Up to 50,000 Catholics were reported to be hiding in the jungles of India's strife-torn Orissa on Friday as thousands of Christian schools and institutions across the country were closed to observe a day of prayer.The Catholic Bishops Conference of India, the highest body of Catholic Bishops, issued the directive for the schools' closure as peace rallies were held in various cities. Archbishop Raphael Cheenath (Photo), from the diocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar in Orissa, told Adnkronos International (AKI), that 80 priests and nuns from his diocese were among 50,000 Christian refugees who had fled for their lives. "There's a danger of attack and they are advised not to go home," Cheenath told AKI. "They have gone into hiding into the forests. "There are 50,000 refugees in the forest. Their houses have been totally destroyed, they have no homes," he said. "Over 1,800 homes have been demolished and another 700 to 800 could have been destroyed." The Christians sought refuge after deadly violence between Christians and Hindus claimed at least 11 lives following the murder last week of Hindu leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, in the state's Kandhamal district last Saturday. Several days of communal clashes have caused widespread chaos and authorities imposed a curfew and ordered security forces to shoot on sight in a bid to stop violent attacks Christians and their property. Over 3,000 police have been deployed in the state but attacks on churches and Christians homes continued and there were reports of violent attacks against priests and nuns. Bhubaneswar is the capital and largest city of Orissa, while Cuttack is the considered the commercial capital. Cheenath's diocese represents 24 parishes with nearly 50,000 Catholics. Cheenath, who spoke to AKI from New Delhi, said he had been advised not to return to his parish because of the risk. On Thursday he joined a Catholic delegation who met India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for urgent talks to end the violence. Singh has described the violence as a "national disgrace". Up to 30 churches and orphanages were reported to have been attacked in the violence that erupted after the killing of Saraswati last Saturday, allegedly by Christians. Bishop John Barwa, from the diocese of Rourkela in northwest Orissa 1,000 kilometres from the worst violence, told Adnkronos International (AKI) that many Catholics were afraid and his parish was being guarded by young Christians. "We have had threats, but they are only rumours," he said. Posted by: Fred 2008-08-30 |
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