FIACONA writes to United Nations Secretary General
29 August 2008
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,
United Nations
Honorable Sir,
Subject: Appeal to intervene to stop Ethnic cleansing of Christians in Orissa
With profound grief, I have to state that all codes of human rights have been grossly violated in Orissa, India. Christians of India and of the world are shocked and appalled at the inhuman, ruthless, and brutal treatment being subjected to their brethren in Orissa by supposedly Hindu radicals. Christians are being persecuted, attacked, and victimized, simply because they follow the Christian religion. More than thirty Christians have been killed, nuns have been gang raped, priests have been humiliated, tortured, paraded half-naked, and even murdered in last 72 hours. Scores of churches have been burnt and razed to the ground. Christians have been forced to flee from their homes and about 10,000 Christians are hiding in jungles and hills in Kandhamal while the police are mute spectators. The Orissa government has failed to provide safety and shelter. The army needs to intervene to normalize the situation. Relief camps need to be set up so that food and other essential supplies are provided for the victims of the riot-torn areas. The government needs to provide compensation for the victims besides rebuilding their burnt houses and churches. The situation is grave, the government machinery has failed, and thus international intervention is essential to normalize the situation.
The Vatican has “deplored” the killings. The Federation of Indian American Christian Organization of North America (FIACONA), is dazed, grieved, and extremely disturbed at the continuing violence against Christians in Orissa. It is reported that Italy would also summon the Indian envoy in Rome to register its protest against the attack on Christians in Orissa. France, the European Union head is also being asked to address the matter. The international pressure is building up as violence perpetrated to Christians in any country cannot be taken lightly and cannot be defined as an internal matter of another sovereign country. It should be reminded that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue and that justice delayed is justice denied. The ongoing violence against Christians is not only injustice personified, but also is a demonic form of a great crime against humanity. This violence has to be stopped immediately and peace, love and harmony has to be restored without any further delay.
FIACONA firmly believes in your historic words as given below:
“If security and development are two pillars of the UN’s work, human rights is the third. The promise contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which will mark its sixtieth anniversary in 2008, must continue to drive actions on the ground. The Human Rights Council must live up to its responsibilities as the torch-bearer for human rights consistently and equitably around the world. The expression “never again” must hold real meaning. I will strive to translate the concept of the Responsibility to Protect from words to deeds to ensure timely action when populations face genocide, ethnic cleansing or crimes against humanity. ”
- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Priorities for Action, Human Rights (http://www.un.org/sg/priority.shtml)
On behalf of FIACONA, I sincerely appeal to your honorable self to urgently look into this naked violation of human rights, to this crumbling of the very foundations of civilized society, to this absolute degradation of morals and values of coexistence and cooperation, and to this blatant denial of the virtues of peace, love, and harmony. All the Christians of India and the world look up to your valuable and esteemed support to end this macabre, horrendous, chilling, gruesome, and ghastly carnage of Christians in Orissa.
Thanking you,
With warm regards,
Bernard Malik
President, FIACONA