HINDUS AND CHRISTIANS CLASH OVER CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS IN

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000385 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI ASEC IN SUBJECT: HINDUS AND CHRISTIANS CLASH OVER CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS IN EASTERN INDIAN STATE OF ORISSA ¶1. (U) Summary: Since December 24 one person has been killed, at least 30 persons injured and several churches have been damaged as tribal Christians and Hindu fundamentalists have clashed over Christmas celebrations in the eastern Indian state of Orissa. Trouble started on December 24, when a local Hindu group linked to the Hindu fundamentalist Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) objected to a welcome arch being built as part of the Christmas decorations in the town of Bamunigaon. While Orissa's administration tried to contain the violence by imposing curfew and by arresting the arsonists, Christian groups complained of the authorities' lapses and inability to protect religious minorities. This recent religious violence demonstrates that Christian groups are now more willing to retaliate against perceived persecution as Orissa continues to be communally polarized eight years after the death of Australian missionary Graham Staines in a fire set by VHP members. End Summary. ¶2. (U) One person was killed, approximately 30 people injured, and ten churches damaged as Hindu and Christian groups fought with each other in Orissa's Kandhamal district during Christmas celebrations. The tribal-dominated area is located in Central Orissa, about 80 miles west of state capital Bhubaneswar. Violence, which started at the Bamunigaon area, soon spread to other locations. The district administration imposed curfew at Phulbani, Baliguda, Daringbadi and Bamunigaon and arrested 25 persons for arson. The situation remained tense on December 26, although there were no further reports of violence. ¶3. (SBU) Trouble started on December 24 when a local Hindu group of the VHP objected to the welcome arch being built as part of Christmas decorations in Bamunigaon, complaining that the arch was inappropriately large. An altercation followed between the VHP and the organizers, who were Christians belonging to the local Kui tribe. Reverend P.R. Parichha, Director of Bhubaneswar-based India Evangelist Association, later told post that the VHP men attacked with guns and swords. One person was killed and three others were injured. Violence soon spread to other areas. The Roman Catholic Church at Baliguda town was attacked by a mob and ransacked. The church's computer center was destroyed and an ambulance was set on fire. ¶4. (U) The violence continued on December 25, when the convoy of Baba Laxmanananda Saraswati -- a local spiritual leader connected to the VHP - was attacked by the tribal Christians while on its way to Bamunigaon. Although the leader escaped, the attack enraged his disciples. Christian groups accused Laxmanananda of inciting the violence. The VHP mob retaliated by damaging the Bamunigaon church and attacking the Church of North India (Anglican) church (CN) at nearby Baliguda. A World Vision outreach office at Daringbadi was also damaged and two jeeps and a motorcycle were set on fire. ¶5. (U) The Police Station at Tikabali -- a block headquarters -- was surrounded and two police jeeps were burned. Two churches in Chakapadu area were attacked and people were beaten up during the service. Meals prepared for a feast were destroyed. No church service was allowed in Phulbani, even though the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police were present. The district administration said the churches would have to conduct services at their own risk. The Chandballi Baptist Church in Balasore district was attacked during the services as well. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: These recent communal clashes come eight years after the death of Australian Missionary Graham Staines and his two sons in 1999, when they were burned to death by a VHP mob while they slept in a van. Since then, although there has been a persistent undercurrent of tension between the two communities, Orissa has experienced no major episode of communal violence. Christian groups have complained to post about the slow and inadequate response by the Orissa state administration to the clashes. The lack of an adequate response by authorities reflects the poor local governance and the tacit support of the VHP by the state-ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD),which governs in coalition with the national Bharata Janata Party (BJP). The current round of communal strife was unusual in that Christian groups, who so far have always been at the receiving end of threats by the VHP, were willing to retaliate so forcefully. JARDINE