Hong Kong Liberal Religious Forum

呼籲停止暴行
為印度人民祈求尊嚴與和平
燭光晚會

奧里薩（Orissa）是全印度最貧窮地區，資源匱乏，為了擺脫「種姓制度」的世代迫害，不少「賤民」（Dalits）轉信基督宗教，入讀教會學校，並相信知識有助脫離種姓制度的困局。此舉卻引起激進印度教徒的不滿，指基督徒用金錢、免費教育、醫療等利誘貧窮印度教徒改教。在今年八月二十三日，印度教八十五歲領袖拉什曼阿南達．薩拉斯沃蒂及四名同伴被殺後，印度教激進分子，指稱基督徒在幕後策劃此事，更發動連串暴行，縱火燒毀基督教孤兒院、教堂、小區房舍等，釀成一名修女和一名教士慘遭燒死。當地的天主教學校及機構於八月二十九日關閉一天，以抗議有關暴行。至９月中旬，已超過一百間教堂遭破壞，約六千名基督徒流離失所。全印度基督徒協會 (All India Christian Council) 在安得拉邦 (Andhra Pradesh) 聚集了萬五名基督徒舉行了大遊行，其中錫克教徒、佛教徒、進步的印度教徒及回教徒等不同宗教團體加入遊行隊伍，合力抗議暴行。

在香港也有不少來自印度的朋友，他們的親友現處身於暴力的困境中。本著人類的尊嚴和信仰自由，全球基督徒團結陣線、香港基督徒學會、尋道會及香港天主教正義和平委員會合辦「為印度人民祈求尊嚴與和平」燭光晚會。

分享者：
1. Ms Sunita Sumati Suna (World Student Christian Federation - Asia Pacific)
2. Mr Andrew Moses (International Christian Assembly) 　
3. 孔令瑜小姐（香港天主教正義和平委員會）
內容：分享、短片、祝願
語言：雙語（廣東話譒譯）
日期：2008年10月22日 (星期三)
時間：7:30pm - 9:00pm
地點：聖安得烈基督中心一樓　尖沙咀彌敦道138號 (港鐵佐敦站D出口)
查詢：黃美鳳小姐（23981699）,　Ms Chato Olivas Gallo（25915403）


Stop Violence!!!
Candle Light Vigil: Prayer for peace and dignity for people of India
October 22 Wednesday 7:30 pm

The Hindu extremist group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four of his associates were killed on August 23 in Orissa. Maoist guerillas are suspected by Indian police, however the extremists turned their anger to Christians. Up to September 28, the toll of anti-Christian violence stands at 300 villages destroyed, 4 300 houses burnt, 18 000 injured and 50 000 made homeless in Orissa alone. Churches have also been damaged or attacked in Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Tamail Nadu.

Hence, the majority of attacks on Christians are directed against the formerly low-caste converts such as the Dalits of Orissa. The combination of these two identities brings insecurity to the extreme religious parties about the lower castes trying to break free from the caste system. In mid-September, some 15 000 Christians protested against impunity for Hindutva extremists at a massive rally at Andhra Pradesh, organized by the All India Council. Leaders from all political parties, together with Sikhs, Buddhists, progressive Hindus and Muslims, participated and expressed solidarity and support for the victimized Christians.

In Hong Kong, Indians are our neighbors, friends, colleagues and classmates. They may have relatives in India where the on-going violence is taking place. In pursuit of religious freedom and human dignity, a Candle Light Vigil will be held in cooperation with Christian Solidarity Worldwide Hong Kong, Hong Kong Christian Institute, Spiritual Seekers Society and Justice and Peace Commission of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese

Speakers:
1. Ms Sunita Sumati Suna (World Student Christian Federation - Asia Pacific)
2. Mr Andrew Moses (International Christian Assembly) 　
3. Ms Jackie Hung (Justice and Peace Commission of Hong Kong Catholic Diocese)
Content: Sharing, Video clips, Prayers
Language: English with Cantonese translation
Date: October 22, 2008 (Wednesday)
Time: 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Venue: 1/F Lounge, St Andrew's Christian Centre, 138 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Jordan Exit D)
Enquiry: Ms Chato Olivas Gallo (English) 2591 5403, Ms Davy Wong (Cantonese) 2398 1699



A brief history of the violence:

Hindu groups in Orissa accuse Christian missionaries of unfair recruitment tactics in converting the lower castes of Hindu society in Orissa, India.

On the evening of Saturday, August 23, 2008, Swami Lakshmanananda, a leader of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) was killed. The attackers were originally suspected of being Maoist insurgents. However, Hindu groups in the state blamed Christians for killing Lakshmanananda.

After the killing of Swami Lakshmanananda, the VHP called for a statewide shutdown on Monday, August 25, 2008. On the same day, rioters attacked a Christian orphanage at Khuntpalli village in Bargarh district. An employee and prospective convert of the orphanage, a local Hindu, was gang raped and killed when the orphanage was set on fire.

By August 29, 2008 at least 20 people were killed and 3 000 people were reported to be living in government-run relief camps. 1 000 homes had been set on fire. Many others fled into the jungle.

On September 1, 2008 Government of Orissa claimed the situation was under control. However, 558 houses and 17 churches and prayer halls were burnt in riots. 543 houses were burnt in the worst hit Kandhamal district. 12 539 people were fed in 10 relief camps, 783 people got the facilities in two relief camps in Rayagada district.

On September 4, 2008 in Tikabali, Kandhmal over 300 Hindu tribal women attacked a relief camp for the Christian riot victims. The rioters were protesting Christians' having provisions in relief camps while the Hindu community was not so provided.

On September 15, 2008, NDTV reported attacks on two hindu temples in Orissa's Sundergarh district. One was attacked on the night of September 14, and the other 2 weeks earlier.

On 3 October 2008, two more Christians were killed and a Christian nun who was hiding in a Hindu family was allegedly raped.

立即行動：為奧里薩的平民和基督徒祈求和平！

親愛的朋友，印度的宗教糾紛已經進入第七週，而且由奧里沙蔓延到多個地方。這次衝突不單是宗教的，更涉及印度種姓制度下關於「賤民」(Dalits) 的人權自由。懇請你出席10月22日的「為印度人民祈求尊嚴與和平燭光晚會」。

不過除了聚集一起為印度祈禱，當地受害之信徒群體仍需要我們的勉勵和打氣。
可選擇以下行動：
１．請登入 www.csw.org.hk/?p=231#more-231 ，在最下面的方格內填上姓名 (中英文皆可) ，電郵地址，寫下你的禱詞、勉勵，然後點擊右下角的 "submit” (傳送) ，即完成一個微小但意義重大的行動。我們會在每個主日將留言電郵至全印度基督徒協會和印度福音團契，向教會和信徒轉達我們的心意。
２．請登入 www.csw.org.hk/?p=239#more-239 聯署行動，要求印度政府徹查當地各省之宗教迫害事件，並對是次暴行予以譴責及爭取宗教自由等。此聯署將於10月23日遞交當地政府及人權組織。
假如你想在經濟和物資糧食上支援他們，請電郵與我們聯絡。

請馬上行動，為在水深火熱的朋友，送上一杯涼水！



Urgent action: send words of hope and prayers to Orissa Christians!

Dear friends,

Christians in Orissa, India and in other states where the anti-Christian violence have spilled over need our words of encouragement and prayers. We invite you to join our actions for two options:
1. It only takes a minute to deliver a blessing! Please click into www.csw.org.hk/?p=231#more-231 right now! Write prayers and encouraging words to let them know that we are thinking about them, and they are in our hearts. Every Sunday, we will send your messages to our friends at All India Christian Council and Evangelical Fellowship of India who will in turn give these to our brothers and sisters there.
2. Petition: Justice for Victims of Anti-Christian Violence in India. Please click www.csw.org.hk/?p=239#more-239 to sign up! The petition will be sent to India’s Prime Minister, President, National Human Rights Commission, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Minorities, and the Consulate General of India in Hong Kong on 23 October.

If you are touched to give funds for the victims' emergency needs for food, medicine and the like, contact us for details. We also urge you to join our candlelight vigil on 22 October, Wednesday.

For the voiceless,
CSW HK Team



「為印度人民祈求尊嚴與和平燭光晚會」
Candle Light Vigil: Prayer for peace and dignity of all Indians
Organized by:
Christian Solidarity Worldwide Hong Kong 全球基督徒團結陣線 (香港)
Hong Kong Christian Institute 香港基督徒學會
Spiritual Seekers Society 尋道會
Justice and Peace Commission of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese 香港天主教正義和平委員會

印度總理承諾
支援遇襲基督徒
http://christiantimes.org.hk/Common/Rea ... big5_hkscs

印度總理辛格表示將全力協助東部基督徒重建家園。

...辛格已承諾委派內閣成員跟進奧里沙邦（Orissa State）的重建計劃，並會致力確保當地的和平。雖然極端印度教徒指基督教是「外來宗教」，但高比亞及蘇加引述辛格的話指：「基督教是印度其中一個傳統。」

奧里沙邦的宗教衝突由八月底至今已造成超過五十四名基督徒被殺，五千間基督徒房屋及教堂被毀，數以萬計基督徒逃離家園，在山野或難民營中棲身。...

（取材國際合一新聞社）

（時代論壇每日快拍，2008.10.24）

Covered in a Chinese Christian newspaper Christian Times:



為印度求尊嚴與和平燭光會
跨信仰種族籲停止暴行
（10月24日消息）
盧珺鈺
http://christiantimes.org.hk/Common/Rea ... big5_hkscs

球基督徒團結陣線、香港基督徒學會、尋道會及香港天主教正義和平委員會於十月廿二日晚假香港聖公會聖安得烈堂，合辦「為印度人民祈求尊嚴與和平」燭光晚會，關注自八月底被印度教激進分子暴力打壓的印度基督徒。晚會內容包括由世界基督徒學生聯盟（亞太區）(World Student Christian Federation - Asia Pacific) 代表 Ms. Sunita Sumati Suna、國際神召會義務牧師 Andrew Moses，及香港天主教正義和平委員會幹事孔令瑜小姐，從多角度探討印度暴力事件的前因後果，亦透過禱告表達對印度和平的祝願，約有八十位不同信仰和國籍的人士參加...

（ www.christiantimes.org.hk ，2008.10.24）