Christians Protest; Government Trying to Take Control in Orissa

The government of Orissa has issued curfews and shoot-on-site orders in an attempt to stop the violence against Christians in India's Orissa state. Elsewhere in the country, Christians are protesting the actions of the militants who have been on a killing rampage since the death of their spiritual leader, VHP Leader Swami Laxamanananda Saraswati, who was murdered August 23.

Yet the violence against Christians continues seemingly unabated, and thousands are still hiding out in the forests and jungles without food or shelter from the driving monsoon rains.

In the city of Kandhamal, armed forces units with shoot-on-site orders have been deployed, and a curfew is being strictly enforced, cutting down on the violence that is taking place there. Relief camps are also opening for those affected by the violence.

However, the military units have yet to reach many of the villages where the majority of Christians live, so the attacks continue. A GFA correspondent observed that all that is left of some villages is ashes from the fires. He also reported that many children are starting to get sick, and there is no way to get them the medical attention they need.

"Outside it appears that things are improving, but the volcano is still brewing with much intensity," the correspondent reported.

Gospel for Asia missionary John Bhatti leads a church of 18 families in the Ganjam District of Orissa. The militants gave him an ultimatum, telling him to leave the village or face death. He refused to leave.

"I would like to be in heaven together with my believers if they kill me and them," he said.

The fundamentalist groups responsible for the violence are also carrying a statue of the murdered swami from village to village, asking people to bow down to it. When Christians refuse to bow before it, they are beaten and threatened with death.

They are also going from village to village, trying to force Christians to sign a sheet of paper saying they will reconvert to Hinduism.

Additionally, the fundamentalists are putting pressure on landlords not to rent to Christians. This is particularly troublesome because most missionaries live in rented houses and their churches meet in rented space until a building can be secured for them.

Christians in Delhi, India's capital city, staged a protest Thursday. India's prime minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, called the violence in Orissa a "national shame." Christian leaders, including a Gospel for Asia missionary leader in Delhi, appealed to the prime minister to conduct an independent inquiry into the death of Laxamanananda.

GFA leaders in Orissa ask that you continue to pray for Orissa. Here are some of their specific requests:

• Pray for wisdom all of the government entities involved in the situation—including the local, state and national administrators. Pray that they will adopt adequate safety measures to protect the missionaries, Christians and their properties from additional harm.


• Pray that GFA's Compassion Services teams will be able to provide help to the affected people.


• Pray for the Christians in hiding, that they will be comforted by the Savior.