"By conducting a prayer vigil and writing to Ban, we seek to highlight the issue in the international arena. If India seeks to become a major player in the global arena, since it is a signatory to the human rights declaration, it should respect these sensibilities," said Bernard Malik, chief of FIACONA.
"UN is not a foreign body and India is very much part of it. Whether Mr Ban reads the letter or makes a statement on it not, it is not going to resurrect the dead Christians. India needs to own up to its responsibility in protecting its own citizens," he added.
FIACONA in a memorandum to Ban–Ki–moon urged him to look into the “crumbling of the very basis of the civilised society and the absolute degradation of the morals and values of co–existence and cooperation. All the Christians in India and the world look up to you for your valuable support to end the macabre and horrendous carnage of the Christians in Orissa.”
Abraham George, a senior UN Official and general secretary of the Indian National Overseas Congress, said that the latest reports suggest that over 30 people have been killed, schools, orphanages and churches vandalised, nuns raped and a woman set ablaze.
"What we are witnessing here is a complete failure of the government machinery headed by the Bajrang Dal and BJP combine, in protecting the innocent citizens of the state, where extremists are wreaking havoc by killing people and challenging the pluralistic character of the nation," Abraham lamented.
Ministries
US: Intl Religious Freedom calls State Dept on Orissa violence
By: Dibin Samuel
Wednesday, 3 September 2008, 20:05 (IST)
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