[Buddha-l] Orissa (was: Perhaps the Buddhists in Korea have finally had it?)

[Curt Steinmetz]

Here is a link to an article on the connections between Christians and 
Maoists in Orissa:
http://www.compassdirect.org/en/display.php?page=news&lang=en&length=long&idelement=5210

Some quotes from the article:

"Maoists are suspected of using recent violence in the area to recruit 
frustrated Christians and goad them into retaliating, Christian leaders 
said."

"While the identities of those who attacked houses belonging to Hindus 
remains largely elusive, Christian leaders suspect Maoists instigated 
some ill-advised Christians to retaliate."

"Jacob Pradhan, general secretary of the Kandhamal district chapter of 
the Christian Endeavour Union, told Compass that around 100 houses 
belonging to Hindus were burnt ... [he] suspected that these houses were 
torched by sections of 'misguided Christians' possibly incited by Maoists."

Note that the article is from a Christian publication. Also note that 
the article is from February, 2008 - it was written in the aftermath of 
the previous spate of violence that occurred after the unsuccessful 
attempt on Swami Laskhmananda's life in December, 2007.

The article quotes a local Christian who complains that after he 
survived the murder attempt, Swami Lakshmananda was still "roaming 
scot-free and also holding rallies." Well, they have taken care of that, 
it would seem.

According to the article, a Reverend Pariccha, president of the Orissa 
chapter of the All India Christian Council, "said that some Christians 
may have" participated in anti-Hindu violence "out of 'desperation'".

The "Reverend" also stated, ominously, that "local Christians are 
formulating a strategy on how to peacefully but effectively respond to 
incidents of persecution in the future." Eight months later Swami 
Lakshmananda was dead.

Curt Steinmetz

jkirk wrote:
> It is highly unlikely that a Christian adivasi or dalit was
> responsible for the murder of the Swami. 
> They are so terrorized by the Hindu revivalists they can hardly
> live from day to day, many of themhaving deserted village and
> homes and run away.  In addition, the Naxals don't take credit
> for stuff they didn't do. Keeping a low profile is part of their
> game, except when they pull off something.
> Joanna
> ==============
>
>
>
>
> Someone "claiming credit" does not resolve the issue of who is
> responsible for the murder of Swami Lakshmananda. I believe there
> were something like 10 attempts on the Swami's life before he was
> finally killed. The most recent unsuccessful attempt had been in
> December (which resulted in severe injuries to the 80 year old
> man requiring hospitalization).
>
> In India the Communists, Christians and Muslims tend to form a
> united front against their common enemies: Indian culture and
> anyone who defends it.
>
> Curt
>
> jkirk wrote:
>
>   
>> The latest Orissa atrocity about the murder of the Swami is 
>> interesting in that Naxals publicly took credit for doing it.
>> Despite that, Hindu Bajrang Dals and the like exploited it to
>>     
> attack 
>   
>> Christians, churches, their homes, clergy, etc.
>>
>> Christian aggressiveness is also publicly manifesting here, in
>>     
> the 
>   
>> persona of McCain's VP candidate.
>>     
>
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