VZCZCXRO0387
OO RUEHCI
DE RUEHCI #0388/01 3611634
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 271634Z DEC 07
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1810
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 1709
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2213

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000388 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI ASEC IN
SUBJECT: TENSIONS REMAIN HIGH IN ORISSA FOLLOWING CHRISTMAS VIOLENCE 
 
REF: KOLKATA 385 
 
¶1.  Summary: (SBU) Tensions prevailed in the curfew bound 
tribal-dominated Kandhamal and Phulbani districts of the Eastern 
India state of Orissa following violence which began on December 
¶24.  At least, one person has been killed and several have been 
reported injured during the violence. Property damage to 
churches, businesses and homes has also been reported. Backed by 
the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), on December 25, the local Kui 
tribal community called for a general 36-hour shutdown in the 
area and blocked the roads to enforce it.  The Kui tribe 
considers the region their native land and is accusing others 
born in the region who have converted to Christianity (so-called 
Dalit Christians) of exploiting the reservations in government 
jobs meant only for Schedule Tribe and Schedule Castes. 
Moreover, Working President of VHP's Orissa Unit, Dr. Umesh 
Patri and President of the All India Christian Council, Orissa 
Chapter, Reverend P. R. Parichha also believe that the 
government's non-responsiveness to demand from Christians and 
Muslims for reservations in government jobs for their own 
minority communities is also a reason for resentment among the 
communities.  As opposed to Parichha's concern, however, Patri 
sounded confident that Orissa violence will not escalate in 
violence reminiscent of Gujarat.  End Summary 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Tensions remained high in the curfew bound 
tribal-dominated Kandhamal and Phulbani districts of Orissa 
where a dozen churches and convents were attacked and set afire 
on December 25.  These attacks followed a December 24 assault on 
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Laxamanananda Saraswati who 
was leading an anti-conversion drive in the area.  One person 
was killed and several were injured during the violence 
(reftel).  Sources in Orissa police said that the trouble 
started in the morning of December 24 in the Christian-majority 
Brahmanigaon village, 150 kilometers South of Phulbani, over 
Christmas celebrations.  While the Christian community wanted to 
celebrate the day in a grand way, the Hindus opposed the plan. 
This led initially to clashes between the Hindu and Christian 
groups. Following the attack on Saraswati by a group of people 
allegedly belonging to the Christian community, the violence 
escalated.  Curfews continue to remain in force in towns such as 
Brahmanigaon, Baliguda, Daringibadi and district headquarter 
town of Phulbani. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Backed by the VHP, the local Kui tribal community also 
called for a general shutdown in the area and since the morning 
of December 25 have blocked roads in the district to enforce the 
36-hour-strike and to highlight their various demands.  Kui 
tribe considers the region to be their native land.  The Kui 
tribe also rejects the claims of being a native of anyone who 
has converted to Christianity or even Hinduism.  In particular, 
the Kui tribe accuses those who have converted -- so-called 
Dalit Christians -- of exploiting the reservations in government 
jobs meant only for Schedule Tribe and Schedule Castes by birth. 
 Orissa police report that they are finding it difficult to 
access violence-hit areas as protestors have obstructed roads by 
felling trees. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-backed ruling Biju 
Janata Dal government in Orissa held two rounds of meetings on 
December 26 with senior officials to review the situation. 
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik later informed media that adequate 
forces had been deployed in Kandhamal district and that the 
situation was "under control".  Patnaik who has already deputed 
two senior state government officials to the region also 
informed media that as many as 27 platoons of policemen had been 
deployed in Kandhamal and three companies of Central Reserve 
Police Force personnel were on their way to the towns of 
Rourkela, Sambalpur and Rayagada. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Working President of VHP's Orissa Unit, Dr. Umesh 
Patri believes that the recent violence arose due to broader 
issues about reservations for government jobs.  He informed Post 
that currently there are no provisions for reservations along 
religious lines.  Currently, the reservations are only to be 
provided to those who are born Schedule Caste or Schedule Tribe. 
 Patri stated that, among the Christian population in Kandhamal 
and Phulbani districts, about 80 per cent were of tribe 
population which have now converted to Christianity by choice 
and are claiming the right to the Schedule Caste-reserved jobs 
in the face of strong objection from the non-converted 
tribesmen.  President of the All India Christian Council of 
Orissa Chapter, Rev. P. R. Parichha stated that the government's 
non-responsiveness to demand from Christians and Muslims for new 
reservations in government jobs for their own minority 
communities is also a reason for the simmering resentment among 
the communities. Parichha added that the Christian community 
leaders will soon seek audience with the Chief Minister for his 
immediate intervention to protect the Christian community. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Comment: As opposed to Rev. Parichha's concerns, Umesh 
 
KOLKATA 00000388  002 OF 002 
 
 
Patri of the VHP sounded confident that Orissa violence will not 
take an uglier turn and that a Gujarat-like situation will not 
arise.  Both agreed, however, that to resolve the simmering 
conflict, the government must address the issue of reservations 
for minority communities.  The state of Orissa has been 
communally sensitive since the killing of Australian Missionary 
Graham Staines and his two sons in 1999, but generally the 
regional authorities have been non-responsive to religious issue 
matters.  Rev. Parichha added that the BJP-backed Biju Janata 
Dal government in the state needs to work more on religious 
sensitivities and the Chief Minister must find time to give 
audience to the minority community in the state. End Comment. 
MILLER