VZCZCXRO5229
PP RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHCI #0252/01 2481259
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 041259Z SEP 08
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2123
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2593

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000252 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR DRL (MORALES) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV IN
SUBJECT: ORISSA: REPORTS FROM THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY 
 
REF: A. KOLKATA 247 
     ¶B. KOLKATA 245 
     ¶C. KOLKATA 239 
     ¶D. KOLKATA 238 
     ¶E. KOLKATA 002 
 
KOLKATA 00000252  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Two weeks after communal violence targeting 
Christians erupted in the Kandhamal district in the State of 
Orissa, increasing numbers of victims are being housed in 
government camps. Three new camps opened this week, bringing the 
total to ten camps housing over 12,000 people. This number 
reflects a threefold increase from last week. People in the 
camps report that they feel secure but fear returning to their 
communities without reassurances for their safety, freedom of 
religion, and compensation to rebuild their lives. No new 
attacks have been reported. End Summary. 
 
Reports From Displaced Persons Camps 
 
¶2. (SBU) On September 3, Poloff spoke to Major Jirimio Digall of 
the Salvation Army whose family has strong ties to Tiangia, the 
Orissa village in which violence against Christian started on 
August 24. Digall told Poloff that a relative had been visiting 
the village when the violence erupted.  He is now living in a 
government camp in Raikia after spending three days hiding in 
the forest. Poloff spoke to Digall's relative by cell phone and 
he reported that while he feels secure in the Raikia camp, which 
accommodates 13,000 people, he is afraid of returning to his 
village due to reports of continued violence and forced 
conversions. He told Poloff that others at the camp are also 
afraid to return home. He explained that the villages prefer to 
remain in the government-administered camp, where they can get 
food and medical care. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Poloff also spoke with another victim, Gopal Chandra 
Naik, at a camp located at G. Udyagiri. According to Naik, the 
camp houses 6,000 Christian tribal people from 20 small villages 
in Richya, Tikkabali and Gudaysgiri. Naik complained that the 
camp does not have adequate food and water supplies, but 
reported that the people generally feel safe. Naik told Poloff 
that the police presence at the camp was increased from 20 to 
200 officers on the eve of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil's 
visit. 
 
Christian Leadership Perspective 
 
¶4. (SBU)  On September 3, Embassy Poloff met with Rev. Dr. Babu 
Joseph of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) in 
Delhi to discuss the organization's perspective on the situation 
and its plan of action. Fr. Joseph explained that the residents 
of these Orissa districts are almost evenly divided between two 
groups: tribals and the lowest castes, with Christian converts 
from both groups. He contends that traditionally, the tribals 
have practiced an animistic religion and parties such as the 
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) are 
"Hindu-izing" the tribal people for political gain. Fr. Joseph 
argued that Christian communities educate and employ many people 
in the districts, causing resentment by ruling Hindu nationalist 
parties that would prefer to keep certain sectors of society 
impoverished as sources of cheap labor that can be easily 
controlled. He rejected claims of forced conversion to 
Christianity, arguing that Hindus are forcing Christians to 
convert (or reconvert) to Hinduism. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Fr. Joseph believes the attacks were premeditated since 
these were not the first attack against Christians and the 
groups appeared to be well-mobilized,. He noted that the 
attackers used home-made bombs, which require preparation time, 
and came armed with lists of Christian residences. He argued 
that the organizers were waiting for the prefect moment to 
attack, which was provided by the murder of Swami Laxmanananda 
Saraswati. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Fr. Joseph explained that CBCI filed a petition with 
the Supreme Court because they see it as the only effective 
venue open to the organization. He noted that the Supreme Court 
had assisted CBCI in the aftermath of the similar attacks 
against Christians during the 2007 holiday season. CBCI's 
petition calls on the national government to launch a Central 
Bureau of Intelligence investigation, ensure the safety of 
Christian communities, and compensate the victims. On September 
3, the Supreme Court demanded that the Orissa state government 
report the steps taken to curb the violence by the following 
day. Fr. Joseph said that the CBCI will await the Orissa state 
government's report and the court's verdict, but it will not 
stop there. CBCI plans to intensify civil protests and raise 
international awareness to pressure the GOI. If it fails to take 
action, Fr. Joseph declared that CBCI will take the situation to 
the United Nations, arguing that the government's inactivity 
violates fundamental human rights, especially the rights of 
indigenous people to choose their religion. 
 
KOLKATA 00000252  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
Comment 
 
¶7. (SBU) Even if the situation in Orissa stabilizes, the CBCI 
and other Christian groups will likely continue to pressure the 
state and national authorities to more effectively protect 
Christians in Orissa. They plan to hold public demonstrations -- 
one planned is in Kolkata this weekend -- in support of freedom 
of religion. While observers are anxious to see Orissa's 
response to the Supreme Court, the report is unlikely to include 
a plan of action for returning displaced persons to their 
villages and building trust between the Hindu and Christian 
communities. The Centre will probably limit it intervention to 
additional police forces to restore law and order. The Orissa 
government has its hands full as it has to show progress in its 
investigation of the murder of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, 
explain their actions to the Supreme Court and the Centre, and 
provide services to a growing number of displaced persons in the 
camps. End Comment. 
PAYNE