Church marks ‘Romero Day’ to highlight human rights violations in India

(March 23, 2011) To create awareness against injustice and human rights violations in India, the Church will mark a day of “Commemoration of the martyrdom of Archbishop Oscar Romero” of El Salvador. The prelate, was assassinated March 24, 1980, for giving voice to the needs of the oppressed. To mark the anniversary, the Commission for Justice, Peace and Development, JPD, of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) organised celebrations for Thursday in the main Indian cities of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. In Mumbai, it will be in the Holy Name Cathedral. The JPD of the Archdiocese of Bombay, together with the Consulate of El Salvador, agreed to the event in order to press Christians to follow the late archbishop’s example and proclaim the Word of God to the poor and the oppressed.
Fr Allwyn D’Silva, JPD President in Mumbai, told AsiaNews, “It is very urgent, that the life and work of Archbishop Romero on behalf of the poor and the marginalised, be a model for the Indian Church. Whilst it is true that there have been numerous cases, when the Bishops have taken up cudgels on behalf of the marginalised society in India, a lot still needs to be done.” Almost 60 per cent of the Indian population belong to the marginalised segment of society, made up of those, who suffer from high levels of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, political marginalisation, social discrimination, and limited human rights. “By celebrating Romero Day, we are emphasising the need to follow his example by fighting for the rights of the marginalised through non-violent methods of protest,” the priest explained.
Fr.D’Silva was especially adamant about the fate of tribal communities, whose lands have been seized, and they have been forced to work as hired labourers in their own forests to the benefit of others. This destructive process has accelerated in recent years. The right to protest is being suppressed by the government. Social activists, priests, religious and lay people have been dragged to court because of their protests against human rights violations, said the priest.