State inaction emboldens fanatics: Bishop says

(October 4, 2008) Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur says the violence in Orissa continues because fanatics are emboldened by the state’s deliberate inaction against the criminals. "It is not that the [state government] are not able to do anything – they have no will to do so. This means the miscreants are getting bolder, and are going from village to village," the catholic bishop said in an interview, whose diocese is closer to the most affected Kandhamal district. Aid to the Church in Need, the Catholic charity for suffering Christians, said that since the violence erupted a month ago thousands have fled homes. The Hindu extremists attacked Christians, stripping priests naked, raping religious Sisters and mutilating women and children. Bishop Nayak explained that the government had sent paramilitary forces to Orissa to quell the violence but accused the state police of failing to direct the troops to the worst affected areas. But fresh attacks on Christians began to pour in since Oct. 1 forcing authorities to impose curfew in nine towns in the Kandhamal district, Orissa. But there are concerns that the action taken is too little, too late. "This is not a religious issue, it is a human rights issue – the right to religion and freedom of conscience is not there," the bishop said accusing the government of flouting human rights. "The initiative needs to come from other governments, who should object to the violation of human rights, he added.