Kandhamal situation far from normal: Archbishop Cheenath

Fifteen months after fierce violence against Christians in Kandhamal, human dignity, rights and life of the victims remain far from normal, says a senior Church leader in Orissa.

Despite tall claims from the state and district administrations, thousands still live in makeshift shanties along the road, and in the forests, with no seeming hope of rehabilitation, said Raphael Cheenath, Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar.

"We want full reconciliation and lasting peace in Kandhamal which will be possible when justice is transparent, lives are rebuilt and people return to their own villages without fear. We do not want any ghettoisation in the district," he told at a press conference on Saturday.

He faulted the attitude of the authorities on the lack of justice in the Fast Track courts where terrorizing of witnesses and shoddy investigations were routine. He also condemned the inadequacy of government assistance in rebuilding houses, and the absence of genuine employment, livelihood and education schemes.

The Church had extended great help in rebuilding places of worship and houses, but the task was far too big for non government organisations, says Cheenath.

"It needs political will to implement special schemes by the government. We are willing to help to the best of our ability and resources," he assured the government. But, he said, he would have no hesitation in again approaching the Orissa High Court at Cuttack and the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi if the misery of the people was not ameliorated.

Initially, 10 to 11,000 families were displaced from their homes by the violence. An estimated 1,200 families have migrated from the immediate area, many of them to Bhubaneswar or to other states in India.

Over 6,000 refugees are living in the Saliasahi slums of Bhubaneswar, the State capital, and tens of thousands are working as labour in Andhra and other states, some as far away as Kerala and Punjab, according to Cheenath. Over 200 families continue to reside in private displacement camps in the district.

Furthermore, at least 4,400 families continue to live in tents, makeshift shelters or the remnants of their damaged houses. The remainders of families reportedly have returned either to their villages or near their villages.

Meanwhile, the number who have received financial assistance from the government or the church or NGOs is not known for certain, but is believed to be 1,100.

According to church people in Orissa, Dalit Christians remain the worst sufferers of the violence and have been denied employment, land and other entitlements.

They demand that the state government's schemes announced by the Chief minister embrace all communities, even in the employment of Special Police Offices, and SPOs.

In the violence between August 25 and December 2008, as many as 5347 houses were looted and destroyed by fire, many women and girls were raped, and more than 75 people murdered in the name of religion and ethnicity. Large-scale displacement and migrations followed with over 54,000 people becoming refugees.

A high-level diplomatic EU delegation last week visited Kandhamal and reviewed the ground situation in the riot-hit district.

The delegation held discussions with Orissa Government officials, Christian leaders and human rights activists in Bhubaneswar.