Orissa Church leader to address Christians in America

With the invitation from the Indian Christian disapora community in America, Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack/Bhubaneswar will travel to Washington on Tuesday, January 27.

The 'Federation of Indian Christian Organizations of North America (FIACONA)' has invited the Archbishop, who will speak at a series of conferences that will mainly apprise the people on the recent Orissa violence and the persecution of Christians in India.

A fundraiser banquet has been organized on January 31, which will seek financial contributions to help the minority Christians in the country.

The prelate had last week expressed "deep disappointment" over the ruling of the Supreme Court, responding to a petition filed on January 5.

Cheenath said, it failed to extend the police protection and has further given vague details on the compensation of victims.

Cheenath rued that victims are forced to leave the refugee camps and some were even struggling to manage the basic amenities. Most of the government financial aid has been spent on basic provisions lost in the violence, he said.

"There is still great fear among the people, including the local administrators [government officials] who realize that it's still difficult and that the people should not be forced to leave the refugee camps and return to their villages," the prelate said.

The anti-Christian violence that rocked the state of Orissa on August 23, was sparked by the murder of a local VHP leader, which the Maoists have claimed responsibility.

Dozens were killed and thousands were forced to flee to forests, after their homes were burnt and churches razed down. It has been termed as one of the largest violence on Christians in India, which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called "a national shame".