02-11-2011, 12:19 AM
Quote:Christians blamed for Garoââ¬âRabha conflict
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Dimapur, January 22 (MExN): A surprising memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister of India seeking his intervention today blamed Christians and the Meghalaya government ââ¬Ëin nexus with ââ¬ÅChristian terrorist outfitsââ¬Âââ¬â¢ for the ongoing ethnic clashes between the Garo and Rabha communities in the Assam-Meghalaya borders.
The memorandum appended by leaders of ââ¬ÅGaro-Rabha Peace Councilââ¬Â said the Christian churches are ââ¬Åvery aggressiveââ¬Â and there is a ââ¬Åhidden agendaââ¬Â of the church. The memorandum even went so far as to claim the areaââ¬â¢s people are hapless and ââ¬Åthey have to bear the brunt in silence due to fear of Christian terrorist outfits.ââ¬Â The church ââ¬Åspyingââ¬Â on the communities and is providing ââ¬Åsurveillance service and material helpââ¬Â to the ââ¬ÅChristian terrorist outfits,ââ¬Â the statement claimed. The memorandum even called ââ¬Ëunfortunateââ¬â¢ that majority of the Garo people are Christians. The memorandum was appended by Sikram Sangma, president and Jitendra Rabha, general secretary.
ââ¬ÅUnfortunately, 85% Garos have been converted to Christianity in Meghalaya and Assam - both the states. Aââ¬â¢chik National Volunteerââ¬â¢s Council (ANVC) and Garo National Liberation Force (GNLF) are two Christian militant outfits active in Garo Hills district of Meghalaya and Goalpara. Church is allegedly providing surveillance service and material help to these outfits.ââ¬ÂThe memorandum further said of the Bangladeshi Muslims most of whom have married Garo girls ââ¬Åmostly from Christian convertsââ¬Â and that they have an eye on the fertile cultivable lands ââ¬Åowned by Rabha Hindus.ââ¬Â According to the ââ¬ÅGaro-Rabha Peace Councilââ¬Â the Garo and Rabha have been living together cordially. But ââ¬Åthe people of the area talk of hidden agenda of church in organizing two consecutive Baptist church conversions in villages inhabitated mostly by Rabha Hindus. Garo Baptist church foresees a rich harvest in Rabha Hindu community. Rabha Hindus and Garo Hindus resist this church onslaught. But Church appears to be heavy over Rabha Hindus due to the hostile and unholy nexus between Church, militant outfits, Bangladeshi Muslims and selfish political leaders across the party line including Meghalaya governmentââ¬Â¦Ã¢â¬â¢The ââ¬ÅGaro-Rabha Peace Councilââ¬Â said the missionary mission of the church is ââ¬Åvery aggressive and multipronged in this area.ââ¬Â Before and after the Christmas, the programs of the church and door-to-door contact by missionaries were aggressive ââ¬Åwhich Rabhas do not likeââ¬Â but ââ¬Åthey are helpless and they have to bear the brunt in silence due to fear of Christian terrorist outfits.ââ¬Â
The social chaos and civil uprising is a ââ¬Ågolden opportunity to Church for rich harvestââ¬Â the memorandum said. The memorandum claimed that the church has a role in the Dimasa-Karbi clash in 2005 and Dimasaââ¬âJeme upheaval in 2009.
ââ¬ÅSimilarly, the hostile role of church is also experienced in current clash between Garos and Rabhas. This opinion is strengthened by the fact that altogether 10 mandirs of Rabha Hindus have been burnt down in various Rabha villages whereas not even a single church is harmed,ââ¬Â the memorandum asserted.
ââ¬ÅIn present clash between Rabhas and Garos, Christianity plays a major role. On 30th October 2010, a temple of Rabha Hindus in William Nagar was attacked by Garo Christians while protesting against civic polls in Garo Hills. In this context, the Rabhas fear the dubious role of Garo Baptist Convention and Father S. Santiago, Director of the North-East Diocesan Social Forum.ââ¬ÂThe memorandum also cited the turn of events and an incident which the ââ¬ÅGaro-Rabha Peace councilââ¬Â claimed led to the razing of some 40 houses ââ¬Åbelonging to Rabha Hindusââ¬Â by rioters who were ââ¬Åallââ¬Â Garo Christians.
ââ¬ÅBy 5/1/2011, more than 2000 Rabha families (nearly 12,000 people) were displaced after 200 Rabha houses were torched by Garo miscreants. Within 10 days of violence up to 10/1/2011, reportedly, 27 people mostly Rabha Hindus have been killed, 1550 houses have been burnt and 50,000 people from 32 villages have been displaced living in 25 Rabha camps in Assam and 6 Garo camps and 2 Rabha camps in East Garo Hills (Meghalaya). Reportedly, 300 miscreants were arrested but their identities were not disclosed purposely.ââ¬Â
The Prime Minister is asked to deploy more security forces to restore normalcy in the area; deploy the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to ââ¬Åinvestigate the destructive role of nexus of church, militant outfits, Bangladeshi Muslims, political leaders across the party line and dubious Non-Governmental Organisationsââ¬Â
Rupees 1 Lakh in cash and 10 bundles of CGI sheets, ââ¬Ågood qualityââ¬Â, should be given to each family whose houses have been burnt, while Rupees 10 Lakh should be given to family members of each killed persons, the memorandum demanded.
Other demands included sufficient food supply and healthcare facilities, utensils, stationeries and text books, exercise books, security arrangements; identification of the culprits and awarding punishment to them; resettlement of the displaced people and restoring their land to them; clean drinking water in all relief camps and sanitary facility to avoid the spread of diseases.
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