“Attacks on Christians pre-planned, driven by business interests”

VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS NOT MERELY COMMUNAL CLASHES: REV FR VARGHESE MATTAMANA

The never-ending turbulence in Orissa, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh are not merely communal clashes, but perhaps pre-meditated and driven by business interests to acquire lands very rich in mineral resources. Here’s a different version of these clashes, by Rev Fr Varghese Mattamana, executive director of Caritas India, in an exclusive interview to Harsha Mary of Zeenews.com. Harsha: As a prominent Catholic figure in India, what is your take on the recent communal clashes in India? Fr Varghese: The fact is that everything was misinterpreted. The situation was very different from what it has been portrayed so far. It is honestly a ‘man-made calamity’. Harsha: Forceful conversions were cited as the major cause… What do you think? Fr Varghese: I would like to state an instance which might provide an insight into the issue - My team from Caritas India visited Balasore in Orissa, we were involved in building homes for the poor, in collaboration with ECHO, a European company for a pilot project also set in Bihar. There were around three team members including a nun present at the site, when a mob gathered around them and attacked them for forcefully converting people into Christianity. They were later taken to a police station and forced to sign papers agreeing to have committed the alleged crime of forceful conversion. My team members were there for the purpose of the house, not for converting people. Helping the needy is what we do and what we preach. Caritas is plainly a funding organization. Government had initially promised to set up 1 lakh houses in these affected areas. Barely 4000 have been built so far. Caritas took the initiative of building more homes and has successfully built 1615 houses so far and is set to finish the project by December this year. Well, certainly, only if we are allowed. Now, where did we force anyone, we are simply doing our work. I personally know a man, who was a Christian for 30 years, with a son who had joined priesthood. He was forced to convert to another religion by signing some documents forcefully. He was forced to do it under the threat of an axe at his neck. That’s conversion, rather ‘forceful’ conversion. Harsha: Many Christians are still hiding inside the forests, looking for a safe haven. How safe are they? Fr Varghese: We are definitely trying to reach out to them. But, we can barely pass through the forest, the situation is bizarre. I recently visited the place to give solace to my team members there. But I could not dare take the chance of going into those dense woods. The need of the hour is for solidarity and only that can solve the whole issue of communalism. I can give such reasoning to the people, who clearly understand the logic of such statements. Talking to those who have shut their minds can never be a solution. I had dialogues with several NGOs there. I was accompanied by a member of the Planning Commission and together met the representatives of the Red Cross office. We are trying everything to make sure that the victims are brought out safely. Harsha: What really happened...? Fr Varghese:We had six NGOs for these regions in question. It is through them that the diocese was supporting the needy. These NGOs were attacked. Imagine the pain of a father who had to see his son’s leg being chopped off. This incident took place in Berhampur, Orissa. The man worked for one of these NGOs. He had to literally carry his son through those dense forests to reach the Medical College. The institutions, the hospitals are all shutdown. Who’s affected here? Not a Christian in particular, but also a Hindi, a Muslim a Sikh everyone who were benefiting from these institutions. The problem makers come from outside and destroy the happiness of simple people! This is all logic, who is really going to understand this and admit it? Harsha: Who are these outsiders you are talking about? Fr Varghese: The business men… Kandhamal district in Orissa is one of the poorest districts in India. Nearly 74 percent of the population here is from BPL (Below Poverty Line) families. But these places are rich in minerals, an excellent site for commercial purposes. The best spot to give a concrete shape to all your business designs. Demolishing the educational institutions or hospitals does no good to anyone but them. They are simply not able to digest the fact that the people from such poor backgrounds are coming at par with them. Harsha: How do you plan to solve the issue? Fr Varghese:We have set up about 14-17 camps in these affected areas. There are around 20,000 people in every camp. We are funding the medical requirements of people. Previously, we used to provide Rs 3000 per family for essentials. But now we are only allowed to provide medical facilities. Food is provided in the Government camps. However, we have got enrolled all the affected victims in the Government list so that no one is ignored. We have also approached the Planning Commission, persuading them to study the matter a little more objectively. We have also proposed to the State Government for support and Network formation. Harsha: Are Christians going to take the first step to encourage any dialogue with other religious groups? Fr Varghese: We definitely are working towards it. We will be holding some intellectual discussions with some prominent members of other religious groups on the 1st and 2nd of October. Shabnam Hashmi, TK Umman, Binoy Acharya and a few other well-known personalities will be present at the meet. We are only hoping for peace and praying for those who are yet to find solace!