The Living Letters team travelled recently to Kandhamal district in eastern Indian state of Orissa in solidarity with the victims of the violence that broke out following the murder of the hard-line Hindu leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati on August 2008. Hindus blamed Christians for killing Saraswati even though Maoist rebels had publicly claimed responsibility for the murder.
Following the swami's death, Hindu mobs attacked Christians, burning their homes, shops, churches and orphanages. At least 60 Christians were killed, according to the Orissa government's report, but church leaders in Orissa report higher figures and have accused the government of intentionally undercounting the number of deaths.
About 4,500 Christian homes were burned and 180 churches destroyed. More than 30,000 Christians from Orissa were forced to take shelter in refugee camps for many months, many of them are still finding difficult to settle down.
The Living Letters team of eight representatives from churches around the world visited one of the remaining Christian-supported relief camps in the Kandhamal region. They were also welcomed by Christian Pano Dalits and Kandho tribals on land recently demarcated as the site of a new village.
Living Letters are small ecumenical teams visiting a country to listen, learn, share approaches and challenges in overcoming violence and in peace making, and to pray together for peace in the community and in the world.
Some of the homeless told the Living Letters team that they had begun to rebuild their homes, but added they were afraid to return to their villages permanently in case of further attacks. The refugees had been told that unless they renounced their Christian religion, the extremists would not allow them to return.
"We have been providing blankets, saris and mosquito nets to the relief camp nearby," said Sam Naik, director of Happy Valley Children's Home in the Kandhamal district.
"We had two medical camps also. The people in the camp have the hope that once the government pays compensation, they are going to rebuild their houses and settle down in their villages. They are very strong in faith and have continued to hold worship."
Problem with Reconstruction of their homes:
Christians, who are mainly tribals and Dalits or untouchables, also face rebuilding their homes due to shortage in funds, according to the team.
Although the Indian Government has committed 50,000 India rupees (about U.S. $1079) per destroyed house and 20,000 rupees (about US $431) per partially destroyed house, the forum reported that not all victims had received the money legally entitled to them. And the actual cost of reconstruction of one destroyed house is estimated at 82,000 rupees (about U.S. $1769).
The Orissa United Christian Forum told the visiting team that it has committed to providing a further 30,000 rupees (U.S. $467) per destroyed house. Forum members reported that 300 houses had already been rebuilt with the churches' aid.
Father Manoj Kumar Nayak from the Bhubaneswar Archdiocese said a committee had been set up in every village to ensure rebuilding work was completed. Father Ajaya Kumar Singh from the Kandhamal Response Programme said legal work was continuing in order to ensure justice was done in the courts and witnesses were protected.
"Many groups have responded to the crisis situation, including the government, but I think the churches have done a lot," said Rama Hansraj from Catholic Relief Services. "Much work has been done in the district to help the victims go back home."
"By God's grace, the situation is calming down in Kandhamal and work is in progress," said Bishop Samson Das of Cuttack Diocese. But there are still villages where peace and harmony has to be worked out."
"So far we have committed to financing 30,000 ( about U.S. $467) rupees to 3,000 houses. We will be able to commit to the remaining 2,000 houses in the days to come. The legal aspect is a huge challenge for us," he added.
The visiting team said, Ecumenical organisations and NGOs have also started running community projects designed to foster amicable relationships between Hindus and Christians in Kandhamal. Christian and Hindu children have once again begun playing with each other in some villages, they said.
The Living Letters team consists of Ms Karen Burke from UK, Ms Diana Fernandes dos Santos of Brazil, Rev. Edwin Makue from South Africa, Rev. Gerard Willemsen from Sweden and Bishop Dr G. Dyvasirvadam, from Church of South India.