SAMPLE
LETTER on ORISSA:
cut and paste the text below and send with your signature to the
addresses on the right:
Dear (Name):
We write with deep concern over the communal violence that engulfed
the district of Khandhamal in Orissa since the eve of Christmas.
The violence has led to the death of persons, injury to many and
thousands of people have been rendered homeless and destitute.
Many houses have been torched and looted. Hundreds of people have
fled to the woods. The victims of this violence have been Christians.
As of date the Church, its Priests, Sisters and other Christians
are under attack in 12 states: Viz. Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand,
Karnataka, Orissa, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, New Delhi, Punjab, Uttar
Pradesh, Tamil Naidu, and Uttarkhand. The timing of the attacks
and the way they have been carried out reveal that there is a dangerous
attempt by some forces to eliminate Christians and to annihilate
Christianity.
The State has failed in its duty to protect the rights of Christians
- protection of life and personal liberty; freedom of conscience;
free profession, practice and propagation of religion – the
very rights enshrined in the Constitution of the country (Articles
21 & 25) and in the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (ICCPR Articles 18 & 27) to which the Government of
India is a party.
It is India’s ancient civilization that is being humiliated
and the values such as Ahimsa, Truth, Tolerance, and Respect
for Religions that India has jealously preserved for centuries
that are being dragged to the dust. It is India’s good name
that has been tarnished and her secular and democratic image that
has been seriously damaged before the international community.
These recent horrors in various parts of our country have disgraced
the high ideals and principles that our wise leaders and saints
upheld and the vision that our Founders cherished.
As we recently marked the birth anniversary of Gandhi: a very special
day not only for India but for the entire world. The
current crisis in India demands that people of goodwill everywhere
work to reclaim Gandhi’s
commitment to non-violent transformation of society. In this context,
we appeal to you to initiate suitable measures so as to:
• Protect the rights and the lives and the properties of Christians
in Orissa and other states.
• Provide immediate relief and adequate compensation to the
victims as per ICCPR Article 2.3.1
• Ensure peace and harmony in the affected States so that people
may live without fear and may freely practice their faith.
Yours sincerely,
Signature
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Read
the full text of the letter from the International Justice Promoters
here
SEND
YOUR LETTER
IN THE USA:
US Ambassador to India
David C. Mulford
ndcentral@state.gov
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
FAX: 202-647-2283
(no email address available)
IN INDIA:
Madam
Pratibha Patel
President of India
Rashtrapati Bhavan,
New Delhi INDIA
presidentofindia@rb.nic.in
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minster of India
Prime Minster's Office,
South Block
Raisina Hill, New Delhi 110 011 INDIA
pmosb@pmo.nic.in
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission,
Faridkot House, Copernicus
Marg,
New Delhi, 110001
INDIA
chairnhrc@nic.in
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