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>>>The US (INS) needs to curb the entry of Hindu >>>preachers into the country. >>>India has recently asked a US missionary, who was >>>brutally attacked by Hindu fundamentalists and under >>>treatement to heal his severed hand, to leave the >>>country immediately. >>>The reason given is, he preached while on visitor >>visa! >>> >>> >>><a rel=nofollow target=_blank >href="http://indiancurrents.com/ic4/mukundan.htm">http: >//indiancurrents.com/ic4/mukundan.htm</a> >>> >>>Missionary Blood on their Hands >>> >>>A Gujarat Model in Kerala >>> >>>-- Mukundan C. Menon >>> >>>I have no ill will or hatred against my attackers. I >>>would be glad to invite them for a lunch, instead. Of >>>course, initially I was angry. But, later I realized >>>that whatever had happened was according to God’s >>>will", said Pennsylvania-based U.S. missionary, >Bishop >>>Joseph W. Cooper (67), while convalescing at Kerala >>>Institute of Medical Science (KIMS) hospital in >>>Thiruvananthapuram, a day after he was attacked >>>reportedly by RSS activists on January 13 night at >>>Koppam near Kilimannor in Thiruvananthapuram district >>>of Kerala. He had gone there to attend a Gospel >>>Convention at Friends of Bible Church. >>> >>>His right hand, nearly chopped off, was rejoined in >an >>>operation. There were other minor injuries and he was >>>still writhing in pain when he talked to the stream >of >>>people who made a beeline to the hospital this past >>>week-end. Among the visitors were top leaders of both >>>the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) and >>>opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF). According to >>>KIMS doctors, who operated upon him, he was out of >>>danger but may have to remain in hospital for another >>>fortnight or so. >>> >>>There was wide condemnation of the dastardly attack >>>from within and outside Kerala and India. All >>>right-thinking people opined in unison that this >>>should not have ever happened in Kerala. Not because >>>45 percent of the State population belong to the >>>minority Muslim and Christian communities. Not >because >>>Christian and Muslim parties are ruling UDF partners. >>>But because Kerala has a proud and exemplary history >>>of communal amity, to where both Christianity and >>>Islam reached at the same time it spread respectively >>>in Europe 2000 years ago and in Arab peninsula 1,400 >>>years ago. Also, because, Kerala is not Orissa, where >>>the Australian missionary Graham Steins and his two >>>kids were brutally burnt alive by Hindutva forces >>>three years ago, and surely not Gujarat which >>>witnessed the ethnic cleansing of Muslims last year >>>under the aegis of ruling Moditva forces. Keralites >>>also co-existed with Jews, Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch, >>>and the British, which is an unenviable and >unparallel >>>history from rest of India. Malayalees also maintain >>>the exceptional inborn nature of going anywhere in >the >>>world and settling there by easily getting mingled >>>with the local populace. >>> >>>Notably, the January 13 attack on Cooper and other >>>missionaries came within weeks after President Dr. A. >>>P. J. Kalam inaugurated the 1950th anniversary of the >>>arrival of St. Thomas to Kerala at massive convention >>>of Christians at Kochi last month. The attack took >>>place five days before the Kerala Government’s >>>prestigious Global Investment Meet (GIM) to be held >at >>>Kochi on January 18-19, which was to be attended by >>>major foreign investor delegates from USA, Europe and >>>Middle-East region. It also came a week before the >>>International Pentecostal Convention to be held at >>>Kumbanad near Thiruvalla in which around 100,000 >>>believers and 3,000 pastors from various countries >are >>>scheduled to attend. And, more significantly, the >>>Sangh Parivar onslaught was carried out when top RSS >>>functionaries like RSS Sarsanghchalak, K. S. >>>Sudarshan, and Akhil Bharatiya Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram >>>president, Jagadev Ram Orone, was in Kerala making >>>wanton statements on conversions and foreign >>>missionaries. The attack took place amidst the Sangh >>>Parivar leaders taking strong exceptions to President >>>Dr. Kalam accepting the invitation to attend a >jubilee >>>function of Jesuits to be held at Calcutta soon. The >>>incident, therefore, cannot be treated either as a >>>coincidence or isolated case, although Chief Minister >>>A. K. Antony wanted the world to believe so in an >>>apparent attempt to dilute its seriousness on the eve >>>of the GIM. >>> >>>In the post-Cabinet meet press briefing on January >15, >>>Mr. Antony termed the attack as an "isolated >incident" >>>and said : "Such incidents are very unfortunate and >>>should not take place". He pleaded ignorance as to >who >>>the attackers were. "I directed the police to conduct >>>a thorough investigation of the incident. I am >>>following this up and at the moment I have nothing >>>more to say", he added. Antony’s ignorance should be >>>read along with his holding charge of police (Home) >>>portfolio and that the police have already arrested >>>one known RSS local leader, Raju, and took into >>>custody four others (Shaji, his brother Shan and >>>Shaiju) for questioning. The Kilimanoor police >>>registered a case under IPC 307 (attempt to murder) >>>and other counts under Explosives Act and Rioting, >>>since the attack took place after throwing of bombs. >>>"Although it is known to all that the attack was >>>carried out by the RSS, why Antony is scared of >>>uttering these three letters", questioned CPI-M State >>>Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. According to CPI State >>>Secretary, Veliyam Bhargavan, "the Sangh Parivar is >>>trying to repeat in Kerala their agenda of >>>intimidating and attacking Christian missionaries in >>>Gujarat and Orissa". >>> >>>Bishop Cooper was attacked along with the local >>>preacher, Pastor Benson K. Sam (37), his wife Sali >>>Benson, their two children (Joy and Judith), singers >>>Jayakumar and Mercy Christudas, of whom Pastor Sam >>>also suffered serious injuries. The colony settlers >>>are "Vedars", a Dalit community, with 60-odd houses >>>and around 150 population, who follow both Christian >>>and Hindu faiths. With no conversion in recent past, >>>some of the Vedars’ forefathers had converted into >>>Christianity. Although the January 13 attackers >belong >>>to nearby area and are known Sangh Parivar activists, >>>the area witnessed total communal harmony until a >bomb >>>exploded in a nearby school three days before the >>>attack took place. >>> >>>Those attended the Bible Convention are still at a >>>loss to grasp as to what provoked the RSS men to >carry >>>out the attack. Surely there was no provocation from >>>us, they said. According to one source, two RSS >>>activists, auto-driver Kumar and the owner of >>>upholstery shop at Kilimanoor, Shaji, came to the >>>venue of the Convention and asked the mike operator >>>whether the public address system belonged to the US >>>missionary and left the place. Later two or three >>>unidentified people came to the venue, stayed around >>>for some time listening to the Bible speeches. Even >>>then there was no hint of the impending attack. >>> >>>The gruesome incident took place after the convention >>>ended at 9.30 p.m. and when Bishop Cooper, Benson and >>>others were walking along the narrow path to where >>>their vehicles were parked. The vehicle tiers were >>>deflated in advance by the attackers to ensure that >>>the missionaries won’t get away. The Bible hall was >>>situated on a high range amid rubber plantation, and >>>the vehicles were parked below on the road. >>> >>>The gang, comprising more than a dozen people and >>>waiting in the rubber plantation, suddenly pounced >>>upon the missionaries by throwing country bombs to >>>create scare and started attacking with knives and >>>swords. While Cooper’s right hand was nearly chopped >>>off, Benson had a head injury, and his wife and >>>daughter were left unconscious on the spot. >>> >>>The terrified local people did not come forward to >>>rush them to the hospital, until the police reached >>>the spot after half-hour. According to Pastor Benson, >>>there were no electric lamp posts in the area and >they >>>were approaching the car, 150 metres away, with the >>>help of torch-light when the unexpected attack took >>>place. The main target of the attackers was Rev. >>>Cooper. They detained the missionary and other >>>preachers for some time before attacking them with >>>swords, crowbars and knives. >>> >>>Pastor Benson told the police that the attack was >>>carried out by known RSS activists in the area and >>>named some of them, including the auto-driver. >>>Confirming Kilimanoor Circle Inspector D. Rajagopal’s >>>version that the area had no history of communal >>>discord, He said: "There had been no threat >whatsoever >>>to the functioning of the church in the area so far". >>>According to him and the police, the church was >>>constructed in the area three years ago and "Gospel >>>Conventions" were held in the past as well. >>> >>>Pastor Benson further stated: "We were told that the >>>attackers were listeners at the Convention and they >>>were all armed. Before the attack started, a >>>country-made bomb exploded just inches away from me." >>>Lizzy, a colony resident narrated their plight: "Most >>>of us eke out our livelihood through manual labour. >We >>>are totally neglected by the Government and >>>politicians. Being converted Christians, we are >denied >>>reservation benefits. In this grim situation, we rest >>>our hopes only on God and decided to hold the Bible >>>Convention". Despite electric lines were taken >through >>>the colony to a nearby locality four years ago and >>>promise of power connections given to them, the >>>"Vedars" colony still has no electricity. Plugs, >>>switches and other electric materials that they >>>purchased long ago lie unused. Neither do they have >>>pure drinking water in the colony. Following the >>>attack, although all the politicians expressed grave >>>concern on the incident and showered promises on >>>communal amity, people in the colony no more trust >>>their promises on upliftment of socio-economic >>>conditions from their own hard and bitter past >>>experience. >>> >>>A senior police officer said : "This is the first >>>organized attack on a foreign missionary in Kerala, >>>whose one-third population are Christians". According >>>to Pastor Benson, "it was a silent attack since the >>>assailants did not utter a single word even though we >>>pleaded them to reveal their motive". ‘’We could >>>identify most of the members of the ten-member gang. >>>All of them are known RSS activists in the locality >>>and we have mentioned this in the police complaint,’’ >>>he added. >>> >>>Bishop Cooper has been a missionary for the past 25 >>>years and this was the first time he has been >attacked >>>anywhere in the world. This was his 12th visit to >>>Kerala, "which is a great place with fantastic >people, >>>except what happened to me which is not good for the >>>State’s reputation." >>> >>>He was a professional parachute jumper in his young >>>days. He entered missionary work in early 1970s as an >>>energetic youth and after resigning job from a >>>professional firm. Since then, he has been actively >>>involved in evangelization in many countries. He >>>reached India for the current tour early this month >to >>>attend a series of gospel conventions in Kerala, Goa >>>and Andhra Pradesh. He was scheduled to leave for >>>Visakhapatnam on Tuesday but, instead, landed in the >>>intensive care unit at KIMS. "This is not going to >>>deter my spirits and I will certainly be back in >>>Kerala. I am happy that I was able to speak to my >wife >>>and my close friends who appeared tensed after >hearing >>>what happened", Rev. Cooper said. He added: "I’ve >>>forgiven my attackers. Now that the case has been >>>registered, I do not know if there is a provision by >>>which I can withdraw it. In the U.S., one could sue >>>for damages, but I am not going to do any such >thing." >>> >>>Expressing shock and concern over the attack, a US >>>embassy spokesperson in New Delhi said : "This is a >>>very serious matter. You cannot just go on attacking >>>anybody. Naturally we are deeply concerned". The >>>United States condemned the attack and a State >>>Department official in Washington said that >>>authorities were in touch with the consulate in >>>Chennai. US consulate officials from Chennai are >>>reaching Kerala to ascertain the facts relating to >the >>>attack. They already had a telephonic discussion with >>>Cooper on Jan. 17 night. >>> >>>Expressing deep concern and pain on the attack, >>>Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, Major Archbishop of >>>Syro-Malabar Church, said it was ominous to see >>>certain groups resorting to violence to settle any >>>difference of opinion in a democratic country. >>>"Unfortunately these violent elements have been >>>emboldened by the rhetoric of certain fundamentalist >>>leaders of Hindutva, who spread hatred against >>>minorities. Fundamentalism was consistently >destroying >>>the religious and democratic foundations of this >>>country. The attack is a sad betrayal of the >country’s >>>heritage of welcoming a guest as God himself into our >>>midst", Vithayathil, who is also the Chairman of >>>Kerala Catholic Bishops Council, said. >>> >>>Meanwhile, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission, >>>which took suo motto cognizance of the issue, sought >a >>>report from Thiruvananthapuram (Rural) Superintendent >>>of Police to be submitted within 15 days. >>> >>>RSS operation cover-up >>> >>>No sooner the widely condemned dastardly act took >>>place, the entire lobby of Sangh Parivar plunged into >>>action with their customary leveling of baseless >>>accusations, wild allegations, and unsubstantiated >>>charges against Rev. Cooper and the evangelist >>>missionaries. Panic and fear prevailed in and around >>>Kilimanoor after the Sangh Parivar undertook a >>>procession within 24 hours of the attack accusing the >>>police of harassing "innocents" by conducting raids >>>and arrests. RSS Malayalam organ, "Janmabhoomi", said >>>that two of the evangelists were earlier involved in >a >>>sex racket, and that a woman resisted their sexual >>>advances which led the "local people" to "protest >>>against the missionaries" on January 13 at the Bible >>>Convention! >>> >>>In the first statement, the RSS "Vibhagh >>>Sahakaryavah", K. Rajasekharan, alleged that Sangh >>>workers were "falsely implicated" in the case and >>>termed the incident as "shrouded in mystery". He >fired >>>the first salvo against Rev. Cooper: "It was unlawful >>>on the part of Cooper, who was on a visiting visa, to >>>preach religion in India. There should be an inquiry >>>into the circumstances under which the U.S. citizen >on >>>a visiting visa was allowed to speak at a Gospel >>>Convention." Sangh Parivar leaders also alleged that >>>Rev. Cooper and other preachers at the Convention >made >>>"inflammatory and insulting speeches" against Hindus, >>>which was stoutly denied by all those who attended >the >>>convention, including Pastor Benson. >>> >>>On January 27, VHP Kerala unit demanded the "arrest >>>and prosecution" of Rev. Cooper for alleged violation >>>of Foreigners’ Act. The VHP State Organising >>>Secretary, Kummanam Rajasekharan, asked the State >>>Government to initiate prosecution proceedings >against >>>Rev. Cooper for "carrying out religious propaganda >>>after coming to the country on a visiting visa". He >>>claimed that "as per the Foreigners Act of 1956, >>>foreigners visiting the country should not engage >>>themselves in religious preaching and are only >>>supposed to do sight-seeing and visit relatives". >>>Besides, Rev.Cooper and his team of evangelists >>>"slandered" the Hindu "dharma" and traditions and >>>sought to convert the residents of a Scheduled Caste >>>colony by allurement and compulsory means, the VHP >>>leader alleged. The Kilimanoor incident, according to >>>the VHP leader, "underlined the need for a code of >>>conduct for missionary activities". >>> >>>While Sangh Parivar is taking the opportunity to >>>demand introduction of an Act banning "forcible >>>conversion", they are left without answers as to how >>>people like Mata Amrithanandamayi are frequently >>>visiting Western countries for preaching religion and >>>how her "Ashram" at Vallikavu, near Kollam, has a >>>large number of Western devotees. In fact, a French >>>lady in the Ashram died under mysterious >circumstances >>>in August last year. "What will be their reaction in >>>India if any such attack took place on >>>Amrithanandamayi abroad", reacted an evangelist in >his >>>reaction given to a Malayalam TV channel. >>> >>>Notably, inflammatory statements, if any, in Kerala >>>had come from people like RSS chief Sudarshan before >>>and after the attack on Rev. Cooper. On the day of >the >>>attack, Akhil Bharatiya Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram >>>president, Jagdevram Oraon, told a press conference >at >>>Kozhicode: "West-promoted conversions into >>>Christianity were causing divisiveness among the >>>people in the country. Countries like the United >>>States and Britain were creating their own pockets >>>through missionaries. Issues like ‘Nagas’, causing >>>divisions in the country, are a consequence of this. >>>The foreign churches through conversions made the >>>tribals isolated from the mainstream of the society". >>> >>>The day after the attack on Rev. Cooper, the RSS >>>chief, while inaugurating the Akhila Kerala Vanavasi >>>Sangamam, at Wayanad said : "Even Mahatmaji had >>>cautioned against weaning Hindus. The British had >>>invented many theories like the Aryan invasion to >>>divide the Hindus. Though the theory has logical >>>validity, it was used to create schism within the >>>community. The Arya-Dravida, Brahmin-non-Brahmin, >>>North India-South India divisions are the by-products >>>of the theory."

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