* Type your message here:
>>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! >> >> >>http://indiancurrents.com/ic4/mukundan.htm >> >>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."

Notice: Copies of your message may remain on this and other systems on internet. Please be respectful.