Mangalore Christians march to demand justice in attacks on churches

(February 21, 2011) More than 100,000 Christians marched in southern India’s Mangalore city to protest against what they termed as a “distorted report” of the Somasekhara Commission that probed the attacks on churches by the pro-Hindu groups in Karnataka state in 2008. The protesters represented some 45 Christian denominations and secular organizations. Mangalore Catholic diocese organized the protest march - perhaps one of the largest demonstrations in recent years - which was attended by several bishops of five Christian denominations. A memorandum was handed over to Karnataka Chief Minister Yeddyurappa, demanding that the State Government entrust the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and reject the “distorted” Somasekhara report that was submitted to the government on Jan. 28. The protesters tied black cloths over their mouths and carried black flags as they walked a kilometer in the strongly Christian area. Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza of Mangalore said Karnataka was the scene of more than 100 incidents of attacks on Christians in 2008 but the commission listed only 57. He said Christians were protesting to show their pain and resentment for the injustice suffered because of the report, which hides the true perpetrators of the attacks on churches. The memorandum noted that the commission’s acknowledgment of the lapse of officials in number of places. Yet the commission gave a clean chit to the officials and police personnel, which is contradictory.