Nirmala Carvalho

The annual report of the US Commission for International Religious Freedom focuses again on religious persecution in India. The secretary general of the Bishops’ Conference tells AsiaNews that the problem is the link between politics and fundamentalism.

Fr Peter Bombach was killed with a pair of scissors, with a rope around his neck. The motive for the cold-blooded crime is still unknown. The priest lived in poverty near the sick, whom he urged to pray to Our Lady.

The murder took place late at night. Motive for killing unknown. He was known by everyone and very good to people of every creed and caste.

For the first time in its history, the small Himalayan kingdom is host to a South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit. Whilst opening up to the world, the country has not solved the problem of 80,000 Nepali refugees stuck for the best part of 20 years in camps. Karma Duptho, a Bhutanese dissident in exile, tells AsiaNews about the refugee situation. “We are less hopeful that repatriation will take place any time soon,” he said.

Sister Rani Maria’s own sister talks about the shock she felt when she was told about the brutal murder. She also mentions her discovery of God’s plans, the joy of forgiving and the murderer’s conversion, all of which she experienced within the family. She spoke to AsiaNews about it.

Fr Edward Sequeira, a Verbite priest who saw anti-Christian violence firsthand and was almost burnt to death during the 2008 pogrom, tells AsiaNews that a big organisation is working against Christians. He is certain that the Church will return to the areas where its institutions have been laid waste. The archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar says the Church is ready to appeal the acquittals.

Samandar Singh killed a nun in 1995. After that, he converted to Christianity and today he is a different man. He helps Tribals and for him Sister Rani’s family has become his own. Sadly, he agrees that a climate of anti-Christian hatred is currently sweeping across India. He urges his compatriots to see the truth in the presence of missionaries in the country.

A 25-year-old man drowns in a well after a group of radical Hindus breaks a prayer meeting. The archbishop of Bhopal tells AsiaNews that the State has failed to protect Christians.

Fifteen years after the martyrdom of the religious, murdered for her commitment to the poor and for her Christian faith, the priest who oversaw the diocesan investigation tells AsiaNews life about her life and her work. The conversion of her murderer, a Hindu farmer, due to her intercession.

Tint Swe, a member of the exiled government, says the junta moved to keep Aung San Suu Kyi under arrest and outlaw the opposition party. The Burmese do not see a force capable of opposing the military and will opt for abstention. He adds: the election date is linked to border control.

Here is the story of conversion of a young Gujarati Hindu, who went from fascination with sacred music to discover the love of Christ on the Cross. Now he wants to become a priest and missionary.

For human rights activist Lenin Raghuvanshi the law will enable Christians in Orissa to seek justice. The bill approved by the government was presented yesterday in parliament. Measure to be enforced by local governments, who will have to ensure an end to police use of torture to further investigations and maintain control over the population.