The account of Sister Lenita D’Souza, an Indian doctor with the Sisters of Maria Bambina, who has been on the front line alongside a driver and three nurses in helping the victims of the disaster that struck a month ago. ‘If we don’t get the children back to school, we will soon lose an entire generation. We must rebuild not only homes but also lives.’
In a commemorative march, she asks for an impartial and a fair inquiry into the murder of the young working-class Catholic Roshen Chanaka. Christian-Buddhist ceremony in his honor prevented for "political pressure". The boy died on May 30 last year in clashes between police and workers, in protest over pensions. Bishops' Conference appeal to the government.
Court issues arrest warrants for two Pakistani nationals who fled to Dubai. Pakistan plans to demand the extradition of Ziaur Rehman and Malik Abid, both from Faisalabad. Move closes the chapter on allegations that the murder was due to a family feud or intra-Christian disputes. Now police are back investigating circles close to the Taliban and Islamic fundamentalism.
More than 16,000 fighters must be reintegrated into society. Weapons are to be handed over to a multi-party committee for destruction. Election of Maoist Prime Minister Bhattarai was key to the decision.
Pakistan President Zardari, who was present at the ceremony inaugurating the first expo set for 1-5 September in Urumqi, said his country is ready to cooperate with Beijing against Muslim extremism. The latter, however, is a pretext to crack down on minority Muslim Uyghurs. China’s main airports are put on high alert.
Searches without warrants and detention of potential suspects without charges. On 25 August the President Mahinda Rajapaksa had declared the end to the state of emergency. In a month, in Geneva, the United Nations Human Rights Council will discuss the war crimes allegedly committed by the army in the late stages of the ethnic conflict.
During celebrations honouring Lord Shiva, Hindu women criticise proposed amendments to the penal code that would ban conversions. For them, such changes reflect the view of rightwing politicians, not all the people.
The activists of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) accused them of forced conversions. Church demolished, two motorcycles destroyed, a camera and six bikes stolen. Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC): "Here is the insecurity in which the Christian minority in secular India live."
In Madhya Pradesh, the Church organised prayer meetings and blood donations to commemorate the victims of Hindu violence three years ago. In Orissa, no prayer service was held. In Kandhamal, Hindu nationalists meet to remember the murder of Lakshmananda Saraswati, whose “martyrdom” unleashed a wave of violence in 2008.
The appeal launched for the World Day of the disappeared. The women are asking the government to investigate a case without looking at ethnicity or religion. With 12 thousand missing persons, Sri Lanka is the second country with the highest number of disappearances in the world.
No speeches or ceremonies were held yesterday to mark World Disappearance Day. During the country’s civil war, Maoist guerrillas were responsible for the disappearance of more than 200 people. This could jeopardise Maoist party’s rehabilitation by the United States.
For two days there has been no news of Daniel Sharoon. Security cameras and witnesses saw him enter the building, then all trace was lost. The family asks for prayers for his release. The police find no useful clues. In Faisalabad Koranic students attack a 64 year old Christian maid.
For Fr Victor Edwin, an expert on relations between Islam and Christianity, the strength of the Muslims to face the fast, braving the scorching heat and humidity, shows "a deep sense of God." In India, the two communities must work together to defend the country, following the example of the "Arab Spring" revolutions.
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