[ad_1]
LONDON: As violence continues in Manipur, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FROB), MP Fiona Bruce, raised concerns about the “major violence going on in Manipur” in the Main Chamber of the House of Commons on Thursday as BBC She was criticized for not reporting the violence.
During oral questions to church commissioners, Bruce said: “Since early May alone hundreds of churches have been destroyed, many burned and razed to the ground. Over 100 people have been killed and over 50,000 displaced; schools and seminaries have also been targeted in what appears to be systematic and deliberate attacks with religion as the main factor. However, there has been very little reporting on this. People are there asking for help. What can the Church of England do to bring more attention to their cries?” Bruce asked, referring to a report by former BBC correspondent David Campanile of the International Freedom of Religious or Belief Alliance (IRFBA), which Bruce chairs.
At the May 15 meeting of the IRFBA’s expert council, concerns were raised about the Manipur violence, after which the report was launched. The report includes eyewitness accounts from victims and states that “the scale of the destruction of religious places of worship deserves much wider attention… The fundamental rights to freedom of worship and assembly have been directly affected and the resources required to rebuild and re-establish churches.” It will be safe facilities for conducting Christian services with great freedom.”
Representing the Church Commissioners at the debate, MP Andrew Selous, 2nd Commissioner of Church Property, replied that Bruce “has done a great service by putting this on the record in this Council. I am sure that she, like me, would like to see more reporting on these issues by the BBC and others. What she has told us is truly shocking, and I know the Archbishop of Canterbury, who visited India in 2019 to see these challenges firsthand, remains deeply concerned. I will direct her report on Manipur directly to Archbishop’s attention.
Bruce Psilos also asked about recent steps the Church of England has taken to help protect FROB in other countries. The United Nations Security Council was reported to have recently adopted a resolution to release an annual report on FROB sponsored by the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.
Campanaly’s report recommends that the Indian government “send sufficient numbers of Indian Army units to protect the tribal villages” and calls for a full investigation into the impact of the violence on the frontline area.
He calls for access to journalists, for religious leaders to meet nationwide to defuse the situation, for a claims commission to be set up and internet services restored.
During oral questions to church commissioners, Bruce said: “Since early May alone hundreds of churches have been destroyed, many burned and razed to the ground. Over 100 people have been killed and over 50,000 displaced; schools and seminaries have also been targeted in what appears to be systematic and deliberate attacks with religion as the main factor. However, there has been very little reporting on this. People are there asking for help. What can the Church of England do to bring more attention to their cries?” Bruce asked, referring to a report by former BBC correspondent David Campanile of the International Freedom of Religious or Belief Alliance (IRFBA), which Bruce chairs.
At the May 15 meeting of the IRFBA’s expert council, concerns were raised about the Manipur violence, after which the report was launched. The report includes eyewitness accounts from victims and states that “the scale of the destruction of religious places of worship deserves much wider attention… The fundamental rights to freedom of worship and assembly have been directly affected and the resources required to rebuild and re-establish churches.” It will be safe facilities for conducting Christian services with great freedom.”
Representing the Church Commissioners at the debate, MP Andrew Selous, 2nd Commissioner of Church Property, replied that Bruce “has done a great service by putting this on the record in this Council. I am sure that she, like me, would like to see more reporting on these issues by the BBC and others. What she has told us is truly shocking, and I know the Archbishop of Canterbury, who visited India in 2019 to see these challenges firsthand, remains deeply concerned. I will direct her report on Manipur directly to Archbishop’s attention.
Bruce Psilos also asked about recent steps the Church of England has taken to help protect FROB in other countries. The United Nations Security Council was reported to have recently adopted a resolution to release an annual report on FROB sponsored by the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.
Campanaly’s report recommends that the Indian government “send sufficient numbers of Indian Army units to protect the tribal villages” and calls for a full investigation into the impact of the violence on the frontline area.
He calls for access to journalists, for religious leaders to meet nationwide to defuse the situation, for a claims commission to be set up and internet services restored.
[ad_2]
