The mammoth silent march & protest rally to oppose & the outright rejection of the report of the Justice B.K.Somashekar Commission

News: Fr Richard Rego

Photos:

Pachhu Ferar, Sub Editor of Raknno Weekly &

 

 

Vincent Mascarenhas, Moodbidri

 

 

Mangalore, Feb. 20: It went beyond everyone’s expectation. The protest rally to reject the BK Somasekhar commission report on attacks on churches in September 2008, was a massive success! Over 100,000 people participated in a procession from Jyothi Circle leading to Nehru Maidan at Hampankatta. The procession was a silent one with all the participants wearing black (priests and religious who wore white cassocks wore a black strip on their robes), besides waving black flags and black strips tied to mouths symbolising the suppression of human rights!

What gathered in the Nehru ground was a massive sea of humanity – over 100,000 people all wearing black in protest! Everybody with black, shouting slogans against the suppression of human rights and silencing of minority voices by the government machinery by appointing a judge suiting to the exploitative government’s motives.

Ms Mariamm Thomas, corporator and Pastor Walter Maben spoke rejecting the communally exploitative and one-sided report which absolves police and bajrang dal who unleashed a reign of terror in Sept. 2008. Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza in his presidential remarks reiterated Christian faith in peace and harmony; he wondered how wrong the communal elements were in thinking that by stoning churches, destroying crosses, desecrating Holy Sacraments and attacking innocent Christians they would silence a peace loving community! In stead, our resolves has been hardened by this, he said. We will continue to serve humanity, he reaffirmed. He -along with Mariamma Thomas and Walter Maben- demanded that the Karnataka government reject the report -which is one-sided- summarily and hand over the case to CBI. “We believe in Justice; and we demand justice,” he said.

After the protest rally all the black flags and strips were collected and sent to the Chief Minister. The Christian community also handed over to Mr Ramesh (Deputy Commissioner of Police) a memorandum to be sent to the chief minister, governor, leader of the opposition, prime minister, president and UPA Chairperson. 

The mammoth silent march & protest rally to oppose & the outright rejection of the report of the Justice B.K.Somashekar Commission: PHOTOS