Chadong Baptist Church's Memo to Chief Secretary, Manipur
27 July 2015
The Chadong Baptist Church, Ukhrul has formally submitted a Memorandum to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Manipur to inform and to take urgent action for forcefully submerging the church by Mapithel Dam water without any notification and due process of law which amounts to denial and subjugation of the right to religious practices.
For your information, the Chadong Baptist Church, affiliated to Southern Tangkhul Naga Baptist Association (STNBA) founded in 0ct 10, 1935, is a very historically significant church. The Golden Jubilee of this Church and of STNBA was celebrated in the year 1986, the Platinum Jubilee was celebrated in the year 2010. Memorial stones of these and other important events still adorns the lawn of the Church, however, all these timeless markers of history will be forever submerged. This is no justice to the people of Chadong, to history and to God.
The Mapithel Dam has artificially inundated several villages and their properties. Included in this is Chadong Village and this has created a man-made disaster by the government. Church members have been fleeing the village and are now living in makeshift houses. The government could have averted this disaster if there were proper planning with a humane face. All rights have been violated including the right to practice one’s own religion.
The government have not informed nor issued any notification to the Church in any manner or form whatsoever. The submergence of the Church has begun by the dam water. The Pastor’s quarter, office and the church guest house are already inside the water. Even now, the Deacon Board including the Pastor has no knowledge of any alternative arrangement or any compensation or to rebuild in another location.
In this regard, the Church Authority have taken resolution (24.07.2015) to approach all possible doors for the denial of the right to practice one’s religion and sacrilege of the Church. We have also urged all other Church authorities and alliances to kindly help in this regard by spreading this news and writing to relevant authorities. As the submergence of Chadong village is almost complete, the Chadong Baptist Church has been forced to conduct the last service and last prayers inside the Church as all routes to this sacred place has been cut off. This also means that the government is completely insensitive to the Church and its functioning, and it has no respect for religion thereby violating the rights as enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
In this regard, the Memorandum to the Chief Secretary has asked for the following:
A. To immediately make temporary arrangement until a proper church is build.
B. To immediately safeguard and protect the existing church.
C. To construct a new place of worship with appropriate amenities in a place mutually agreeable to the Church and its members.
D. To urgently look after the Church members who are now displaced and living in very inhuman condition.
Signed
(REV L. NINGTHAR)
Pastor, Chadong Baptist Church
Chadong Baptist Church
(Southern Tangkhul Naga Baptist Association)
BPO: Chadong Village, Ukhrul Dist. Pin-795145, Manipur, India
Email: chadongbaptistchurch(at)gmail(doT)com
* This Press Relese was sent to e-pao.net by Ram Wangkheirakpam who can be contacted at wangkheilakpa(aT)gmail(doT)com
This Press Release was posted on July 28 2015
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