Against Submergence of Chadong Baptist Church
24 July 2015
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. It is with heartfelt pain that a Church, one of the oldest in Manipur, built with hard earned contribution from villagers is now going under water.
It may be mentioned here that the Church Authority (Board of Deacons) hasn’t been informed about the dam or the recent rise in the water level. The Board also were kept in the dark about any alternative space for worship or rebuilding it. This is a serious and grave violation of the religious and cultural rights of the people who have been stripped of their right to life in all its sense.
We have taken resolution today that the Board of Deacons of Chadong Baptist Church will approach all doors available for justice. We also urge all Church bodies in Manipur and beyond to take note of this obliteration of a Church without the due process and to help raise defend the sanctity of a Church.
We also urge the Government of Manipur to immediately safeguard and protect the existing churches and associated buildings until new places of worship are duely constructed for the villages under submergence with appropriate amenities.
Signed
Reverend L Ningthar
Pastor, Chadong Baptist Church
Also on behalf of the Board of Deacons
Chadong Baptist Church
(Southern Tangkhul Naga Baptist Association)
BPO: Chadong Village, Ukhrul Dist. Pin-795145, Manipur, India
* This Press Relese was sent to e-pao.net by Ram Wangkheirakpam (North East Peoples Alliance) who can be contacted at wangkheilakpa(aT)gmail(dot)com
This Press Release was posted on July 25 2015
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