THE MARTYRDOM OF SR. VALSA JOHN
Dear Beloved of the Father,
On 16th November, 2011 Sr. Valsa John belonging to the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary and involved in a movement against displacement of tribal people by coal mining companies in Jharkhand, was brutally murdered early on Wednesday. The killing occurred at Pachuwara village of Pakur district, 400 km from the State Capital of Ranchi.
She had been protesting against the functioning of a private coal mine in Pakur district who were exploiting the tribals. She was seeking to protect the interests of the Santhali tribe, some members of which were displaced by the Panem Coal Mines.
Because of her relentless campaign in 2006, she succeeded in getting for some of the displaced families compensation for their land on current market prices, some employment and even medicare and education for them. However, she continued with her fight against the vested interests because the tribals were still badly off.
According to the police, some unidentified men approached her house around midnight. When she opened the door, she was beaten with sticks and hacked to death.
Sister Valsa John had often voiced her feelings to her family members in Vazhakala at Kakkanad in Ernakulam district that she faced death threats from the mining mafia. Baby her younger brothers said that during a visit in August, she spoke of death threats from the coal mining mafia that she was fighting in order to protect the tribal community. He said Sister Valsa spoke to her elder sister in Kochi on the phone on Tuesday evening and discussed her problems.
She was approached by the coal mafia several times for a settlement but she was firm on her stand and demanded due share for the tribals from the revenue generated from the mines.
The life and message of Sr. Valsa John should indeed lead us out of the slumber of our comforts and compromises to become more like Christ…till death do us part.
FR. CEDRIC PRAKASH S.J.
Fr. Cedric Prakash S.J. calls on the cold blooded murder “A Martyrdom – which is a challenge to both the Country and to the Church”. He said, ‘Sr. Valsa’s martyrdom is indeed a wakeup call for the whole country. Hers is one more death, in a long list of activists be it Amit Jethawa in Gujarat , or Shehla Masood in Madhya Pradesh who were just eliminated because they took on the powerful mining lobby and other vested interests. The mining lobby has indeed become extremely powerful in the country with plenty of muscle and money. They leave no stone unturned to maximize their greed and profits. Their nexus with the police and the politicians is blatant. They operate with impunity and with very certain immunity. No one dares touch them! Sr. Valsa’s death raises larger issues namely, if there is a political will at every level to curb this menace which could only lead to more violence and erode the fundamental rights of ordinary citizens. Her martyrdom is also a challenge to the Church in India . Christianity in India must be seen very visibly on the side of the poor, the marginalized, the oppressed and the exploited. The Church must accompany the subalterns in very tangible ways in their struggle for a more equitable, just and humane society. In doing so, the Church should demonstrate an unflinching courage to take on the powerful vested interests, even if it be at the cost of certain privileges it might be receiving from them. Jesus would have done exactly that! In his last Encyclical letter entitled ‘Caritas in Veritate’, Pope Benedict XVI emphatically states, “Love – caritas – is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace. It is a force that has its origin in God, Eternal Love and Absolute Truth.” The martyrdom of Sr. Valsa John, indeed personifies this statement!
KOTTAPPURAM BISHOP JOSEPH KARIKKASSERY
Kottappuram Bishop Joseph Karikkassery expressed deep sorrow over the murder of Sr. Valsa John. He said, ‘Sr. Valsa, of Vazhakkala in Kochi, was serving as missionary among the downtrodden in Pakur district for the last two decades. She had organised the local people to protest against the exploitation of the coal mafia. Her action had turned out to be the sore of the eyes of the coal mafia. It is suspected that the anti-social elements under the instigation of coal mafia were behind the killing of the nun.’ Bishop Karikkassery said that such incidents should not occur in a civilised democratic society. He urged the Jharkhand Government to take immediate steps to bring the culprits to book. The public consciousness should be awakened against the concerted move to eliminate the missionaries who worked for the progress of society. The Bishop said that the entire faithful of Kottappuram Diocese share the sorrow and grief of the family members and the Congregation of Sr. Valsa. A special prayer session will be held in Sr Valsa’s parish Church, St George Forane Church, Edappalli, at 9 am on Thursday.
CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL
More than 100 people took part in a candle light vigil in Delhi Friday to pay tributes to tribal rights activist Sr. Valsa John. Holding candles outside the Sacred Heart Cathedral, prelates, priests, nuns and the laity sang hymns and paid rich encomiums to the slain nun. “We are saddened by the incident but at the same time thank God for giving us such a courageous person,” said Bishop Abraham Mar Paulose of the Mar Thoma Church. He said that the nun had “motivated us to commit ourselves to the poor and the marginalised.” The bishop said that the state authorities should act and not just be onlookers in such matters.
Sister Ann Moyalan, a social activist in Delhi, said that the nun has set an example before us by sacrificing her life for the needy and the poor. “She opted to work for these people without thinking about her safety. Her struggle must continue,” she added.
John Dayal, General Secretary of the All India Christian Council, said the Church is shocked over the incident and asked for a CBI inquiry into the matter. He said that the allegations of the role of land mafia and political elements should also be investigated. Dayal said that this candlelight vigil has been organized to stress that such violent methods will not detract the social activists from their service to the poor.
Archbishop Vincent Concessao was also present on the occasion.
CARDINAL TELESPHORE P. TOPPO
Denouncing the killing of Sr. Valsa, Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo said to the media, “Her murder is a shame for all of us in Jharkhand.” Even as the Adivasi-Moolwasi nexus had called for a Jharkhand Bund today, they — to the knowledge of this reporter — made no explicit mention of the killing of Sr. Valsa as championing the Tribal cause. The Bund itself was not entirely successful in Ranchi.
“The poor people have lost a benefactor. The religious sister was serving the poor, especially tribals and fighting for their justice,” said Cardinal Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi. Terming the incident as a “shame on the state”, he demanded a high-level investigation to “reveal mysteries behind the murder”.
SR. VALSA JOHN’S FUNERAL
Thousands bid a tearful farewell to slain nun Sr Valsa John, who was laid to rest at St Paul’s Cathedral in Jharkhand’s Pakur district. The cathedral was packed with mourners, while many more stood outside. Jesuit Fr. Verky of Raiganj province led the concelebrated mass by 50 priests.
Fr. Tom Kavalakatt SJ, director of Social Action Center at Kodma, Dumka, delivering the homily said that Sr. John had dedicated her life for the poor people. She was the voice for the poor.
Two hundred nuns and hundreds of people joined members of Sr. John’s family, including her brother and two nephews, at the funeral.
FOR SOCOM
FR. LAWRENCE LOUIS RODRIGUES
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