Dimapur, July 1 (MExN): The Zeliangrong Heraka Association, representing Herakans – followers of “indigenous” religion Heraka, of Nagaland Manipur and Assam– has written to the Presidents of India alleging various prejudices, persecution and forced-conversion of its followers by the Naga Churches. The representation set a charter of demands to be considered for action against the alleged persecutions. The demands are (i) institution of an enquiry commission to investigate what the followers termed as “the anti-human and anti-national activities of “church’; provision of “full-protection” to the Heraka community “which has become minority in Nagaland due to Christian conversions”; mechanisms to protect and preserve Heraka religion and culture; action against one Kuranglung Zeliang, Pastor of Baptist Church of Mbaupungwa Village in Nagaland and others for their alleged involvement in the “conversion of corpse” of one Lt. Llamdi Zeliang; safeguard the “fundamental rights of the Heraka community enshrined in the constitution of India”.
According to the representation, the “Nagaland Church” has declared to send ten thousand missionaries to convert “Hindus to Christianity”. “Is this an established and accepted method of Christian conversion? Is this the religious freedom Christian missionaries are fighting for?” the association questioned.
The Herakans also alleged that the churches in Nagaland has destroyed innumerous Naga families and are suppressing the “ancient glory of our forefathers are made to be forgot, the glorious history of forefathers are distorted and wrong history is pushed forward.” The Herakans claimed that indigenous religions of the Nagas, their rich culture, age-old traditions and festivals have been destroyed by Christianity and in place Christian festivals and massive church buildings “each of them worth several millions, sometimes worth crores” have been imposed on the Naga youths.
“For Church, end justifies means; Heraka community is the victim of such Christian invasion. All Christians in Nagaland were converted from Hindu forefathers mostly at gun-point” the representation claimed adding that by converting the Nagas to Christianity, the Christian missionaries are damaging the social fabric of Nagaland. “Once converted, the Nagas defy the traditions, creating tensions and ill-will thereby in the community” the association asserted adding that there is an “unholy alliance” aimed at destroying the social-fabric of the Naga people. The Churches in Nagaland are the promoters of armed insurgency and terrorism in the Name of “liberation theology,” the Heraka Association maintained.
The Herakans also asserted that Naga churches are the enemies of the rich culture of the Naga people because “as long as the rich heritage exists, the conversion cannot take place” and that all heinous deeds are being done by the Christians so that “primordial religion and culture” is totally destroyed. Other charges the Zeliangrong Heraka Association made were that the Christian missionaries were actively involved in “converting corpses” of Heraka followers. Naga missionaries tried to “convert” the dead bodies of two Herakans, Haipou NC Zeliang and Llamdi Syarow on April 23, 2005 and May 15, 2006 respectively, the association claimed.
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