10/16/97 - 1114

South Africa Hindus Protest Conversion Attempts

South Africa (VNN) - The hall of the Phoenix Stanmore Regional Hall, Grove End Drive, was packed to the capacity. Mostly the audience was from people of Indian origin, who came to South Africa almost 130 years ago. Due to long apartheid era, these people faced lot of problems for continuing contact with their cultural Motherland India. The spiritual inspiration which they used to get due to the visits of people, Hindu leaders and saints from India was fading away. The supply of religious scriptures was also meager. The language was lost.

Father Sunny James Naicker who was running the Phoenix Crusade was using all the tricks to convince the mob about what... that was the question? The address was totally devoted to denigrating Hinduism, Hindu Gods and culture. The crusade was to convert our Hindu brothers and sisters to Christianity. But the talk had very little about Christian religion. He was more talking about the failure of Hindu Gods, Hindu philosophy all the negatives of Hindu society.

Suddenly, a person sitting in a wheelchair came inside the Church Hall. Father James Naicker, was almost in trance - shouting, dancing, cursing Hindu Gods and suddenly the atmosphere was very much charged. People stood up on their feet and in no time, the Indian person, sitting in wheel chair got up and started walking towards the altar. The father-offering thanks to Lord Jesus offered his hand to the handicapped-turned-healthy (due to blessing of God) and took him to a small cabin. After 5 minutes-the person came back and proclaimed as the new convert. He gave a small lecture. "Neither Krishna nor Rama nor Durga helped. It was the Jesus who helped me to walk". Again Father Naicker took an opportunity to explain helplessness of Hindu deities in guiding people.

Couple of people walked into the adjacent cabin. After sometime, one by one, they came out and proclaimed that they were no more Hindus but now were Christians. Such crusades were happening now and then, here and there. But this time Phoenix Crusade had a different experience. One young man entered in the cabin had undergone the so-called rituals but came out and proclaimed, he is still a Hindu.

Another two young men audio-video taped the proceedings in the Hall. Next day the President of South Africa Nelson Mandela received a letter stating. "We regret that our rights as guaranteed by our constitution as citizens of Republic of South Africa are being violated by persons who are using the smoke-screen of religion to perpetuate division, tension and hatred.

The High Commissioner of India (incidentally grandson of Mahatma Gandhi who started the peaceful satyagraha in South Africa a century ago) Shri Gopal Krishna Gandhi was informed about derogatory remarks against Bharat which all Hindus of South Africa consider as dharmabhoomi and poojyabhoomi, one that is the birthplace of our forefathers and great Mahatmas. He was informed that the evangelist Sunny James Naicker mentioned amongst many things that there is a "A different stink in every state of India" that you go to and ridiculed its reverence for the cow."

People at large were informed about the misuse of public place. The prayer crusade is being used as a platform to blasphemies and ridicule Hindu religion and Bharat. More importantly it was pointed out that it was a violation of the constitution of the Republic of South Africa especially chapter 2 Bill of Rights related to cultural, religious and linguistic minorities and section 31 and 16 related to Freedom of Expression.

A petition was submitted to Brother Naicker by 150 Hindu brothers and sisters during his meeting which stated clearly , "We acknowledge your democratic right to preach and propagate your religion Christianity but demand that you immediately :-

1. Stop targeting, denigrating and ridiculing Hindus and Hinduism.

2. Stop branding all those who do not worship Jesus Christ and is not Christian are devil worshipers and possessed.

3. Stop claiming that our prayers are not at all answered by the God.

4. Stop abusing our languages for the explicit purpose of converting Hindus.

5. Stop forcing your religion on Hindus and using devious and underhanded methods of converting them to Christianity with the belief that they are possessed or praying to Satan.

6. Stop claiming that people in Phoenix in Durban or any other area in this country will all be converted to Christianity.

7. Stop insult out spiritual Motherland Bharat (India), which has given birth to our religion, given shelter to all the religions including Christianity in their bad and good days, given birth to great daughters, sons, saints and apostles of peace like Mahatma Gandhi (Appropriate to mention here as Shri Naicker is also Indian origin).

8. Stop insulting and ridiculing Hindu organizations and movements.

9. Stop exploiting and abusing the plight of the low income group Hindus, the sick, the troubled etc. and manipulating their circumstances and converting them to Christianity.,

10. Stop brainwashing people into believing that Satan (the devil) are after them and will affect them if they do not follow Jesus Christ.

11. Stop fueling religious tensions, animosity, hatred, and ill feelings amongst Hindus, Muslims, African, Traditional Religionists, Christians, and other religions by provoking, insulting or saying that Christianity is the only true way for the people to reach God and be saved.

A strongly worded warning was also part of the petition. "We acknowledge that there are many peace loving Christians and Churches in South Africa. But we wish to direct ourselves to you, other Evangelists, Pastors, Christian dominated schools, Churches all over South Africa and who may subscribe to your narrow selfish thinking that we warn and caution you that if you persist with this unconstitutional and despicable practice further and dare insult, ridicule and exploit Hindus and people of other (than Christianity) religions by deviously converting them, that although Ahimsa (non-violence) peace and tolerance are some of our cardinal principles, we will put an end to your despicable work using every lawful, democratic and constitutional means in this country and assure you that you will witness the biggest and the most forceful ever mass movement in the history of South Africa."

The petition was supported by several major Hindu organizations and thousands of copies are being distributed under South African Hindu Anti-Defamation Coalition throughout South Africa.

There is an increased need never felt before for the United Hindu efforts top retain our dharma, culture, traditions all-over South Africa. After submission of the petition. Mr Naicker had changed his tone during the next crusades. Hope everybody learns to uphold the constitutional rights of each other