Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA

RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE

Research Response Number: IND31446 Country: India Date: 19 March 2007

Keywords: India – – SFI – Kerala Student Union – Democratic Indira (Karunakaran) – CPI(M) – INC – Christians

This response was prepared by the Country Research Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Questions

1. Please provide some background as to the politics of the State of Kerala, particularly clashes between the CPIM and INC or DIC or their student arms. 2. Is there any information of Simon Britto and whether he is a legislative assembly member? 3. Which party was in power in Kerala State Assembly from the early 1980s? 4. Please provide some background on the Democratic Indira Congress and Mr. Karunakaran in Kerala. 5. Please provide background or any detail on RSS attacks on Christians particularly in Chitoor, Kerala.

RESPONSE

Note: The (Marxist) is usually abbreviated to CPI(M), CPIM, or CPM. The Communist Party of India is usually abbreviated to CPI. The India National Congress is also known as the Congress Party, Congress, or Congress (I), abbreviated INC.

1. Please provide some background as to the politics of the State of Kerala, particularly clashes between the CPIM and INC or DIC or their student arms.

An Indian news article on the 2006 state elections describes Keralan politics as a “political jigsaw”. Politics in Kerala is characterised by continually shifting alliances, party mergers and splits, factionalism within the coalitions and within political parties, and numerous splinter groups. The two largest political parties in Kerala are the India National Congress (INC) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The Student Federation of India (SFI) is the powerful student arm of the CPI(M), while the Kerala Student Union (KSU) is a pioneer of the students’ movement of the INC. As detailed in this response, the two major parties and their student wings have a long history of enmity in Kerala (‘Kerala’s political jigsaw, unravelled’ 2006, Rediff website, 10 April http://in.rediff.com/election/2006/apr/10pkerala.htm – Accessed 19 January 2007 – Attachment 1).

An article in Wikipedia1 on Kerala’s political system states:

Like other Indian states and Commonwealth countries, Kerala is governed through a parliamentary system of representative democracy; universal suffrage is granted to residents. There are three branches of government. The legislature, or the legislative assembly, consists of elected members and special office bearers (the Speaker and Deputy Speaker) elected by assemblymen. Assembly meetings are presided over by the Speaker (or the Deputy Speaker if the Speaker is absent). The judiciary comprises the Kerala High Court (including a Chief Justice combined with 26 permanent and two additional (pro tempore) justices) and a system of lower courts. The executive authority—comprising the Governor of Kerala (the de jure head of state appointed by the President of India), the Chief Minister of Kerala (the de facto head of state: the Legislative Assembly’s majority party leader is appointed to this position by the Governor), and the Council of Ministers (appointed by the Governor, with input from the Chief Minister). The Council of Ministers answers to the Legislative Assembly. Auxiliary authorities known as panchayats, for which local body elections are regularly held, govern local affairs (‘Kerala’ 2007, Wikipedia, updated 4 March http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala – Accessed 5 March 2007 – Attachment 2).

Kerala hosts two major political alliances: the United Democratic Front (UDF) – led by the INC; and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) – led by the CPI(M). Most of the major political parties in Kerala, except for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), belong to one or the other of these two alliances, often shifting allegiances a number of times. An article dated 19 March 2006 states that “[i]t is difficult for a single party to contest and win even a single seat, because the voter perception is towards voting for a front. The BJP…has not been able to register its presence in the assembly. This in spite of the fact that BJP is the third largest party in Kerala after Congress and CPM” (Chandrasekhar, S. 2006, ‘BJP and Karunakaran can tilt the balance’, Organiser website, 19 March http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=122&p age=11 – Accessed 8 March 2007 – Attachment 3; also see ‘Kerala’ 2007, Wikipedia2, updated 4 March http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala – Accessed 5 March 2007 – Attachment 2).

At present LDF is the ruling coalition, after winning the May 2006 state elections. V.S. Achuthanandan of the CPI(M) became the Chief Minister.

State elections are held in Kerala usually every five years. Since the early 1980s control of the government has alternated every election between the UDF and the LDF. Clashes between supporters of the two coalitions have occurred periodically. Both the INC and the

1 Users should be aware that Wikipedia is a Web-based free-content encylopaedia which is written collaboratively by volunteers. Country Research recommends that users of Wikipedia familiarise themselves with the regulatory practices which Wikipedia employs as a preventative measure against vandalism, bias and inaccuracy. 2 Users should be aware that Wikipedia is a Web-based free-content encylopaedia which is written collaboratively by volunteers. Country Research recommends that users of Wikipedia familiarise themselves with the regulatory practices which Wikipedia employs as a preventative measure against vandalism, bias and inaccuracy. CPI(M) have accused the other of corruption, promoting or condoning political violence, and “the general breakdown of law and order” during their periods in government (see: ‘Storm gathers under Red sky’ 2006, Indian Express, 2 May – Attachment 4; ‘Pinarayi spreading violence’ 2005, The Hindu, 9 November – Attachment 5; Krishnakumar, R. 2005, ‘Kerala’s choice ‘, Frontline, Volume 22, Issue 21, 8 October, http://www.flonnet.com/fl2221/stories/20051021003603700.htm – Accessed 11 April 2006 – Attachment 6; ‘Opposition boycotts Governor’s address in Kerala Assembly’ 2000, Press Trust of India, 18 February – Attachment 7; ‘UDF Hartal on Feb 16’ 2000, Press Trust of India, 11 February – Attachment 8; ‘LDF sending team to Kasaragod, ’ 1999, The Hindu, 17 September – Attachment 9).

Political Violence Past RRT Research Responses address the issue of political violence in Kerala. They indicate that the state “has experienced a long history of political violence” and that “clashes have involved all political parties”. Specifically, they also indicate that members of the Congress party have been targeted by the Communist Party (RRT Country Research 1995, Research Response IND10903, 16 November (includes reports on political violence in the late 1980s and early 1990s) – Attachment 10; RRT Country Research 2002, Research Response IND15162, 21 May (details political violence and law enforcement) – Attachment 11; RRT Country Research 2004, Research Response IND16666, 29 April (details violence between CPI(M) and INC) – Attachment 12).

A 2001 article in the Gulf News details the rising political violence in Kerala where, in addition to State police, 30 companies of Central paramilitary forces and 14,000 special police officers had been deployed to ensure security for the coming elections. The article also mentions a recent “chain of reprisal killings” as well as widespread property destruction, mainly in the , with the BJP, the CPI(M), and the Congress party being the main rivals. According to the article over 2,000 political clashes and 150 political murders had occurred in the district in the past 20 years (Mathew, A. 2001, ‘Elaborate security for Kerala elections’, Gulf News, 8 May – Attachment 13).

An article dated 6 November 2005 reports allegations by the President of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) that the CPI(M) had created a “terror situation” in the Kannur district through violating democratic rights, rigging elections, intimidation, and political violence and killings. An article dated 9 November 2005 details allegations that the CPI(M) was spreading this type of political violence and intimidation to other parts of the State. The KPCC leader also alleged that the CPI(M) was unleashing violence in order to suppress its political adversaries, and that the CPI(M) and the BJP were equally responsible for promoting violence (‘KPCC to submit memo to Central Government, CEC’ 2005, The Hindu, 6 November – Attachment 14; ‘Pinarayi spreading violence’ 2005, The Hindu, 9 November – Attachment 5).

See also: ‘CPM under attack from allies’ 2006, Organiser website, 10 December http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=160&p age=19 – Accessed 7 March 2007 – Attachment 15; ‘Violence claims four lives, several injured killed in Kerala’ 2000, Press Trust of India, 4 December – Attachment 7; ‘LDF sending team to Kasaragod, Kannur’ 1999, The Hindu, 17 September – Attachment 9; ‘Fight in Kannur is over violence S Sanandakumar’ 1999, The Economic Times, 8 September – Attachment 7; ‘BJP demands judicial inquiry into CPM violence in Kerala’ 1996, Business Standard, 12 December – Attachment 16.

Clashes between the SFI & KSU A number of reports referring to conflict between the KSU and the SFI were found in the available information. These often-violent clashes have been occurring over the last few decades up to the present time. An article in The Hindu refers to the “violent campus politics of the 1980s”, and details the 1983 student union clash between the SFI and the KSU in which Simon Britto was stabbed. With student political activism continuing to result in sometimes violent confrontations, the article reports that there is a “middle-class clamour for a ban on campus politics” (Basheer, K.P.M. 2006, ‘Courage under fire’, The Hindu, 23 July http://www.hindu.com/mag/2006/07/23/stories/2006072300130200.htm – Accessed 5 March 2007 – Attachment 17; more information on Simon Britto is included in Question 2).

Most recently, an article dated 12 January 2007 reports the closure of a college in Kerala’s capital city as a result of clashes between KSU and SFI activists. The article states:

The Government Law College was declared closed for an indefinite period following clashes between activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) and Kerala Students Union (KSU) on Thursday morning. According to the police, Hassan Kunju, a college student and KSU activist, was attacked by two persons suspected to be SFI activists. Hassan was beaten with a knuckle-duster, the police said. He was admitted to the Medical College Hospital with bruises and contusions (‘Clashes: Government Law College closed’ 2007, The Hindu, 12 January http://www.hinduonnet.com/2007/01/12/stories/2007011207960400.htm – Accessed 7 March 2007 – Attachment 18).

According to an article dated 3 September 2006, SFI violence is more extreme during the years of CPM rule. The article details a recent attack on a university lecturer by thirty SFI activists. According to this report, “[t]he police, who arrived late due to pressure from top SFI and CPM leaders, tried to protect the SFI students and water down the case.” Discussing past SFI violence, the article states:

In the last spell of the CPM rule during 1996-2001, a student belonging to the Congress-led Kerala Students Union (KSU) was attacked at the University College in Thiruvan-anthapuram (a red fort where no other students organisation is allowed to function) and the letters ‘SFI’ were imprinted on his back with a sharp knife. But now in this spell the SFI has shifted its preys from the student community to the teaching class (Chandrasekhar, S. 2006, ‘Lecturer attacked, abused for wearing Rakhi: SFI Goondaism in Campus’, Organiser website, 10 September http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=147&pa ge=5 – Accessed 7 March 2007 – Attachment 19).

An article dated 11 August 2006 reports that “[t]hree leaders of the Kerala Students Union, including its State general secretary, were injured in an assault by suspected Students Federation of India (SFI) activists” (‘KSU leaders attacked’ 2006, The Hindu, 11 August http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/11/stories/2006081114450400.htm – Accessed 7 March 2007 – Attachment 20).

An article dated 14 November 2000 reports that:

…police have registered a case of criminal conspiracy and assault against eight SFI activists, including the SFI chairman of Nilamel NSS College Union, who are suspected of being responsible for the brutal torture of a KSU (I) activist (‘Torture: Case against eight SFI activists’ 2000, The Hindu, 14 November http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/11/14/stories/0414404y.htm – Accessed 4 July 2003 – Attachment 21).

According to another article dated 14 November 2000, the assault was the latest of a number of attacks by the SFI. A news brief dated 23 December 2000 reported that a SFI member had been stabbed by a group of KSU activists. In retaliation, on the same day a group of SFI activists attacked a KSU member, who sustained serious injuries. Police arrested a KSU leader in connection to the incidents. An article dated 30 October 2002, reports that the “KSU State president…and 11 others were injured when a group of KSU activists clashed with the police”. It was alleged that “both the police and the SFI-led anti-social elements attacked the KSU workers” (‘KSU(I) calls for Statewide education strike today’ 2000, The Hindu, 14 November http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/11/14/stories/0414404d.htm – Accessed 7 March 2007 – Attachment 22; ‘, Dec 23’ 2000, Press Trust of India, 23 December – Attachment 23; ‘KSU chief, 11 others hurt in police action’ 2002, My-Kerala website, 30 October http://www.my-kerala.com/n/a/arc9-2002.shtml – Accessed 7 March 2007 – Attachment 24).

Police There is some evidence to suggest that the ruling party controls the police and sometimes uses them for political ends. An article dated 22 January 2006 quotes political leader K. Karunakaran (see Question 4) as saying “his police will rule in six months” [researcher emphasis added]. An article dated 27 October 2005 includes allegations that the police department was “turning a blind eye to the criminal politics”. An article dated 14 August 2002 includes allegations that “the police had taken up the administration in Kerala”. The CPM also stated at the time that “police have virtually been let loose in Kerala” (Chandrasekhar, S. 2006, ‘Deep divide in Left Front on Karunakaran’, Organiser website, 22 January http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=114&p age=32 – Accessed 8 March 2007 – Attachment 25; ‘CPI(M) blamed for violence at Perambra’ 2005, The Hindu, 27 October – Attachment 26; Mathew, A. 2002, ‘Kerala police face flak’, Gulf News, 14 August – Attachment 7).

A number of reports on politically motivated attacks indicate that police action had been insufficient. The attack against Simon Britto, then a member of the student arm of the CPI(M), occurred whilst the Congress was in power. According to a feature article in The Hindu, “[a]fter a flimsy police probe, his attacker was acquitted.” An article dated 11 February 2000 reports claims by the Congress-led UDF that the “law and order situation in the state was extremely grave and the repression let loose on the opposition [demonstrations] unbearable.” An article dated 14 November 2000, at a time when the CPI(M) were in power, relates a number of incidents, including the torture of KSU worker, which “showed that the CPI(M) was continuing with its violent activities” and that “police aided them by weakening and altering the case. Though two had been killed in a similar incident at Kathiroor earlier, the police had not properly investigated the case.” Another article of the same date, detailing the attack on a KSU worker, reports that “[t]hough the KSU(I) had lodged complaints about SFI ‘goondaism’ in the college many times in the past, the police was not ready to take any action.” A 2002 article in the Gulf News reports the “issue of police apparently handing out rough treatment to the Karunakaran faction members” (Basheer, K.P.M. 2006, ‘Courage under fire’, The Hindu, 23 July http://www.hindu.com/mag/2006/07/23/stories/2006072300130200.htm – Accessed 5 March 2007 – Attachment 17; ‘UDF Hartal on Feb 16’ 2000, Press Trust of India, 11 February – Attachment 8; ‘Torture: Case against eight SFI activists’ 2000, The Hindu, 14 November http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/11/14/stories/0414404y.htm – Accessed 4 July 2003 – Attachment 21; Mathew, A. 2002, ‘Kerala police face flak’, Gulf News, 14 August – Attachment 7).

For more information on BJP & RSS see: RRT Country Research 2006, Research Response IND30099, 11 April – Attachment 27; Harilal, M. 2005, ‘On a suicide mission’, Frontline website, 17 – 30 December http://www.flonnet.com/fl2226/stories/20051230005801500.htm – Accessed 19 January 2007 – Attachment 28.

2. Is there any information of Simon Britto and whether he is a legislative assembly member?

According to the available information Simon Britto Rodriguez was seriously injured in a student union clash in 1983, when he was a member of the SFI. In 2006, as the CPI(M) nominee, he became a member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly.

A search of the official website of the found Shri. Simon Britto Rodrigues included in the list of Members of the Legislative Assembly, although his constituency is listed only as “nominated” (‘Members of Legislative Assembly’ (undated), Government of Kerala official website http://www.kerala.gov.in/government/mla.htm – Accessed 14 March 2007 – Attachment 29).

A government newsletter dated July 2006 on the official government website reports that Simon Britto Rodriguez, the CPI (M) nominee, had been sworn in as the Anglo Indian representative to the 12th Kerala Legislative Assembly. The newsletter states:

Simon Britto Rodriguez [pictured], the CPI (M) nominee, sworn in as the Anglo Indian representative to the 12th Kerala Legislative Assembly. He took the oath before Speaker K. Radhakrishnan in the function held at members’ launch in the Assembly building. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, Opposition Leader Umman Chandy, ministers M.A. Baby, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, A.K. Balan, K.P. Rajendran, M. Vijayakumar attended the function (‘Government Appointments’ 2006, Kerala Calling, vol. 26, no. 9, p. 36, Government of Kerala official website, July http://www.kerala.gov.in/kercaljuly06/pg36-39.pdf – Accessed 14 March 2007 – Attachment 30).

An feature article in The Hindu describes Simon Britto Rodrigues (“Britto”), who is wheelchair bound, as the “newest member of the Kerala Assembly”. The article, dated 23 July 2006, details his political past, as well as the 1983 student union clash between the SFI and the KSU in which he was stabbed. He was paralysed from the chest down. Describing the attack, the article states:

He had just finished law school and was then the State vice-president of Students Federation of India, the powerful student wing of the CPI(M). A couple of SFI colleagues had been wounded in a campus clash with the rival pro-Congress Kerala Students Union (KSU). Britto was visiting those admitted in General Hospital. As he arrived in the casualty ward, a group of students pounced on him, and one stabbed him four times. The dagger pierced his heart, liver, lungs and, more damagingly, the spine. “I could see the face of the guy who stabbed me,” Britto says without rancour (Basheer, K.P.M. 2006, ‘Courage under fire’, The Hindu, 23 July http://www.hindu.com/mag/2006/07/23/stories/2006072300130200.htm – Accessed 5 March 2007 – Attachment 17).

3. Which party was in power in Kerala State Assembly from the early 1980s? The Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) are the two major political coalitions which have dominated Kerala state politics since the early 1980s. The CPI(M) is the senior coalition partner of the LDF, while the INC is the senior coalition partner of the UDF. In May 2006 the V. S. Achuthanandan group of the CPI(M) came into power. The reports detailed in the previous question confirm that Simon Britto also entered parliament in 2006 as a nominee of the CPI(M).

The Kerala State Government website includes a political background of the state of Kerala. According to this, the early 1980s were characterised by continual political realignments and power shifting between the Congress(I)-led UDF and the CPI(M)-led LDF. The Assembly was dissolved a number of times. In the 1982 elections the UDF were victorious and K. Karunakaran (INC) became Chief Minister. From 1987 to 1991 the LDF were in power. Early elections, held in 1991, were won by the UDF, and K. Karunakaran again became Chief Minister. The LDF resumed power in the 1996 elections. The UDF won the 2001 elections. In May 2006, the LDF won the elections with 98 of the 140 seats. V. S. Achuthanandan of the CPI(M) became Chief Minister. According to an article dated 5 March 2006, Achuthanandan “has a five-decade history of opposing Karunakaran politically and personally” (‘Political Background of the State of Kerala’ (undated), Kerala State Government Website http://www.kerala.gov.in/knowkerala/political.htm - Accessed 25 August 2006 – Attachment 31; Chandrasekhar, S. 2006, ‘A Sonia-CPM deal behind dumping the DIC(K)’, Organiser website, 5 March http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=120&p age=12 – Accessed 8 March 2007 – Attachment 32).

4. Please provide some back ground on the Democratic Indira Congress and Mr. Karunakaran in Kerala.

According to the available information, K. Karunakaran has been a prominent and controversial figure in Keralan state politics for at least four decades. As a member of the Congress Party he was elected seven times to the Kerala Legislative assembly between 1965 and 1995 and served as Chief Minister three times. In 2005 he acrimoniously split from the Congress Party and formed a breakaway party called the Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) (DIC(K)). According to one source he is “one of the most controversial and corrupt politicians from Kerala.” An article in Frontline states that [a]ll the four State Ministries under him were tainted with allegations of corruption” (‘K. Karunakaran’ 2007, Wikipedia, updated 25 January http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannoth_Karunakaran – Accessed 8 March 2007 – Attachment 33; Krishnakumar, R. 2003, ‘A master tactician’, Frontline, Volume 20, Issue 22, 11-24 October http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2021/stories/20031024004201600.htm – Accessed 8 March 2007 – Attachment 34).

Karunakaran’s dominating presence in the Congress party as well as other factors resulted in growing factionalism within the Kerala section of the Congress party. Owing to differences with Sonia Ghandi and then Kerala Chief Minister, , Karunakaran split from the Congress party (of which he had been a member for over seventy years), and founded a new party on 1 May 2005. Initially called the ‘National Congress (Indira)’, the name was later changed for registration purposes. An article dated 1 September 2005 reports that “[t]he Election Commission of India [yesterday] approved the registration of the newly-floated party of the breakaway Karunakaran faction of the Congress in Kerala as ‘Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran)’” (Chandrasekhar, S. 2006, ‘Deep divide in Left Front on Karunakaran’, Organiser website, 22 January http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=114&p age=32 – Accessed 8 March 2007 – Attachment 25; ‘Karunakaran’s party gets new name’ 2005, The Hindu, 1 September http://www.hindu.com/2005/09/01/stories/2005090108900400.htm – Accessed 8 March 2007 – Attachment 35).

An article in Wikipedia3 outlines the brief and convoluted history of Karunakaran’s new party. The article states:

The party has…not been void of internal dissent. Ahead of the 2005 panchayat elections, DIC(K) aligned with the Left Democratic Front. However, ahead of the 2006 Kerala legislative assembly elections the party entered into an understanding with the United Democratic Front to try to ensure K. Muraleedharan’s [Karunakaran’s son] victory in the assembly polls. That led to a grouping within the party forming a ‘DIC(K) Left Forum’. The Forum has plans of founding a new party after the elections…Recently, DIC has decided to merge in to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) lead by Sharad Pawar. This has resulted in a chaos in DIC and many of the leaders of the DIC have decided to go back to the Indian National Congress (‘Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran)’ 2007, Wikipedia, updated 30 January http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Indira_Congress_(Karunakaran) – Accessed 8 March 2007 – Attachment 36).

DIC(K) played a significant role in Keralan politics during its brief history. As a partner of both the LDF and the UDF at different times over the past two years, it has been a major factor in success and failure for the two coalitions. After its formation in 2005, DIC(K) formed a tactical alliance with the LDF “in order to teach [the Congress Party] a lesson”. It played a crucial role in the LDF’s sweeping victory in the local body [panchayat] elections, after which the “CPM and LDF openly thanked Karunakaran and credited him for the victory” (Krishnakumar, R. 2005, ‘Another round in Kerala’, Frontline, Volume 22, Issue 20, 7 October, http://www.flonnet.com/fl2220/stories/20051007003003600.htm – Accessed 11 April 2006 Attachment 37; Chandrasekhar, S. 2006, ‘BJP and Karunakaran can tilt the balance’, Organiser website, 19 March http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=122&p age=11 – Accessed 8 March 2007 – Attachment 3; Chandrasekhar, S. 2006, ‘Deep divide in Left Front on Karunakaran’, Organiser website, 22 January http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=114&p age=32 – Accessed 8 March 2007 – Attachment 25).

Despite the election success, the alliance caused difficulties within the LDF. According to Chandrasekhar, “Karunakaran had been the enemy of the LDF for the past four decades.” An article in the Kerala Monitor states that during Karunakaran’s time in power through period (1975-1977), many CPM party members “were severely harassed and tortured by the Karunakaran Government”. Chandrasekhar also mentions that during the Emergency years, “Karunakaran and his police” acted with “severe brutality” (Chandrasekhar, S. 2006, ‘Deep divide in Left Front on Karunakaran’, Organiser website, 22 January http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=114&p

3 Users should be aware that Wikipedia is a Web-based free-content encylopaedia which is written collaboratively by volunteers. Country Research recommends that users of Wikipedia familiarise themselves with the regulatory practices which Wikipedia employs as a preventative measure against vandalism, bias and inaccuracy. age=32 – Accessed 8 March 2007 – Attachment 25; ‘Internal Class Struggle Intensifies within CPM: P. Surendran’ (undated), Kerala Monitor http://www.keralamonitor.com/psurendran.htm – Accessed 8 March 2007 – Attachment 38).

According to an article dated 8 October 2005, during the local elections the “tactical alliance” between LDF and DIC(K) proved to be an “embarrassment for the cadres of both groups in many constituencies where they had been staunch rivals before”. The alliance was also vehemently opposed by many in the coalition, most especially by Achuthanandan as well as others, all of whom were “dead against any alliance with Karunakaran.” As a result of this opposition, LDF decided not to associate with Karunakaran’s party for the May 2006 elections. While Karunakaran promised “vengeance” against Achuthanandan’s supporters, DIC(K) joined with the UDF in a seat-sharing deal, with the condition that after the election Karunakaran would merge his party with the Congress party (Krishnakumar, R. 2005, ‘Kerala’s choice ‘, Frontline, Volume 22, Issue 21, 8 October, http://www.flonnet.com/fl2221/stories/20051021003603700.htm – Accessed 11 April 2006 – Attachment 6; Chandrasekhar, S. 2006, ‘BJP and Karunakaran can tilt the balance’, Organiser website, 19 March http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=122&p age=11 – Accessed 8 March 2007 – Attachment 3; ‘Kerala’s political jigsaw, unravelled’ 2006, Rediff website, 10 April http://in.rediff.com/election/2006/apr/10pkerala.htm – Accessed 19 January 2007 – Attachment 1).

Karunakaran’s alliance with UDF was also opposed by many in the Congress-led coalition. An article dated 10 April 2006 states that “Karunakaran’s re-entry into the UDF…only worsened the coalition’s poll prospects. Local Congress leaders are dead against Karunakaran and his son K Muraleedharan joining hands with their party.” UDF lost the election, securing 41 out of 140 State Assembly seats. DIC(K) secured one seat. After the election, DIC(K) again moved away from UDF. In November 2006 DIC(K) merged with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a member of the LDF. There was opposition from many of NCP’s senior members, some of whom subsequently left the party. As a result of the merger NCP were expelled from the CPI(M)-led coalition one month later. Karunakaran is now a senior leader of the NCP, and is planning a “new front” in Kerala politics (‘Kerala’s political jigsaw, unravelled’ 2006, Rediff website, 10 April http://in.rediff.com/election/2006/apr/10pkerala.htm – Accessed 19 January 2007 – Attachment 1; ‘Kerala: Ruling LDF expels NCP’ 2006, Rediff website, 11 December http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/dec/11ker.htm – Accessed 8 March 2007 – Attachment 39; ‘Karunakaran plans for third front’ 2007, Hindustan Times, 15 February – Attachment 40).

5. Please provide background or any detail on RSS attacks on Christians particularly in Chitoor, Kerala.

No reference to RSS attacks on Christians in Chitoor, Kerala was found in the available information. Chitoor (or Chittoor) is in the district of Ernakulam. No reports of attacks on Christians in Ernakulam were found in the available information. There have been attacks on Christians elsewhere in Kerala which are detailed in the following reports. There are conflicting reports in the available information as to the impact of Hindu extremist groups in Kerala over recent years. DFAT advises that Hindu extremist groups are weakening in the state, while some media reports indicate that the growth of the RSS has gone unchecked.

Recent reports of attacks on Christians in Kerala include the murder of a Christian man by suspected extremists, and the vandalising of a new Gospel Centre. Both of these incidents took place in February 2007 (‘Suspect Extremists Behind Stanley’s Murder in Kerala’ 2007, SVM News, Salem Voice Ministries website, 15 February http://salemvoice.org/news142.html – Accessed 16 March 2007 – Attachment 41; ‘Gospel Center vandalized in Kerala in India’ 2007, SVM News, Salem Voice Ministries website, 11 March http://salemvoice.org/news146.html – Accessed 16 March 2007 – Attachment 42).

According to a 2004 article in the BBC, the recent murder of a Christian priest in central Kerala caused concern that he was targeted by the RSS. The article states:

Church sources said they were worried because the Sangh parivar [RSS and its affiliates] could be shifting its focus from the north to central Kerala to drive a wedge between Hindus and Christians. , Ernakulam and Kottayam districts in central Kerala are Christian- dominated (‘Indian Catholic bishops demand probe into murder of priest in Kerala’ 2004, BBC News, 12 September – Attachment 43).

An article in Compass Direct dated 11 May 2005 states that “[i]ncidents of violence against Christians are increasingly common in Kerala.” The article cites “Dr. John Dayal, a respected Christian leader and member of the National Integration Council”:

“I have been watching the communal situation in Kerala with alarm for some years. The growth of the RSS, beginning in the north of Kerala, has gone unchecked. ... In recent times, the Sangh Parivar [family of Hindu activist groups] has become very aggressive in most districts of the state,” he said (Arora, Vishal 2005, ‘Villagers in India Beat Christians, Burn Down Prayer Hall’, Compass Direct, 11 May – Attachment 44).

A 2001 article quotes Sonia Gandhi, stating that “The Congress chief also reminded the people of the ‘danger’ posed by the RSS and BJP out to spread ‘animosity among people of different faiths by inflamming relgious [sic] passion’” (‘LDF has turned Kerala into “cadre raj” – Sonia’ 2001, Press Trust of India, 5 May – Attachment 7).

The most recent US Department of State report on religious freedom in India includes details of attacks on Christians in Kerala. The report states:

In August 2004, a Catholic priest was killed in Kerala, during the state’s annual harvest festival. Church members reported that the Catholic priest had received intimidating telephone calls threatening him with death if he did not cease to “proselytize.” The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) claimed the killing was meant to destroy inter-religious harmony in Kerala and demanded an investigation.

In September 2004, also in Kerala, BJP activists attacked nuns and monks belonging to the order “Missionaries of Charity,” injuring one monk and one nun and damaging a vehicle. The police arrested fourteen RSS-BJP sympathizers in connection with the attack.

In April 2005, Hindu and Muslim villagers burned down a prayer hall and physically attacked three Christian church members following a baptism ceremony in Kerala. Two days later, villagers assaulted the pastor and his assistant.

On Easter eve 2005, in Chalakud Taluna, Kerala, approximately twenty RSS activists attacked Christians viewing the film The Passion of the Christ, injuring one man (US Department of State 2006, International Religious Freedom Report for 2006 – India, September, Section III (Attachment 45).

DFAT advice dated 20 September 2006 quotes a human rights activist from Kerala who states that “Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other Hindu extremist groups have been weakened over the past few years and hence are no serious threat to the religious freedom of Christian and other non-Hindu communities.” Although sporadic localised incidents of violence against Christian activists do occur, “the Christian community in Kerala is relatively safer than in other states since they constitute a significant segment of the state’s total population (19 per cent) and are economically well placed” (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 2006, DFAT Report No. 538 – India: RRT Information Request: IND30502, 20 September – Attachment 46).

Past RRT Research Responses dated 8 January 2007 and 6 September 2006 detail the treatment of Christians in Kerala. A RRT research response dated 31 August 2006 includes information on key instances of violence against Christians in Kerala going back up to six years (RRT Country Research 2007, Research Response IND31143, 8 January, (Question 3) – Attachment 47; RRT Country Research 2006, Research Response IND30471, 6 September – Attachment 48; RRT Country Research 2006, Research Response IND30502, 31 August, (Question 4) – Attachment 49).

A search for a Divine Retreat Centre in Kerala found one Retreat Centre Chittoor in Ernakulam and a Divine Retreat Centre in Muringoor, Kerala. The official website of the Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor – Potta, Kerala is: http://www.drcm.org/index.asp (Accessed 16 March 2007). According to the website it is the largest Catholic retreat centre in the world. Also of interest is an article dated 11 October 2006 detailing police raids on the Divine Retreat Centre (Muringoor) in Kerala (‘Kerala’ (undated), Churches in India website http://www.churchesinindia.com/publication.html#Kerala – Accessed 16 March 2007 – Attachment 50; ‘Retreat Center Asks Kerala State To Stop Police Harassment’ 2006, Indian Catholic News website, 11 October http://www.theindiancatholic.com/newsread.asp?nid=3867 – Accessed 16 March 2007 – Attachment 51).

List of Sources Consulted

Internet Sources: Google search engine http://www.google.com.au/

Databases: FACTIVA (news database) BACIS (DIMA Country Information database) REFINFO (IRBDC (Canada) Country Information database) ISYS (RRT Country Research database, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, US Department of State Reports) RRT Library Catalogue

List of Attachments

1. ‘Kerala’s political jigsaw, unravelled’ 2006, Rediff website, 10 April http://in.rediff.com/election/2006/apr/10pkerala.htm – Accessed 19 January 2007.

2. ‘Kerala’ 2007, Wikipedia, updated 4 March http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala – Accessed 5 March 2007.

3. Chandrasekhar, S. 2006, ‘BJP and Karunakaran can tilt the balance’, Organiser website, 19 March http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid= 122&page=11 – Accessed 8 March 2007.

4. ‘Storm gathers under Red sky’ 2006, Indian Express, 2 May. (FACTIVA)

5. ‘Pinarayi spreading violence’ 2005, The Hindu, 9 November. (FACTIVA)

6. Krishnakumar, R. 2005, ‘Kerala’s choice ‘, Frontline, Volume 22, Issue 21, 8 October, http://www.flonnet.com/fl2221/stories/20051021003603700.htm – Accessed 11 April 2006.

7. ‘Opposition boycotts Governor’s address in Kerala Assembly’ 2000, Press Trust of India, 18 February; ‘Violence claims four lives, several injured killed in Kerala’ 2000, Press Trust of India, 4 December; ‘Fight in Kannur is over violence S Sanandakumar’ 1999, The Economic Times, 8 September; Mathew, A. 2002, ‘Kerala police face flak’, Gulf News, 14 August; ‘LDF has turned Kerala into “cadre raj” – Sonia’ 2001, Press Trust of India, 5 May. (FACTIVA)

8. ‘UDF Hartal on Feb 16’ 2000, Press Trust of India, 11 February. (FACTIVA)

9. ‘LDF sending team to Kasaragod, Kannur’ 1999, The Hindu, 17 September. (FACTIVA)

10. RRT Country Research 1995, Research Response IND10903, 16 November.

11. RRT Country Research 2002, Research Response IND15162, 21 May.

12. RRT Country Research 2004, Research Response IND16666, 29 April.

13. Mathew, A. 2001, ‘Elaborate security for Kerala elections’, Gulf News, 8 May. (FACTIVA)

14. ‘KPCC to submit memo to Central Government, CEC’ 2005, The Hindu, 6 November. (FACTIVA)

15. ‘CPM under attack from allies’ 2006, Organiser website, 10 December http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid= 160&page=19 – Accessed 7 March 2007.

16. ‘BJP demands judicial inquiry into CPM violence in Kerala’ 1996, Business Standard, 12 December. (FACTIVA)

17. Basheer, K.P.M. 2006, ‘Courage under fire’, The Hindu, 23 July http://www.hindu.com/mag/2006/07/23/stories/2006072300130200.htm – Accessed 5 March 2007.

18. ‘Clashes: Government Law College closed’ 2007, The Hindu, 12 January http://www.hinduonnet.com/2007/01/12/stories/2007011207960400.htm – Accessed 7 March 2007.

19. Chandrasekhar, S. 2006, ‘Lecturer attacked, abused for wearing Rakhi: SFI Goondaism in Campus’, Organiser website, 10 September http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid= 147&page=5 – Accessed 7 March 2007.

20. ‘KSU leaders attacked’ 2006, The Hindu, 11 August http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/11/stories/2006081114450400.htm – Accessed 7 March 2007.

21. ‘Torture: Case against eight SFI activists’ 2000, The Hindu, 14 November http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/11/14/stories/0414404y.htm – Accessed 4 July 2003.

22. ‘KSU(I) calls for Statewide education strike today’ 2000, The Hindu, 14 November http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/11/14/stories/0414404d.htm – Accessed 7 March 2007.

23. ‘Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 23’ 2000, Press Trust of India, 23 December. (FACTIVA)

24. ‘KSU chief, 11 others hurt in police action’ 2002, My-Kerala website, 30 October http://www.my-kerala.com/n/a/arc9-2002.shtml – Accessed 7 March 2007.

25. Chandrasekhar, S. 2006, ‘Deep divide in Left Front on Karunakaran’, Organiser website, 22 January http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid= 114&page=32 – Accessed 8 March 2007.

26. ‘CPI(M) blamed for violence at Perambra’ 2005, The Hindu, 27 October. (FACTIVA)

27. RRT Country Research 2006, Research Response IND30099, 11 April.

28. Harilal, M. 2005, ‘On a suicide mission’, Frontline website, 17 – 30 December http://www.flonnet.com/fl2226/stories/20051230005801500.htm – Accessed 19 January 2007.

29. ‘Members of Legislative Assembly’ (undated), Government of Kerala official website http://www.kerala.gov.in/government/mla.htm – Accessed 14 March 2007.

30. ‘Government Appointments’ 2006, Kerala Calling, vol. 26, no. 9, Government of Kerala official website, July http://www.kerala.gov.in/kercaljuly06/pg36-39.pdf – Accessed 14 March 2007.

31. ‘Political Background of the State of Kerala’ (undated), Kerala State Government Website http://www.kerala.gov.in/knowkerala/political.htm - Accessed 25 August 2006.

32. Chandrasekhar, S. 2006, ‘A Sonia-CPM deal behind dumping the DIC(K)’, Organiser website, 5 March http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid= 120&page=12 – Accessed 8 March 2007.

33. ‘K. Karunakaran’ 2007, Wikipedia, updated 25 January http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannoth_Karunakaran – Accessed 8 March 2007. 34. Krishnakumar, R. 2003, ‘A master tactician’, Frontline, Volume 20, Issue 22, 11-24 October http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2021/stories/20031024004201600.htm – Accessed 8 March 2007.

35. ‘Karunakaran’s party gets new name’ 2005, The Hindu, 1 September http://www.hindu.com/2005/09/01/stories/2005090108900400.htm – Accessed 8 March 2007.

36. ‘Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran)’ 2007, Wikipedia, updated 30 January http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Indira_Congress_(Karunakaran) – Accessed 8 March 2007.

37. Krishnakumar, R. 2005, ‘Another round in Kerala’, Frontline, Volume 22, Issue 20, 7 October, http://www.flonnet.com/fl2220/stories/20051007003003600.htm – Accessed 11 April 2006.

38. ‘Internal Class Struggle Intensifies within CPM: P. Surendran’ (undated), Kerala Monitor http://www.keralamonitor.com/psurendran.htm – Accessed 8 March 2007.

39. ‘Kerala: Ruling LDF expels NCP’ 2006, Rediff website, 11 December http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/dec/11ker.htm – Accessed 8 March 2007.

40. ‘Karunakaran plans for third front’ 2007, Hindustan Times, 15 February. (FACTIVA)

41. ‘Suspect Extremists Behind Stanley’s Murder in Kerala’ 2007, SVM News, Salem Voice Ministries website, 15 February http://salemvoice.org/news142.html – Accessed 16 March 2007.

42. ‘Gospel Center vandalized in Kerala in India’ 2007, SVM News, Salem Voice Ministries website, 11 March http://salemvoice.org/news146.html – Accessed 16 March 2007.

43. ‘Indian Catholic bishops demand probe into murder of priest in Kerala’ 2004, BBC News, 12 September. (FACTIVA)

44. Arora, Vishal 2005, ‘Villagers in India Beat Christians, Burn Down Prayer Hall’, Compass Direct, 11 May.

45. US Department of State 2006, International Religious Freedom Report for 2006 – India, September.

46. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 2006, DFAT Report No. 538 – India: RRT Information Request: IND30502, 20 September.

47. RRT Country Research 2007, Research Response IND31143, 8 January.

48. RRT Country Research 2006, Research Response IND30471, 6 September.

49. RRT Country Research 2006, Research Response IND30502, 31 August.

50. ‘Kerala’ (undated), Churches in India website http://www.churchesinindia.com/publication.html#Kerala – Accessed 16 March 2007. 51. ‘Retreat Center Asks Kerala State To Stop Police Harassment’ 2006, Indian Catholic News website, 11 October http://www.theindiancatholic.com/newsread.asp?nid=3867 – Accessed 16 March 2007.