NEW DELHI – March 18, 2010 (PCP) The All India Christian Council (aicc) has deep concerns about the Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2009. The Council recently sent memos to several Central government officials, including the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, with concrete suggestions for changes before it is introduced to India’s Parliament. John Dayal, aicc Secretary General, said, “In our memo of March 8, 2010, we told India’s government that we are pleased to see its desire to protect the idea of India – a secular government which promotes equality for all. But India’s Christian community has deep concerns about the Communal Violence Bill. We don’t want a weak Bill passed which would require the almost impossible process of securing future amendments.” Dayal also is one of three Christian community leaders serving on the Government of India’s National Integration Council. He was appointed in 2005 and reappointed in December 2009. The Bill’s goal is to outline specific ways to prevent and control violence between religious communities as well as rehabilitate victims. Media reports indicate the Prime Minister may introduce the Bill in the current Parliament session. The “Budget Session” of Parliament runs from February 22 - May 07, 2010 with a recess from March 16 - April 12. Several civil society, non-governmental, and religious organisations asked the government to re-write the bill to recognize individuals – not just communities – as victims and to reduce the power given to state governments. The main concerns of aicc leaders include: 1) The Bill doesn’t adequately address hate speech and the “communalisation process” that produce communal violence. 2) The Bill discusses “communally disturbed areas” but doesn’t clearly adjust for the demography of Christians. Many minorities live in concentrated or contiguous areas and “communally disturbed areas” are more easily identified. But in Orissa, Kandhamal District would likely not fit the Bill’s definition, yet there were unprecedented anti-Christian riots there in 2007-2008. 3) The Bill doesn’t give States strong enough guidelines on adequate reparations and compensation. 4) The Bill doesn’t address police and administrative impunity properly or adequately. Dayal said, “The root causes of communal violence may be illegal in some cases, but this needs reinforcement by the Bill. For example, hate speech is illegal but rarely pursued by authorities. Also, in the post-Kandhamal and post-Gujarat riots situation, it is clear that India needs a uniform national policy on the assessment of damages in order to prevent ghettoisation.” The Council also wants to see the government revise existing laws or pass new legislation to deal with issues that will enhance justice for victims of religious violence. These include establishing witness protection programs and guidelines, strengthening of National Commission for Minorities and State minority commissions, action against police who refuse to register FIRs (First Information Reports), permanently debarring government officials guilty of involvement in communal violence from government jobs or contesting an elected office, and the rights of “internally displaced persons” in relief camps to follow UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. The All India Christian Council (www.christiancouncil.in), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.