VOA标准英语2008年-Hindu-Christian Violence Kills 9 in India's Ori

In India's eastern Orissa State, spiraling violence between Hindus and Christians² has killed at least nine people. From New Delhi, Anjana Pasricha reports on the religious tensions gripping the region.
　
Smoke rises from a church torched by hard-line Hindus in Muniguda in Phulbani District of India's Orissa state, 26 Aug 2008

Authorities issued shoot-at-sight orders and police staged marches Wednesday in Orissa's Kandhamal District, the region worst-hit by violence between Hindus and Christians.

Kandhamal is a primarily tribal³ area, where Christian¹ missionaries⁴ have worked for decades. Almost 20 percent of the district's people are Christians.

The clashes erupted after the killing⁵ of a Hindu leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, and four others on Saturday by unidentified armed men. The Hindu leader had been leading a drive to reconvert local residents from Christianity to Hinduism.

Since then, angry Hindu mobs have attacked and damaged churches, Christian homes and an orphanage⁶. Some of the victims were burned to death, when rioters set fire to their homes.

Police say rival groups from both communities have attacked each other with axes, sticks and guns, despite a curfew. New clashes occurred Wednesday.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil says the federal government has asked state authorities to protect all communities.

"We asked them to take stern action to protect the properties, the churches, the life and limbs of people and properties and houses of other people also," said Patil.

Police say the Hindu leader was killed by local Maoist rebels. But Hindus blame Christians for his death. He belonged to a hard-line Hindu group called the World Hindu Council.

This is not the first time that tensions have run high between Hindus and Christians in Orissa. In 1999, a Hindu mob killed an Australian missionary⁷ and his two sons by setting fire to their car.

Hard-line Hindu groups accuse Christian missionaries of trying to convert illiterate⁸ tribal or Hindu villagers by alluring⁹ them with promises of free education and medical care, a charge denied by the missionaries.

Christian organizations in India have asked the government to end the violence. Christians make up about two percent of India's population, which is predominantly Hindu.

 

1 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

2 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

3 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

4 missionaries   

n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Some missionaries came from England in the Qing Dynasty. 清朝时，从英国来了一些传教士。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The missionaries rebuked the natives for worshipping images. 传教士指责当地人崇拜偶像。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

6 orphanage   

n.孤儿院

参考例句：

• They dispensed new clothes to the children in the orphanage.他们把新衣服发给孤儿院的小孩们。
• They gave the proceeds of the sale to the orphanage.他们把销售的收入给了这家孤儿院。

7 missionary   

adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士

参考例句：

• She taught in a missionary school for a couple of years.她在一所教会学校教了两年书。
• I hope every member understands the value of missionary work. 我希望教友都了解传教工作的价值。

8 illiterate   

adj.文盲的；无知的；n.文盲

参考例句：

• There are still many illiterate people in our country.在我国还有许多文盲。
• I was an illiterate in the old society,but now I can read.我这个旧社会的文盲，今天也认字了。

9 alluring   

adj.吸引人的，迷人的

参考例句：

• The life in a big city is alluring for the young people. 大都市的生活对年轻人颇具诱惑力。
• Lisette's large red mouth broke into a most alluring smile. 莉莎特的鲜红的大嘴露出了一副极为诱人的微笑。