The murder of a Catholic nun and human rights activist must be clarified without reserve!

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) urges the Indian Government to thoroughly investigate the murder of the nun Valsa John in Jharkhand on November 15, 2011. The 53-year-old had fought for the rights of the indigenous Adivasi people. So far, the media in India and also many investigators believe that the nun is a victim of an attack by Maoist rebels. "But there must also be investigations on allegations of her family members, who tend to think that proponents of the coal mining industry are responsible for the murder," said the STP's Asia-consultant Ulrich Delius in Göttingen on Tuesday. "There should be no taboos during the investigation." Sister Valsa John is the fourth human rights activist campaigning for the rights of the Adivasi who got killed in 2011.

The murder took place in the village of Pachaura in the Dumka district - which is located in the resource-rich state of Jharkhand. The nun was killed by a larger group of attackers armed with axes and swords. For years, she had campaigned for the rights of the indigenous Adivasi people who are being threatened by mining companies. The nun had an influential position among the Adivasi and supported the human rights organization Rajmahal Pahad Bachao Andolan, in which the natives try to fight against new mining projects.

Valsa John helped the Adivasi resistance against new evictions. It is suspected, that more than 560 million tons of coal are to be found under the aboriginal land. Indian companies are sharing the mining rights. The nun received several death threats because of her commitment to the Adivasis. Many religious groups now praise the nun as a martyr because of her devotion to help the poor.

Maoist rebels also feared her influence on the indigenous population because she tried to stop the Maoists from getting a foothold in the region. The rebels are trying hard to gain support by the indigenous population. Not only in Jharkhand but in many regions of Central India the Adivasis are suffering from the increasing pressure by the government security forces and Maoist rebels, who are carrying out their struggle for power on the backs of the aborigines.

The nun also had enemies among the local population because she recently demanded punishment for the rape of a young Adivasi woman.