Date:23/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/23/stories/2003012304391100.htm

National

U.S. missionary leaves Kerala

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JAN. 22. The American missionary, Joseph Cooper (67), who was served a notice to leave the country by police here on the ground that he violated tourist visa conditions by participating in a religious convention, left for Mumbai by an Indian Airlines flight this morning.

Mr. Cooper suffered grievous injuries when he, along with other members of the Friends Bible Church, came under attack by suspected RSS workers at Kilimanoor, near here, on January 13.

Police said Mr. Cooper, who was travelling on a multiple entry tourist visa valid till 2010, had violated visa conditions by participating in a Protestant convention organised by the Friends Bible Church. An official said that police had in its possession a pamphlet issued by the Friends Bible Church in which Mr. Cooper was listed as one of the main speakers at the convention.

`Sign of growing intolerance'

Our New Delhi Special Correspondent reports:

The All-India Christian Council today described the decision to deport the American missionary, Joseph Cooper, as evidence of growing intolerance in the country and urged the international community to investigate the RSS and its associates as "religious fundamentalist terrorist organisations".

In a statement here, the council secretary-general, John Dayal, said the move to deport Mr. Cooper was widely seen as condoning the attackers and punishing the victim.