URGENT MESSAGE FOR BRITISH HINDUS: please send this letter of protest to Royal Mail

oct 3rd

sorry, can't forward the email document file, but the content is inline below.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Info@transputec.com <Info@transputec.com>
Date: Nov 3, 2005 2:08 AM
Subject: URGENT MESSAGE FOR BRITISH HINDUS: please send this letter of protest to Royal Mail
To: rajeev.srinivasan@gmail.com

Dear Hindu brothers and sisters,

Royal Mail have refused to withdraw the stamp of two Hindus holding baby Christ. As you know this is unacceptable. Royal Mail have the IT infrastructure to be able to send a message to all 17,000 Post OFfices in the country asking every Post Office counter to stop selling the stamp, yet they chose not to do so. Please therefore:

1. Send the attached letter by email to:alex.batchelor@royalmail.com;
julietta.edgar@royalmail.com; jennie.longden@royalmail.com; gardinerb@parliament.uk; press.office@royalmail.com; contactus@royalmail.com


2. MOST IMPORTANT PLEASE ALSO POST A HARD COPY OF THE LETTER WITHOUT USING YOUR RETURN ADDRESS AND WITHOUT AFFIXING ANY STAMPS TO:Mr Alex Batchelor
Chair, Stamps Advisory Committee
Royal Mail Headquarters 148
Old Street LONDON EC1V 9HQ


By sending a letter without stamps, it will be left at a collection centre for 7 days, thus clogging up the deliveries. This is a non-violent civil protest that will communicate our message while maintaining law and order.

WE URGE YOU TO PASS THIS EMAIL TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND ASK THEM TO SEND THE EMAIL AND MAIL A HARD COPY OR COPIES OF THE LETTER TO ROYAL MAIL. PLEASE TREAT THIS AS VERY URGENT.

Regards

From the Hindu Forum of Britain National Executive Committee

_______________________________________

Email to:
alex.batchelor@royalmail.com
julietta.edgar@royalmail.com
jennie.longden@royalmail.com
gardinerb@parliament.uk
press.office@royalmail.com
contactus@royalmail.com

4 November 2005

Mr Alex Batchelor
Chair, Stamps Advisory Committee
Royal Mail Headquarters 148
Old Street LONDON EC1V 9HQ


Dear Mr Batchelor

Sub: Withdrawal of Christmas stamp depicting Hindus holding a baby Christ

It is with deep anguish and anger that we write to you to ask Royal Mail to immediately withdraw the Christmas stamp depicting two Hindus holding baby Christ.
By bringing this stamp out without consulting the Hindu community in Britain, Royal Mail has clearly shown gross insensitivity and thoughtlessness.

The stamp may be a 17th century impression of an Indian artist hanging in the Mumbai museum, but that does not mean it is appropriate for use in a stamp that is primarily targeted for use as postage destined for India.

There are many issues of Christian proselytisation, conversion through intimidation at gun point, and human rights abuse against Hindus by Christian terrorists in North East India that are deeply emotive. We also believe that many of the paintings and pieces of art commissioned by the British in 17th and 18th Century India had an ulterior motive to evangelise India. If you are wishing to foster a multicultural Britain, would you issue a stamp showing baby Krishna in the arms of a Christian couple? And if you are discussing historical art, there are many medieval paintings showing white traders inhumanely whipping slaves of African origin - do you think those would be appropriate just because they are historical art?

All my family and friends are deeply hurt by Royal Mail's indifference. Please instruct Royal Mail to withdraw the stamp without delay. You have said it is difficult for logistical reasons as the stamp has already reached 17000 post offices. That is not correct.  We know very well that you have the facility to issue a message to every Post Office counter asking every clerk to stop selling this stamp. It can be done, if there is a will.  If you do not withdraw the stamp, we will have no option but to join a major protest that is being planned.

Yours faithfully,




Cc: Barry Gardiner, Minister for Efficiency
       Julietta Edgar, Head of the Philatelic Sector