Agence France-Presse (AFP)

8:10:01 PM    comment []

CHINESE POLICE DETAIN TIBETANS FOR DISCUSSING DEATH SENTENCES IN BOMBING CASE

WASHINGTON, March 11, 2003--Chinese authorities in parts of Tibet are
detaining and questioning people gathering in groups suspected of discussing
the execution of one Tibetan and a death sentence handed down to a senior
Tibetan monk in connection with a series of bombings, Radio Free Asia (RFA)
reports.

Sources who spoke to RFA's Tibetan service on condition of anonymity also
said two people were taken into custody in Sichuan Province, China, around
Feb. 12. The police apparently believed the two people were relatives of the
defendants, Lobsang Dhondup and Tenzin Deleg Rimpoche, and had leaked
information about the case to people outside Tibet. Both Tibetans remain in
custody, the sources said, but no further details were available.

Five or six others, all disciples of Tenzin Deleg Rimpoche, have been
detained since January, according to other sources. Their whereabouts and
legal status remain unknown. The sources also said Lobsang Dhondup had
denied responsibility for the bombings as well as any "religious or
political" connection with Tenzin Deleg Rimpoche.

Lobsang Dhondup, 28, was executed Jan. 26 in Sichuan Province for his
alleged role in several bomb attacks in support of Tibetan independence in
2001 and 2002, in the Kandze (Ganzi) area of Sichuan, in which one person
was killed. A provincial court also rejected an appeal by Tenzin Deleg
Rimpoche, a Tibetan monk tried alongside Lobsang Dhondup, to overturn a
suspended death sentence. Suspended sentences are usually commuted to life
imprisonment in China. Tenzin Deleg Rimpoche remains at a secret location,
and both sentences have prompted an international outcry.

In the Nyakchuka area where Tenzin Deleg Rimpoche was based, tensions remain
extremely high, sources in Tibet said. Police in the area continue to detain
and question anyone seen gathering in groups.

Gelek Shakya, a disciple of Tenzin Deleg Rimpoche and resident of Drepung
Monastery in South India, said his monastery was fielding numerous phone
calls from distressed colleagues inside Tibet. "Many monks are calling in
great despair about the tense situation and lack of freedom to express their
concerns regarding Tenzin Deleg Rimpoche," Gelek Shakya said.

Separately, RFA's Tibetan service has learned that some Tibetans are quietly
protesting Lobsang Dhondup's execution and Tenzin Deleg Rimpoche's death
sentence by declining to participate in traditional Tibetan New Year
celebrations. The New Year, or Losar, is the most important holiday of the
Tibetan calendar and lasts, inside Tibet, up to 10 days. This year it began
March 3.

"Residents of the Nyakchuka area in Kandze (Ganzi) are in mourning. They
didn't participate in the annual horserace festival or celebrate the
Tibetan New Year," said one source, whom RFA's Tibetan service cannot
identify..

"Some monks from Tenzin Deleg Rimpoche's monastery have been detained and
interrogated when they tried to travel," another source said, adding that
all public discussion of the case remains banned. "People have been warned
against displaying the Rimpoche's photo and told not to talk about him--and
told they will be arrested if they do. Everyone in the area is worried and
concerned."

Sichuan Province borders the Tibetan Autonomous Region and includes parts of
traditionally Tibetan territory. Kandze forms part of the Kham Tibetan
region, which falls under the administration of Sichuan Province.

Copyright © 1999, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. http://www.rfa.org.

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CHINESE HOUSE CHURCH LEADER: HUGE NEED FOR MORE BIBLES - Assist News Service (ANS)

SANTA ANA, CA  (ANS) -- In June 2002, a house church leader was asked by Open Doors about the need for Bibles in China. This is what he said:

“In the past, we had very few Bibles, and the people insulted our faith. When we walked past, some people would insult and mock us. For the past many years, you (Open Doors) provided Bibles to us. More turned to the Lord. We have eight percent of the population as Christian now.

“Eight percent! Now more people turn to the Lord. We have some changes. The people – it’s not like the past – no longer look down on us, and even they desire and want to become part of us. To believe in Christ in China now is a reality; to be honoured is to be a Christian. Because of that, China will open up further. Our country does not look down on us any more because the church is a powerful group. They cannot overlook us because we are eight percent. So I believe the opening up will be very fast.

“This changed situation is a result of the many years you provided Bibles to us. I want to speak on behalf of the church of China to thank you and your headquarters and your people for the years of helping us. We want you to continue to provide Bibles to us. Even though now many have a Bible, every year we have so many new believers that come to the church and don’t have Bibles. Many times the Public Security Bureau will come and confiscate and take away all our Bibles. Plus, many evangelists are on the road, and their Bibles get ruined from rain and wear and tear. We still need a lot of Bibles!”

This year Open Doors is committed to supplying our persecuted brothers and sisters in China with over 2 million Bibles, Bible reference books, training manuals for church leaders, Sunday School curricula, hymnals and Children’s Bibles. Last year Open Doors distributed 2.7 million Bibles and other materials worldwide, with many of those books going to China.

“While there are enough Bibles available to Three-Self Patriotic Church (official) members due to the printing efforts of Amity Press inside China, most Christians in China – estimated at 60 to 80 million – gather in small unofficial house churches scattered all across the country” says Open Doors USA President/CEO Terry Madison. “I have met many Chinese house church believers who are hungry for a Bible.

“Many of them – especially those living in remote countryside areas – simply do not have access to Bibles or can not afford to purchase Scriptures. Christian ministries like Open Doors are helping to supply the requests for Bibles, Children’s Bibles, Study Bibles, hymnbooks and other materials.”

Madison adds that an estimated 10,000 to 25,000 people are coming to the Lord each day in China. “Obviously there is a tremendous need for the Word of God and other Scriptural helps which is not being met due to the explosive growth of the Christian faith in China.”

An estimated 200 million Christians worldwide suffer persecution for their faith in Christ, with another 200 to 400 million facing discrimination for being Christian. Open Doors, founded in 1955 by Brother Andrew, author of the best-selling book, “God’s Smuggler,” seeks to serve and strengthen the Persecuted Church in the world’s most difficult areas through training, literature distribution, community development and personal encouragement. To partner with Open Doors call 949-752-6600, go to its USA web site at www.opendoorsusa.org  or write Open Doors with Brother Andrew, PO Box 27001, Santa Ana, CA 92799.

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA
E-mail: assistcomm@cs.com, Web Site: www.assistnews.net

7:30:16 PM    comment []