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Wednesday, April 14, 2004 |
TORTURED SOUTH CHINA CHURCH LEADER FEARS FOR HIS LIFE IN PRISON
Pastor Gong Shengliang cries for help, human rights watch dog says
By Stefan J. Bos
Special Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
BEIJING, CHINA (ANS) -- An apparently tortured leader of the reportedly persecuted South China Church has begged his family and other Christians to put pressure on Chinese authorities to get him transferred to another prison as he fears for his life, ASSIST News Service (ANS) monitored Wednesday, April 14.
Pastor Gong Shengliang has told relatives he may soon die in the feared Hongshan Prison in Wuhan City of Hubei Province, reported the well informed religious rights watchdog The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), which investigates the plight of suffering Christians. "Otherwise just come and pick up my corpse," VOM quoted the pastor as telling his three sisters during a ten minute visit on Monday, April 12.
VOM said it had learned from unidentified sources that Pastor Gong had to be carried into the visiting hall of the prison facility by four other inmates, as he could no longer walk.
"When one of the sisters pressed the guard for an explanation of Gong’s injuries, the guard said the pastor fell while washing windows in the prison," VOM added in a statement seen by ANS. "According to the guard, Gong was washing the inside of the windows, yet somehow fell outside the building."
FALL "INCREDIBLE"
VOM stressed the explanation was hard to believe as the church leader "is accompanied everywhere he goes inside the prison by two guards, making the report of a fall out of a window even more incredible." He is apparently afraid to discuss his injuries openly.
"When Gong was asked about the injury, he first looked at the guard and then said reluctantly, "Yes, I fell,." " VOM said. The organization said the pastor also told his relatives he had stopped writing letters to those outside of prison as he does not have the strength to write. "When I pick up my pen, there are lots of troubles,” VOM quoted him as saying.
VOM added that the prison director, Sun Wenquan, explained to one of his sisters that although Pastor Gong was "a model prisoner in every respect" he 'unfortunately' refused to denounce his faith in Christ, and would not stop praying and preaching. "He is so into the Bible that he has lost touch with reality," the sisters were told, according to VOM.
U.N. INVESTIGATION
The report about his alleged torture came less than two weeks after other persecuted Chinese House Church officials, including sexually abused women, testified for the first time at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights amid claims that the Beijing government is increasing pressure on unregistered churches and active believers.
Analysts say Communist authorities appear concerned they may lose control over the rapidly increasing number of evangelical Christians in China, which is experiencing the fastest church growth in the world. The Chinese authorities have so not commented on the latest developments. But the Beijing Government has reportedly said it will allow the United Nations to carry out an investigation into cases of torture.
VOM has urged Christians to write to the Chinese government on Pastor Gong’s behalf, requesting a transfer of prisons. "The man in charge of the prison says this is a model prisoner," said Todd Nettleton, a spokesman for VOM. "Yet he has already spent 411 days with his arms and legs chained. Without God’s help, this innocent man is not likely to survive many more weeks in Hongshan Prison."
Christians were also requested to letters of encouragement to Pastor Gong at: Gong Shengliang Prison Section Four, Te Yi Hao, Hongshan Prison, Miaoshan Development Zone Jiangxia District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China 430223.
www.assistnews.net
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North Korea (and PR China) Included On List of 12 Worst Human Rights Offender Countries. (Donga.com) North Korea as Absolute Human Rights Oppression Country APRIL 14, 2004 22:13 by Jei-Gyoon Park (phark@donga.com) North Korea has been selected as one of the 12 countries with the lowest standard of human rights in the world. Announced on April 14, the sixth annual report of “The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (OPHRD),” a French human rights activist organization, selected 12 countries including North Korea, China, Bhutan, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Laos, Libya, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam as the “absolute oppression countries” with the lowest level of human rights. Next to “absolute oppression countries,” 23 countries including Iran, Indonesia, and Tunisia were selected as “systematic oppression countries.”... [Free North Korea!]
. 4:16:03 PM
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The Life of Imprisoned House Church Pastor in Danger: "Just come and pick up my corpse", CAA Calls for Help
CAA (Philadelphia) April 13, 2004
Pastor Gong Shengliang, the imprisoned leader of the South China Church, told relatives during a prison visit Monday that he fears for his life in Hongshan Prison, Wuhan City, Hubei Province.
gIf you are able in any way, please transfer me to another prison,h Gong begged his three sisters during a 10-minute visit on Monday. gOtherwise, just come and pick up my corpse.h
CAA sources said that Gong had to be carried into the visiting hall at the prison by four other inmates, as he could not walk. When one of the sisters pressed the guard for an explanation of Gongfs injuries, the guard said that the pastor fell while he was washing windows in the prison. According to the guard, Gong was washing the inside of the windows, yet somehow fell outside the building.
Gong is accompanied everywhere he goes inside the prison by two guards, making the report of a fall out of a window even more incredible.
When Gong was asked about the injury, he first looked at the guard and then said reluctantly, gYes, I fell.h
The sisters were only allowed 10 minutes with Gong, and were separated by two panes of glass and forced to talk via a telephone.
When asked why he had stopped writing letters to those outside of prison, Gong said, gI don't have the strength to write. When I pick up my pen, there are lots of troubles.h
When one of Gongfs sisters complained of his injuries to the prison director, Sun Wenquan, she was told that Gong is a model prisoner in every respect except one: he refuses to denounce his faith in Christ, and he will not stop praying and preaching.
gHe is so into the Bible that he has lost touch with reality,h the sisters were told.
China Aid Association urges all people of faith to write to the Chinese government on Gongfs behalf, requesting a transfer of prisons.
gThe man in charge of the prison says this is a model prisoner,h said Bob Fu, president of CAA, gYet he has already spent 411 days with his arms and legs chained. Without Godfs help, this innocent man is not likely to survive many more weeks in Hongshan Prison.h
People of conscience may also send letters of encouragement directly to Pastor Gong:
Gong Shengliang
Prison Section,Four Te Yi Hao
Hongshan Prison, Miaoshan Development Zone
Jiangxia District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province
People's Republic of China 430223
China Aid Association, Inc.
P. O. Box 263,Glenside, PA 19038 USA
TEL: +1-267-205-5210 FAX: 215-886-1668
EMAIL: FXQ02@YAHOO.COM
www.ChinaAid.org
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UNPO condems Easter Massacre of Montagnards [UNPO press release]
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) strongly condemns the decision of the Vietnamese government to close the central highlands of Vietnam for international monitors and independent journalists. Thousands of Christian Montagnards peacefully celebrated Easter in this area.
The International Community must not tolerate the continuous violations of the most elementary human rights by the Vietnamese authorities, as recently reported by the UN Human Rights Committee, the NGO Human Rights Watch and the US State Department.
UNPO urges the International Community and the European Union to immediately stop any financial support to the Vietnamese regime.
The UNPO General Secretary Marino Busdachin expresses his sincere solidarity and commitment on behalf of the UNPO and its Members to the president of the Montagnard Foundation Kok Ksor and to the Montagnard/Degar People fighting for freedom and democracy in Vietnam.
Google It!. 3:38:05 PM
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Christianity Today interviews Paul Hattaway authour of "Back To Jerusalem: Called to Complete the Great Commission."
Google It!. 3:30:44 PM
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CHINA: PASTOR GONG SHENGLIANG [RLP]
Pastor Gong Shengliang (53) is the founder and leader of the South
China Church (SCC), an evangelical house-church fellowship with some
50,000 members across several provinces. In December 2001, he was
convicted and sentenced to death under China's anti-cult
legislation. Responding to intense international pressure, China
dropped the religious charge and the death penalty and ordered a
re-trial. Young women prisoners from the SCC were then savagely
beaten, sexually molested and tortured with electric shock until
they signed 'confessions' that Pastor Gong had raped them. They
later recanted their 'confessions' and were sent to labour camps.
However, Pastor Gong was convicted of multiple counts of rape and
given a life sentence.
Pastor Gong has been greatly weakened physically by the torture he
has suffered during interrogation, worsened further by the prison
conditions and frequent mistreatment. Over several weeks in late
May and early June 2003, he lapsed in and out of a coma and was
bleeding internally. He nearly died from a savage beating in prison
in June 2003. Intercessors around the world prayed for him. He
lived, but his troubles have not ceased.
A 14 April update from Mr Bob Fu, President of the China Aid
Association (CAA), advises that Pastor Gong was permitted a 10-
minute visit by his three sisters on Monday 12 April. They report
that, unable to walk, he had to be carried to the visiting hall by
four other inmates. Pastor Gong told his sisters that he fears for
his life and pleaded with them to see if they could have him
transferred to another prison. His sisters asked him why he had
stopped writing letters to those outside prison. Gong responded, 'I
don't have the strength to write. When I pick up my pen, there are
lots of troubles.'
CAA reports, 'When one of Gong's sisters complained of his injuries
to the prison director, Sun Wenquan, she was told that Gong is a
model prisoner in every respect except one: he refuses to denounce
his faith in Christ, and he will not stop praying and preaching.
"He is so into the Bible that he has lost touch with reality," the
sisters were told.' Mr Fu says, '(Pastor Gong) has already spent
411 days with his arms and legs chained. Without God's help, this
innocent man is not likely to survive many more weeks in Hongshan
Prison.'
Pastor Gong's daughters, Xiaoyan and Huali, are dedicated full time
evangelists. His wife Hu Guifang has been seriously traumatised and
is in need of our prayers. Please post* Pastor Gong a card that
clearly shows from where you are writing. Many words are not
necessary (unless you write Chinese). It's best just to indicate
you are a fellow believer and are praying for him. Even if the
cards never get past prison officials, they make a powerful
statement.
* Gong Shengliang
Prison Section,Four Te Yi Hao
Hongshan Prison, Miaoshan Development Zone
Jiangxia District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 430223
-----------------------------
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:
* God to intervene so that Pastor Gong will be moved to safety (or
have his safety guaranteed), be treated for injuries, and that
he will receive justice, which will mean at the very least his
release and the overturning of this unjust conviction.
'The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice ...
so his own arm worked salvation for him.' (Isaiah 59:15b,16b) 'Many
seek an audience with a ruler, it is from the Lord that man gets
justice.' (Proverbs 29:26)
* Pastor Gong to be filled with divine strength from the Holy
Spirit - the strength that enables weakened and stressed
believers to rise up as if on eagle's wings, far above their own
capacity or circumstances. (Isaiah 40:28-31)
* God to continue to richly bless the Chinese Church with
spiritual power and a continual inflow of new believers, so that
eventually and in greater and greater measure, the Chinese
Church may be a source of righteousness and justice and God's rich
blessings to China. (Isaiah 55:10-13)
Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin - No. 267 - Wed 14 Apr 2004
World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Religious Liberty
Prayer List <rl-prayer@crossnet.org.au>
Google It!. 3:23:28 PM
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HUNDREDS OF VIETNAMESE CHRISTIANS KILLED OVER EASTER WEEKEND
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
VIETNAM (ANS) -- An estimated 400 Christians have been killed in brutal repression of peaceful and prayerful demonstrations by Montagnard Christians in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, according to the Barnabas Fund, quoting information from The Montagnard Foundation.
The report states that on Saturday April 10 up to 400,000 Vietnamese Christians, from the Degar people, gathered in several Vietnamese cities to demonstrate against the government’s refusal to allow them to follow the Christian faith freely.
"The demonstrators in the cities, which included the Central Highland city of Buonmathuot, were attacked by soldiers, police and other Vietnamese civilians. The Christians were shot at, beaten with electric batons and bombarded with rocks and stones. Hundreds were killed (400 according to one report) and many others have suffered broken bones," the Barnabas Fund said.
A press release on April 9 from the Montagnard Foundation, an organization representing the largely Christian Degar people, drew attention to the planned demonstrations, which were to include a specific call for the Vietnamese government to lift the embargo on international human rights monitoring in the Central Highlands area.
In a word of warning concerning the demonstrations the Foundation cautioned that “Without the direct intervention of law abiding states, the UN and the European Commission, the repression against the Montagnards will be bloody.”
The Montagnard Foundation believes this incident may spark a refugee crisis, with thousands likely to head for the Cambodian border. To add to the woes of these people, the Cambodians have closed this border to refugees.
In a statement issued after the demonstrations had begun, Kok Ksor, the President of the Montagnard Foundation said that no attempt was made by the Christians to use
violence. He also stated that the Christians are not seeking independence, merely the right to worship freely.
The Foundation has said, “Our people cannot continue suffering this way as the Vietnamese government continues to arrest, electric shock torture, and kill our peaceful hill tribe people for being Christian or for trying to save our ancestral land from being confiscated.”
Further details, quotes and photos on this and other stories may be available for news editors on request to Barnabas Fund and the Montagnard Foundation.
Barnabas Fund works to support Christian communities mainly, but not exclusively, in the Islamic world where they are facing poverty and persecution.
Barnabas Fund
The Old Rectory, River Street, PEWSEY, Wiltshire, SN9 5DB, UK.
Tel: +44(0)1672 564938, Fax: +44(0)1672 565030,
E-mail: info@barnabasfund.org
Web: www.barnabasfund.org
The Montagnard Foundation is dedicated to the Preservation of the Indigenous Peoples of Central Vietnam.
Montagnard Foundation, P.O. BOX 171114, SPARTANBURG, SC 29301-0101, USA;
Phone:(864) 576 – 0698; Fax: (864) 595 – 1940. President of the Montagnard Foundation: Mr. Kok Ksor:E-mail: kksor@montagnard-foundation.org; WebSite: http://www.montagnard-foundation.org; Or contact: Spokesperson/advisor: Scott Johnson scottj@mail2me.com.au
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LiNK - http://www.xanga.com/linkorea
"LiNK (Liberation in North Korea) was created a few weeks back by Korean Americans who were tired of a lack of progress on all fronts with regards to North Korea. It was officially created at the Eighteenth Annual Korean American Students Conference at Yale, on Saturday, March 27th, 2004, to tremendous response and interest. Chapters are forming all across the country."
via Chosun Journal
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Vietnam: Violence against Montagnards during Easter Week Protests
Hundreds Arrested or Missing; Border with Cambodia Sealed [HRW]
(New York, April 14, 2004) - Protests in Vietnam's Central Highlands turned violent as Montagnard Christians were beaten and some reportedly killed during Easter Week demonstrations, Human Rights Watch said today.
Human Rights Watch called for Vietnam to urgently open the region to diplomats and international observers, and for Cambodia to honor its obligations under the United Nations Refugee Convention and stop forcing back Montagnards seeking asylum in Cambodia.
"The human rights situation for Montagnards in the Central Highlands has plummeted to a new low," said Brad Adams, executive director of the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch. "Vietnam's policy of repression of Montagnard Christians is only fueling the unrest."
The movement by indigenous minority Christians-collectively known as Montagnards-seeks to peacefully press for religious freedom and return of ancestral lands in the Central Highlands.
On Saturday, April 10, thousands of Montagnards from districts around Buon Ma Thuot, the provincial capital of Dak Lak province, attempted to enter the city to conduct five days of protests during Easter week.
Clashes erupted when police used tear gas, electric truncheons, and water cannons to prevent the demonstrators from entering the city, and police arrested dozens of people. On Saturday night four tanks were parked on Highway 14, about eight miles from Buon Ma Thuot.
On Easter Sunday, villagers in Gia Lai province demonstrated in many district centers near their villages because police blocked them from protesting in Pleiku provincial town. Human Rights Watch received reports of demonstrations taking place on April 11 in numerous communes in Ayun Pa, Cu Se, and Dak Doa districts of Gia Lai.
In one incident, police beat and arrested twenty-six Montagnards who were demonstrating in Nhon Hoa commune of Cu Se on Sunday; their current whereabouts are unknown. Further north, at 8 a.m. Sunday morning paramilitary police blocked the path of Montagnards from several villages in Dak Doa district, who were trying to go to Ha Bau communal town to demonstrate. When the villagers did not disperse, the police fired, reportedly killing one villager from Ring village and arresting two others.
"The Vietnamese government's heavy-handed response is clearly backfiring," said Adams. "We fear for the health and safety of those who have been arrested, as well as the large numbers who have been injured or are missing and unaccounted for."
Human Rights Watch said it had received eyewitness reports of protestors being beaten to death on April 10 in clashes with the police and Vietnamese civilians at Phan Chu Trinh road outside Buon Ma Thuot city, as well as unconfirmed reports of police injuries and possibly some deaths.
Since last weekend, dozens, if not hundreds, of Montagnards are missing. Many Montagnards did not return to their villages after the demonstrations, knowing that police were there, ready to make arrests. Others have been arrested and their current whereabouts are unknown. Some may be wounded or dead. The provincial hospital in Dak Lak reported forty injured people on Saturday night. [more]
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© 2004 Radio Free China
Last Update: 5/1/2004; 10:20:18 AM
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