Radio Free China

News from China & asia with a focus on human rights and religious liberty.
"Do you know what I want? I want justice--oceans of it.
I want fairness--rivers of it.
That's what I want. That's all I want." [Amos 5:24]

Saturday, August 07, 2004

NOISY PROTEST AT BURMESE EMBASSY IN MEMORY OF 1988 DEMOCRACY UPRISING

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

LONDON, ENGLAND (ANS) -- Members of the Burmese community in London dressed up as soldiers, and others wore traditional ethnic national costumes while holding aloft banners, during a march earlier today commemorating those who were killed in a demonstration in Rangoon 16 years ago which resulted in a massacre of thousands of protestors.

About 70 Burmese people and human rights activists marched August 6 from Berkeley Square, London W1 to the Burmese Embassy in Charles Street, to commemorate the demonstration in Rangoon on August 8, 1988 which resulted in a massacre of thousands of demonstrating protestors.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) supporters joined the protest, with visual aids including a map of Burma in chains, pictures of landmine victims, burned-out villages and forced labour, and a wooden cage containing pictures of detained Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoner Min Ko Naing. Noisy singing and political chanting emphasized to the Burmese Embassy the demand for human rights and freedom for the people of Burma.

Embassy staff refused to accept a box of numerous reports from various organizations documenting human rights violations.

The SPDC (State Peace and Development Council) is currently holding a National Convention to prepare a new constitution, but this has been boycotted by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy and most ethnic groups, and dismissed as a sham by the international community. It is engaged in ceasefire talks with the Karen, but CSW is calling for a nationwide ceasefire and the withdrawal of Burma Army troops from ethnic areas.

Dr Win Naing, a representative of the National League for Democracy in Europe, said: "We are still fighting for democracy and human rights in Burma. We will carry on protesting until we get democracy. We are calling for the unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and the 1,400 political prisoners and for the opening of all NLD offices in Burma. There must be a transfer of power to the people mandated as soon as possible."

CSW's Advocacy Director Alexa Papadouris said: "It was a privilege to stand today with the Burmese community in calling for freedom and democracy in Burma. The need for radical change by the regime is long overdue. CSW will continue to stand with the people of Burma until their cries for democracy become a reality."

Burma has been ruled by successive military regimes since 1962, when Ne Win seized power in a coup. The current junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), has been in power since 1988. Elections were held in 1990, and the National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, won over 80 per cent of the parliamentary seats but has never been allowed to form a government.

The SPDC has imprisoned at least 1,400 prisoners of conscience, has the highest number of child soldiers in the world, and stands accused of widespread use of forced labour, human minesweepers, systematic rape, destruction of villages and crops, religious persecution and extrajudicial killings in ethnic areas such as Karen, Karenni and Shan states.

CSW is a human rights charity working on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs. We also promote religious liberty for all.

For more information or pictures of the protest, please contact Richard Chilvers, Communications Manager, CSW at richard.chilvers@csw.org.uk or ring 020 8329 0045 or visit www.csw.org.uk

Google It!. 12:20:25 PM

comments []trackback []

Rev. Khalid Soomro house set on fire by terrorists in Pakistan. [Pakistan Christian Post}

Karachi. July 30. A Muslim extremists group called Zarb-e-Momin set on fire the house of Rev. Khalid Soomro in Gulshan area. It was successful attempt to attack Rev. Khalid when he was threatened by fundamental groups in past too. Rev. Soomro, a famous scholar and director of Asia Kalimatullah Evangelism Ministry in Pakistan survived the attack and saved from the fire.

Rev. Khalid Soomro has translated the New International Version (NIV) in Sindhi language. Rev. Soomro is serving Jesus Christ since 1985 in Karachi. His service includes, distribution of the Holy Bible, conducting of Bible Courses on Internet and reaching and teaching Bible in people's home. He has reprinted or saved many "Urdu" books. His services are not only recognized in Pakistan but internationally. Rev. Khalid Soomro belongs to "Shikarpur" District in Sindh Province. Lord has blessed him abundantly especially on the doctrine of "Trinity". Pope John Paul has given him award.

According to "Ummat News", very recently in a religious seminar at Peshawar he stressed the need of a Christian University in Karachi at the level of Aga Khan University Pakistan, Baqai University Karachi, and Hamdard University Pakistan. He said that we must be given the freedom to teach our religion to Christians. Rev Khalid Soomro's family has suffered two deaths recently, and now his house has been burnt that has resulted in total loss.

It is appeal to the Pakistan Federal and Sindh Provincial government to give severe punishment to the miscreants and provide shelter to Rev. Khalid Mansoor Soomro.

Google It!. 12:10:20 PM

comments []trackback []

CAA(Philadelphia)-August 6, 2004

Three Christians Sentenced One to Three Years Imprisonment in Hangzhou on Friday; More than One hundred Christians Arrested in Henan Province Today

CAA learned three famous Chinese house church Christians were sentenced one to three years imprisonment respectively by the Intermediate People’s Court of Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province on Friday(August 6, Beijing Time). Both defense attorneys and some family members were present when the chief judge pronounced the court decision at about 10am in the court room. All of them were charged of “illegally soliciting, providing national intelligence to overseas organizations”. The sentences against Liu Fenggang, Xu Yonghai and Zhang Shengqi were three, two and one year respectively. Sources say the prosecutors accused the three Christians leaking information about a court case which happened in Anshan city, Liaoning province to an overseas magazine in 2000. That case referred to was about an appeal filed by a house church Christian Ms. Li Baozhi who was sentenced to one and a half years re-education through labour after she was accused as an “evil cult member.” Liu Fenggang, Xu Yonghai and Zhang Shengqi were accused of sending their report to “overseas magazine and organizations”.The court verdict papers showed Liu was also charged for writing about reports on the government’s actions on the destruction of the house church buildings in several areas of Zhejiang province in 2003. They were al sentenced according to the Article 111 of the Chinese Criminal Law. According to an eyewitness in the court, all three appear in good health. All three decide to make further appeal to the higher court.
CAA strongly deplores these unfair, unjust and baseless sentences. CAA urges the international community to continue to build up pressure for the release of these three innocent believers.
Meanwhile, at about 11am at the same day, more than one hundred House Church Christians were arrested at Luoyang City, Henan province while they were having a fellowship together. The interrogations are still undergoing before this report released.

More Than 100 House Church Leaders Arrested in Henan

August 6, 2004

On August 6, 2004, more than 100 house church leaders have been arrested in Tongxu County, Kaifeng City, Henan Province. (CAA apologizes to readers for mistakenly putting Luoyang city instead of Kaifeng city in our previous report yesterday). According to an eyewitness report who managed her escape from the arrest scene, the group was just starting their first day meeting for a two-week retreat when they were surrounded by more than 200 military police, Public Security Bureau (PSB) and other officers, who arrived at the scene in about 20 police and military vehicles along with 6 minibuses. No arrest warrants or even official identification papers were shown by officers as they carried out the assault.
The meeting was being held at the house of one of the retreat organizers whose name is unavailable. His family members including his wife, Ms. Xiang Zi and three 8-11 year-old children were also arrested. “These children were crying a lot when being dragged away”, this eyewitness said.
This cross-provincial meeting was sponsored by Henan House Church, a non-denominational large house-church network headquartered in Henan Province. The arrested are from different provinces including Heilongjiang, Liaoning and other parts of Cities throughout Henan province. Some known leaders among the arrested are Mr. Zhang Wanshun(Sanmenxia city, Mr. Zhang Tianyun(Nanyang city) and Mr. Yu Guoying(Tongxu county).
Meanwhile, a house church leader from Yima county, Sanmenxia City, Henan was also arrested on his way to the same meeting. He was to carry some Christian literatures including Christian Life Quarterly Magazine to the retreat attendants. His house was raided and lots of Christian literatures were confiscated.
“These cases show irrefutable evidence of the worsening situation on religious persecution in China,” said Bob Fu, CAA’s president. “We urge people of all faith to take actions to address your concerns.”
Letters of protest can be sent to the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC at the following address:
Ambassador Yang Jiechi
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20008
Tel:(202) 328-2500 Fax:(202) 588-0032
Director of Religious Affairs: (202) 328-2512

Issued by China Aid Association, Inc. on August 6, 2004.