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Thursday, August 26, 2004 |
China Forces Woman into Abortion so She Can Face Execution
BEIJING, August 26, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - 29-year-old Ma Weihua was reported to have been forced by Chinese police to have an abortion last February, shortly after her arrest for smuggling drugs. She was transporting 1.6 kg of heroin for a friend and is now facing a possible death sentence.
During a routine physical examination in prison, doctors found that Weihua was 50 days pregnant. In Chinese law, being a mother - like being under age - mitigates an accused woman's punishment. The amount of heroin she was carrying, under China's draconian criminal code, was enough for her to incur capital punishment. Weihua wanted to keep her baby, but anti-drug police signed a consent form on her behalf authorizing the abortion, so that the full weight of the law would fall on the woman.
jmo
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VIETNAM: PERPETUATING PERSECUTION
By Elizabeth Kendal
World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC)
Special to ASSIST News Service
AUSTRALIA (ANS) -- On 18 June 2004, Vietnam's National Assembly Standing Committee adopted the Ordinance on Beliefs and Religions that, in the words of a Voice of Vietnam release, "sets out concrete details of citizens' freedom of belief and religion, and establishes a legal framework that helps keep activities relating to belief and religion open and staying within the bounds of the law". The Ordinance is due to come into effect on 15 November. A translation of the Ordinance on Beliefs and Religions can be found on the WEA RLC website at: http://worldevangelical.org/persec_vietnam_18june04.html
Also available on the WEA RLC website is an exclusive article entitled, "The Deep Distress of the Ethnic Minorities in Vietnam" http://worldevangelical.org/persec_vietnam_aug04.html This article is a collaborative effort of an indigenous Vietnamese church worker and a foreign missionary who have worked together for over 30 years. This is highly recommended reading for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of the roots of persecution in Vietnam.
The following posting is based on two above documents.
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The authors of "The Deep Distress of the Ethnic Minorities in Vietnam" explain that the root causes of the distress lie in events and injustices that unfolded immediately after the Communists had invaded the south. Not only have these injustices been perpetuated and bullies treated with impunity, but these injustices and mistakes are swept under the carpet by government officials, both central and local, who are desperate and determined to protect their jobs and the confidence of the masses. As the authors note in their conclusion, "There is no ideology left in Vietnamese communism. Vietnam’s poorest people see in their political masters only greed, avarice and the ruthless abuse of power to maintain their supremacy." The government's refusal to acknowledge its mistakes, correct injustices and respond to legitimate needs, is nothing more than a desperate attempt to maintain its tenuous grip on power.
THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE DISTRESS
The authors explain that after the Communists invaded the south they created a large security apparatus in the Central Highlands Provinces to deal with FULRO, "a remnant political movement of the minority people in the Highlands which was seeking self-determination, but was also a force fighting communism". Those sent to subdue the Highlands were mostly very poor, low ranking northern cadres who voluntered for service in the Highlands in order to seek land and positions of authority.
These northern cadres settled in the Highlands, commandeered land and then brought their relatives down from the north. Along with the local authorities, these newcomers also intimidated, deceived and bullied the indigenous people off their land. As factories, plantations or companies were established in the Highlands, jobs went exclusively to the chidren and relatives of the northern cadres, further exaggerating the marginalisation and poverty of the Highland's indigenous minorities.
Along with this was the incessant and systematic repression of the Christian faith in both the Central Highlands and Northwest Provinces. Christianity was repressed because Christians refused to accept the Communist regime's atheistic beliefs, thus challenging its totalitarian authority.
In order to discredit Christianity, the Communist authorites branded it as "the American religion". This, during and following the war, was analogous to saying that Christianity was the enemy's religion. After the war Christianity was also labelled "counter-revolutionary" and branded as a threat to social unity and national security. Over the years the government has maintained its determination to annihilate, or at least inhibit, suppress and control, Christianity.
PERSECUTION
The authors of "The Deep Distress of the Ethnic Minorities in Vietnam" note that the Communist authorites mercilessly punish those who resist their orders to renounce Christ and give up their Christianity. "In the last decade many thousands of Hmong and Dao Christians believers have been fined, beaten, and hundreds have been imprisoned."
The authors list names of some believers who are currently (August 2004) in prison on account of their faith. Some of those imprisoned were charged with "illegal gathering and disturbing public order" simply for meeting to worship in a private home. The authors also mention some appalling persecutions such as that of "Mr. Vang Seo Giao of Che La Commune, Xin Man District, Ha Giang Province, who had been a member of the Communist Party and became a faithful Christian. Mr. Vang Seo Giao was beaten to death in 2003 because he would not recant his faith. His body was tossed into a river and official reports said 'he drowned while crossing the river intoxicated'!" There is also the account of Mua Say So, a Christian who was sentenced to three years imprisonment in 2002 for the crime of "murdering his brother and slandering government officials". The charges came after he petitioned local authorites to investigate the death of his brother, Mr. Mua Bua Senh of Dien Bien Phu District in Lai Chau Province, who was beaten to death by officials for refusing to give up his Christian faith. (This is surely what it means to "bear the disgrace HE bore". Hebrews 13:12,13.)
Christians are also harassed and intimidated to make them revert, or at least pretend to revert, to traditional ancestor worship. Some severely harassed Christians will set up ancestral shrines just so officials can take photos and tell their senior cadres that they have been successful in their work of making Christians give up their faith. These compromised Christians will then destroy the shrines and pray for forgiveness. There are many cases of Christians being violently forced to engage in animist practice against their will. Christians who resist are accused of sowing division in the community.
The authors of "The Deep Distress of the Ethnic Minorities in Vietnam" say the the government of Vietnam has launched campaigns to "eradicate Christianity from the Central Highland". They purposefully spread disinformation about Christianity, claiming that it is "American" and "counter-revolutionary FULRO". These lies are designed to justify government repression and incite hatred of Christians in the community. The government then pours funds into its intelligence network, enabling officials to supply informers with liquor and large sums of cash in exchange for information about Christian activities in their village. Christians are also denied clean water, humanitarian aid, loans and education because they are "counter-revolutionary". To get these things they must give up the Christian faith.
These are the reasons, the authors claim, for the April 2004 demonstrations in the Highlands and other demonstrations like it. These are the reasons why the indigenous minorities march with banners showing slogans such as "Return Land to the People", "Provide Work for the People" and "Grant Religious Freedom for the People".
THE REASONS FOR GOVERNMENT INACTION
The authors of "The Deep Distress of the Ethnic Minorities in Vietnam" contend that there are strategic reasons why the government refuses to address the issue of injustice and correct the situation.
Firstly: if the government were to expose its own evil and its own mistakes, it would risk losing everything. As the writers note, "If the government officials acknowledged their mistakes and how these contribute to the agony of the minority people, thousands of Party members would be tried in court, thrown into jail and lose all their ill-gotten wealth."
Secondly, and linked to the first reason: the fact that the evils and errors of the past are being perpetuated and are bringing profit to officials in the central government.
Thirdly: it is imperative that Communist officials guard the appearance and face of the Communist Party, keeping the confidence of the masses in order to maintain authority. To do this, they heap all the blame for all social discord onto a scapegoat – the dangerous, reactionary, counter-revolutionary Chritsians. This is the only way local and government officials can maintain authority and all their ill-gotten gain.
Targeting Christians has a double benefit for the Communists who also see the Christians as competitors for the hearts and minds of the people, and a real threat to the atheist Communist system itself. The authorities know that if they lose the confidence of the masses and if Christianity is allowed to flourish and win hearts, then the Communists will eventually be overthrown.
ORDINANCE ON BELIEFS AND RELIGIONS
The Vietnam government's new "Ordinance on Beliefs and Religions" appears to open great doors of freedom for all Vietnam's citizens. In reality however, there are traps beyond every threshold, specifically structured to ensnare evangelical Christians. While the rhetoric of freedom abounds, the articles of the ordinance are laced with requirements to "be registered", "be recognised by the State", "build national unity" and to be under the monitoring and supervision of the "Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organisations".
Article 8.2 reads, "It is forbidden to abuse the right to freedom of religious belief and religion to undermine peace, independence and national unity; to incite violence or to wage war; to disseminate information against the State's prevailing laws and policies; to sow division among the people, ethnic groups, and religions; to cause public disorder; to do harm to other people's lives, health, dignity, honor, and property; to hinder people from exercising their rights and public obligations; to spread superstitious practices and to commit any other acts which breach the law."
According to the Ordinance, religious belief and practice must be in keeping with national traditions (presumably animism) and cultural identity (presumably non-Christian), and it must not violate national security or negatively effect public order or the unity of the people.
While all this sounds extremely reasonable, recent history and present reality have clearly demonstrated that these are the exact charges constantly leveled against Christians – that they are anti-State, anti-tradition, counter-revolutionary, a threat to national security, and that they sow division and cause public disorder.
EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY – "SHOULD BE ELIMINATED"
It is not surprising therefore to read in the text of a Voice of Vietnam bulletin on 10 August (source: BBC Monitoring): "Organizations that claim to be religious groups but in fact lead people into darkness, incite people to act against the law, and direct followers into wrongful paths should not be considered religious organizations. They in fact should be called heresies.
"The kind of religions such as the one started by Vang Chu in areas resident by minority ethnic communities in the North [evangelical protestant Christianity], or the Degar Protestantism in the Central Highlands [Montagnard Christians] are in fact nothing other than heretical beliefs. The act of exploiting the naivety, innocence and low level of knowledge of a portion of minority ethnic communities, especially those who live in remote areas, to preach religious teaching in secretive and unlawful ways is obviously an indication of the absence of legitimacy. Similarly, the acts of persuading followers to denounce traditional cultural activity and fine customs of the country are also signs of extremist thoughts that no genuine religions would encourage. The coercion and enticement of innocent and naive citizens to join in disturbances and activities against the government, to sow disunity among people of different ethnic backgrounds, or to demand 'autonomy' and 'independence' are contrary to not only secular laws but also genuine religious principles. Secular and religious activities share the same purposes of leading people to perfection and eliminating the evil for the sake of the humankind. The so-called religions that risk human lives and turn people into extremists and fanatics should not be considered religions.
"According to provisions of the Ordinance on Beliefs and Religions, the kind of religions such as the Degar Protestantism should not be considered a legitimate religion and should be outlawed. In any way this is a religion with a dubious origin. The exiled FULRO members deliberately set up that religion of Degar Protestantism just to use as the tool for their dark political schemes of stirring up ethnic problems and undermining our country's stability. When a so-called religion becomes a tool in the hand of evil people, it should be considered evil and unlawful and should be eliminated."
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Vietnam’s ‘Mennonite Six’ Allowed Family Visits
Authorities prepare criminal charges against pastor, co-workers.
Special to Compass Direct
HO CHI MINH CITY, August 26 (Compass) -- The mother of two Mennonite evangelists arrested on March 2 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was allowed to visit her imprisoned sons for the first time on August 23. Allowed to see them separately for about an hour each, the woman’s visit was cut short when one son began to describe how the other had been badly beaten while in custody.
A long-time Christian believer herself, the mother reported that the younger of her sons, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, appeared thin and pale but in reasonably good spirits. Her older son, Nguyen Huu Nghia, however, was in a very fragile emotional state.
It took nearly six months for the family to get permission for the visit, despite a Vietnamese law stipulating that such visits be allowed within the first 30 days of incarceration.
On August 18, the wife of the Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang was allowed to visit the imprisoned pastor for the second time since his June 8 arrest, this time accompanied by the couple’s three small children. (See Compass Direct, “Vietnam Pastor Remains in Police Custody,” July 30.)
Sources in Vietnam confirm that in mid July, the father of evangelist Pham Ngoc Thach was also allowed a brief visit. There had been concern whether Thach was even alive, as he had been badly beaten by police at the time of his arrest, also on March 2.
The wife of evangelist Nguyen Van Phuong, who bore the couple’s first child just before his March 2 arrest, has also been allowed one visit with her husband.
The only female evangelist, Le Thi Hong Lien, arrested in early July, has not been allowed a family visit. In justifying their refusal to allow visitors, police have told Lien’s family that she is “hard-headed and uncooperative.”
The family visits were monitored, yet some news emerged. It appears all six Mennonite church workers are incarcerated in a prison located at 4 Phan Dang Luu Street, Ho Chi Minh City, and not in the District 2 jail where they were first held after their arrests.
The prisoners believe that city-level public security police are close to completing an investigation to determine whether to prosecute them on a prisoner-by-prisoner basis. If officials decide to prosecute, prisoners facing charges will likely be transferred to Chi Hoa Prison, in the greater Ho Chi Minh City area. Further investigations will follow, and then charges against the defendants will be published, followed by a trial.
According to a report by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, sources in Vietnam say that authorities are working hard to put Quang on trial as soon as possible, perhaps by early September. Observers expect Quang to be tried because of his open advocacy of human rights and religious liberty.
Authorities confiscated files and computers from Quang’s home at the time of his arrest and are apparently using those to collect “evidence” to charge the pastor with crimes. Quang expects to face harsh charges himself, but is said to be concerned that his five co-workers have already suffered too much.
It seems doubtful that charges against the five defendants will include anything more serious than “resisting an officer doing official duty” for which they were supposedly arrested.
Vietnamese authorities are reportedly surprised and upset at the widespread negative publicity their oppression of the Vietnamese Mennonite house church organization has generated on an international level. Apparently they were not aware of the extent of Mennonite church bodies around the world, many of which have spoken up on behalf of the six prisoners.
Various secular and church-related media organizations have published news about the Mennonite Six. At least a half-dozen countries are pressing Vietnamese authorities on their mistreatment of Mennonite leaders and churches.
Meanwhile, ethnic minority Mennonite churches in Gai Lai province continue to experience oppression. Last May, authorities summoned six Mennonite pastors from ethnic minority groups in Ia Go Rai district and urged them to renounce their ties with the Mennonite church. Denouncing Nguyen Hong Quang, they invited the six to join the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South).
ECVN (S) leaders knew nothing about the incident. To date, in fact, they have been able to register only 11 of their own 400 churches in the province.
In mid May, two Mennonite evangelists, Ksor Ti No and Ksor Pui Nai, were arrested and placed in the T20 prison in Gia Lai. The charges against them are unknown. So far, families have been unable to visit them, although officials will accept packages on behalf of the men.
A report sent on August 17 from the area to Compass said, “Christians are still being arrested and taken away at this time.”
In another incident, a visiting British journalist asked Bureau of Religious Affairs officials in late July about Nguyen Hong Quang. At the time, these same officials were conducting a defamation campaign against Quang through the state media. Nonetheless, they told the journalist that they had never heard of him.
Finally, on August 5, authorities of the Bureau of Religious Affairs approached the elderly president of the Vietnam Mennonite Church and suggested that he make application to legally register the organization with the government. They made no mention of the imprisonment of Quang -- who serves as the church’s general secretary -- or his five co-workers, nor did they refer to other repressive actions against the Mennonite Church in Vietnam.
Copyright 2004 Compass Direct
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© 2004 Radio Free China
Last Update: 9/1/2004; 12:42:38 PM
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