13 CHRISTIAN LEADERS ARRESTED IN CHINA Part of Intimidation Campaign Against Non-Official Churches
BEIJING, MAY 18 (ZENIT.org).- Chinese authorities have closed churches and arrested at least 13 clandestine Christian leaders in Guangdong province during renewed inspection and control of prohibited religious activities. The details were given by "Christian Solidarity Worldwide," the AP agency, and other Evangelical sources.
Mr. Yung and Mr. Kong, two Evangelical Christians, have been imprisoned for two weeks. Both worked with pastor Li Dexian, who has been arrested 14 times since last October, although he was not arrested this week. These events are part of an intimidation campaign that has escalated over the last few months against Christian communities that are not officially recognized.
Mr. Yung's mother was arrested a few days earlier and was told she would not be released until her son was arrested. He was arrested last Tuesday in his place of work. Mr. Yiu, another Evangelical Protestant, and his wife, were arrested in Fo Gang on May 8 and released shortly after.
For his part, pastor Li Dexian reports that, although he is not under police custody, he is constantly watched. He was unable to attend his usual Tuesday meeting in Hua Du, as the authorities sealed the doors of the meeting place. The previous week, more than 500 people attended. Moreover, the authorities have placed a large sign, which reads that "people from outside cannot come to our town to organize illegal meetings." The sign urges citizens to obey the norms.
AP reports that the Chinese Communist Party's campaign of religious control seems to be taking place as a preventive measure given China's foreseeable entry in the World Trade Organization (WTO). "When we address the entry of our nation in the WTO, opening to the exterior at many levels, we must combat the infiltration and separatist activities of our external and internal enemies," the government newspaper "Guangming Daily" said yesterday, in a front page commentary, calling for control of religious affairs.
An employee of the Guangdong Office of Religious Affairs, confirmed that an investigation was underway on local religious groups. "The groups that are not registered or are illegal must be sanctioned according to the norms," he said, refusing to give his name or further details. Beijing's Religious Affairs employees said they knew nothing about the arrests and refused to comment.
The Chinese constitution guarantees religious liberty, but the government demands that public worship be carried out only in officially approved religious organizations. "Christian Solidarity Worldwide" said that the Guangdong arrests are part of an intimidation campaign that has been going on for 7 months and began with the demolition of pastor Li Dexian's very popular church in Huadu.
The anti-Christian campaign coincides with an ongoing crusade against the Falun Gong sect, which began last July. The state newspaper accuses foreign countries of attempting to use religion to foster the separatist cause, especially in Tibet and Xinjiang, where there are Buddhist and Muslims populations under the Chinese regime. "We are totally opposed to extremism and we must be alert against these separatist minorities, both within and outside the country, which would like to use religion to divide the motherland," the government newspaper warns.
ZEN - Zenith