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Persectuion Report for Tuesday, 07Jan2003

Mission Network reports the following regarding Christians suffering persecution.

India:

International:

Christmas week was deadly in Pakistan and India, just as the days ushering in a new year were deadly for a Christian hospital in Yemen.Open Doors'[1] Jerry Kitchel suggests that the issue of persecution is not one that will fade. He points to the evidence of 2002." Just in the past year, we've seen such an increase in violence directed toward Christians, especially those that are living in Muslim countries. It's quite obvious that the situation for them is more complicated, it's more demanding and they're being exposed to considerably more violence." Kitchel describes the trouble as a wake-up call. "As we look back on the past year, and recap some of the tragic events that have taken place, in some of these difficult countries, at the same time, we're looking ahead to the New Year and saying this is a demand placed on the church here in the United States to be more mindful than ever that persecution is definitely on the increase." Yemen:

Yemen:

3 missionaries murdered.

A Muslim extremist gunman shot and killed three American missionaries and seriously wounded a fourth Monday at a Southern Baptist hospital in southern Yemen. The International Mission Board's[1] Wendy Norvelle. "A single gunman burst into the room where three of our personnel were meeting and opened fire. Those three, Bill Koehn, Kathy Gariety and Martha Myers, were killed immediately. The gunman then reportedly moved to another room where he wounded our pharmacist, Don Caswell." Norvelle says the security threat isn't likely change their outreach in Yemen; already, their workers are responding. (NORVELLE:19) We have a quote from one of our workers who was there soon after it happened, and she said that, "We can't let someone with a gun make us afraid to do what God wants us to do. We are asking people to pray that these deaths will not be a senseless waste, but that God will complete all He's intended here and that He will be glorified."

Pakistan:

Murder suspects arrested.

Four people are in custody following a deadly Christmas Day church bombing. Pakistani authorities issued extra security measures during the 2002 Christmas season, but on the day of the attack, according toVoice of the Martyr's[2] Todd Nettleton: "There were no police present at the church in spite of warnings about possible attacks relating to Christmas services and Christmas celebrations and so forth. It demonstrates that there may be warnings at the national level, but at the local level, those warnings never seem to get carried out effectively." Nettleton says mission workers are now working especially carefully. "I think every Christian in Pakistan understands that there is risk to evangelistic outreach,especially among Muslim people, and I think those risks will continue. We would hope that the police would step up their efforts to provide protection, but we've seen in the past that that hasn't always happened."

Ivory Coast:

Captured missionary reported well.

Rebels in Ivory Coast said this week a U.S. missionary caught behind their lines was safe and well and would soon be handed over to the Red Cross so he could escape. The U.S. embassy in the West African country declined to comment further on the whereabouts of William Foster,a Lutheran missionary who had been living for the past eight years near the Liberian border. The area has fallen into instability since a failed coup in October. Many missionaries have since evacuated the area.

Please check http://www.mnnonline.org for missions news and a weekday audio newscast.

The Voice Of The Martyrs has these persecution incidents to report.

Pakistan:

Families of Bombing Victims to Receive Compensation:

Provincial authorities have announced that 100,000 rupees (around $2700CDN) will be paid to the families of each of the four girls killed in thebomb attack on Christmas Day in the village of Chianwala. Around $675 CDNwill also be paid to the fourteen people injured in the attack. Three girls between the ages of 6 and 16 were killed when an explosive wastossed into a church during a service particularly for children onChristmas Day. A fourth girl died the next day from her injuries. Seewww.persecution.net/pnparchive/arch2.htm for more details on the attack. Three police officers have been suspended for failing to provideprotection for the church. According to reports from the PakistanChristian Post, the police station house officer in Chianwala and twoaides were not obeying orders to provide security. Two churches consideredvulnerable to attacks were left without protection on Christmas Day.The feature article of the January 2003 edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter focuses on the persecution facing Christians in Pakistan today.

To subscribe to this free publication, go to www.persecution.net/nlorder.htm.

Vietnam:

Prison Sentences for Montagnard Christians.

Seven men from the mostly Christian tribe known as the Montagnards were sentenced to eight years in prison. An eighth, a church leader named YThuon Nie, 30, was sentenced to ten years for an attempt to flee Vietnamfor Cambodia on Christmas last year. According to a New York Times article on December 28, the sentences wereannounced this past week by Vietnam's official news agency, as the menwere found guilty of "organizing illegal migration to Cambodia" and"undermining state and Communist Party policy." The Montagnard people are predominantly Christian and have been facingsevere persecution from Vietnamese authorities in recent months. Hundredsfled to Cambodia, but that country has now completely closed its bordersto refugees from Vietnam. Hundreds have been returned to Vietnam to facealmost certain persecution.

Please see http://www.persecution.net for further details plus information on how to help persecuted believers.

   

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