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Subject: Persecution report for June 24, 2003.

Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2003 18:34:57 -0600

From: "Bruce Atchison" <ve6xtc@telusplanet.net>

To: "Ted" <thilts@help-for-you.com>

CC: "John M. Lindner" <jml@christianaid.org>

PERSECUTION REPORT FOR JUNE 24, 2003.

The Voice Of The Martyrs reports these incidents of Christians being persecuted.

Indonesia:

Church Leader Sentenced to Three Years

The district court in Palu, Central Sulawesi, has convicted Rev. Rinaldy Damanik of illegal possession of arms and ammunition and sentenced him to three years in prison. He was found guilty of possessing seven unregistered rifles, four guns and 144 rounds of ammunition, found in his possession as he was helping to evacuate people terrorized in the Poso area on August 17, 2002. Damanik was a leader in the Malino peace agreement that formed a foundation for peace in the troubled Poso area of Indonesia. He claims that the police planted the weapons.

According to The Jakarta Post, Damanik's lawyer is urging his client to appeal because of the lack of evidence. Indonesia's foremost legal expert had testified during the trial that Damanik's arrest had been "engineered" by the police and prosecutors to make him a scapegoat. The prosecution's key witness, one of Damanik's drivers, admitted that he had been beaten and forced to sign a statement without reading it. At the end of the trial, Judge Somanada stated that the prosecution had failed to present a cohesive case. Despite this, Damanik expected to be convicted. According to David Mundy from Jubilee Campaign USA, "In a culture infused with saving face, it is nearly impossible that Damanik could be completely acquitted."

Laos:

Christian Families Forced to Move

Five Laotian men were ordered to leave their village and move their families to a different province because of their faith in Christ. According to a June 12 report from Christian Aid, the five men from Kang Village in Attapue province were summoned to a meeting on June 9 at the provincial department of religious affairs and accused of causing disorder and disharmony. Those present, including a judge, a member of the National House of Representatives and the police, gave them ten days to move their families to a different province at their own expense. They were also forced, under threat of imprisonment, to sign a document saying they were leaving of their own free will. After moving, they faxed a retraction, saying they had been threatened. The five men were

:

mr. Boukeo

mr. Khamsuak (also referred to as Suak)

mr. Tongsawat (also referred to as Sawat)

mr. Nuang

mr. Keopong

Myanmar:

Five Christians Arrested

Five Christians were arrested in Myanmar (Burma) last week including a pastor. They have been charged with selling children and given the choice between life in prison or the death sentence.

According to sources for The Voice of the Martyrs, the military had confiscated twenty-two orphanages for military use. Pastor Run Hesh Ling and Sa Tin Khup tried to prevent this from happening, which lead to the arrests. Arrested along with these men were Sa Tin Khup's daughter, Cung Hlen, Mr. Thongte, and Mr. Lowib.

Uganda:

Rebel Group Orders All Clergy Killed

A rebel group, The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), led by a cultic spirit medium, has been terrorizing northern Uganda for sixteen years. Nearly one million Ugandans have been forced into refugee camps by the LRA rebels. While Christians have frequently been the targets of this group, the Catholic Church is now being specifically targeted for attack.

Despite threats from Joseph Kony, the leader of the LRA, church leaders have consistently been involved in peace talks between the LRA and the Ugandan government. According to the World Evangelical Alliance's Religious Liberty Prayer List, several commanders deserted the LRA during recent meetings with church officials. Consequently, Kony declared war on the church. Since the defections, church missions have been burned, bombed, and desecrated on nine separate occasions. On June 14, the Ugandan Army intercepted a transmission in which Kony was ordering his soldiers: "Catholic missions must be destroyed, priests and missionaries killed in cold blood and nuns beaten black and blue."

The LRA is fighting against the government to create a state based on the observance of Kony's interpretation of biblical concepts. In a report to Zenit, Father Albanese described Kony as a "mad visionary" whose "creed is of a syncretist type, where there is a bit of everything: elements of Christianity, Islam and animism." International observers report that at least 20,000 civilians and as many children have been kidnapped and enslaved and/or forced to join the LRA army.

Canada:

Commons Goes Into Recess; C-250 Vote Delayed

Supported by the Canadian Alliance opposition party, Canada's Liberal government used an obscure parliamentary rule on June 13 to adjourn the House of Commons early for a three-month summer recess, thereby delaying an expected vote of Bill C-250 scheduled for today. This controversial bill proposes to add "sexual orientation" to the current list of identifiable groups (i.e. colour, race, religion and ethnic origin) in the "hate propaganda" sections of the Criminal Code of Canada.

The Voice of the Martyrs is concerned that this bill is vague enough to allow for a case-to-case interpretation of what would constitute a hate crime against someone of a particular sexual orientation. Potentially, we belief, this bill could lead to the criminalization of the public reading of Scripture passages that speak out against homosexuality, sermons that decry sexual sin and any other printed literature against homosexuality. It is believed that the government recessed the Commons early to delay a vote on this and other controversial legislation. Many believe that, had C-250 been voted on today, it would have passed. The move to recess early means that a vote on this faulty legislation will be delayed until at least next fall.

While The Voice of the Martyrs welcomes this development, we are concerned that the Liberal government fears opposing this bill (sponsored by openly homosexual NDP Member of Parliament Sven Robinson) because of public opinion concerns. We urge all Canadians, especially those with Liberal Members of Parliament to take the time this summer to write their MPs and The Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, regarding this bill. Contact information can be found through a link to the House of Commons directory at www.persecution.net/links.htm.

To assist you in writing a well-reasoned, thoughtful letter, we encourage all Canadian Christians to go to http://www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/social/initiatives.asp and

http://www.christianlegalfellowship.org/Articles/thebill.html for more information on this bill and some of the issues at stake.

Please see the http://www.persecution.net web site for more information about these stories plus learn how to help those believers.

Mission Network News has these persecution incidents to report.

North Korea:

Good and bad news about local believers.

The food situation, combined with international isolation, appears to be getting worse. Humanitarian rights are losing value, particularly those of believers. The country now tops Open Doors' World Watch list. Open Doors' Jeff Taylor describes what's happening behind North Korea's walls. "It's one of those things where you just take bits and pieces of information and piece it together. You begin to see a picture that good things are happening in North Korea, that there is a church still there, that it hasn't been wiped out. But, occasionally, we'll hear of executions taking place of Christians, because those reports will come out. " Taylor adds that while traditional evangelistic work is almost impossible inside North Korea, it continues." We estimate there could be anywhere from 100-thousand to a half million believers in North Korea. They hold the key to the future of that country. We do need to pray that they'll be bold in their faith. We need to pray practically, that they'll have food, because it's a very difficult situation there."

India:

Mission groups concerned about anti-conversion legislation

The Gujarat High Court meets this week for a hearing on an injunction filed by the All India Christian Council challenging the anti-conversion bill.The legislation raises grave concerns for mission groups.Dayspring International's JohnGilman says at this time, the lowest caste, the Dalits, continue responding to evangelistic efforts. That could be threatened under this law." The government needs to honour their constitution and give the people the privileges they are granted there. The church is now able to lead the way in the outcry for this freedom for the Dalits." Gilman says due to the widely publicized Hindu renunciation last year, the Dalits seek another faith to fill the void. In spite of anti-conversion laws, that is good news for ministries." We've never had a better time in the history of the ministry. Our film teams, our mobile film teams, are showing our all-Indian acted life of Christ motion picture in 16-hundred villages each month. "

China:

Government travel restrictions hamper Bible smuggling

The SARS outbreak in China is causing problems for Bible distribution. The Bible League's Andrew Harbert says government imposed travel restrictions have cancelled Bible smuggling trips to China. "We normally take groups into China - taking Bibles into China. And, as you know China suspended all international tourist groups into China, at least into the mid part of July. That means that groups that do bring Bibles into China can not bring them into the country." Harbert says 300-thousand Bibles have gone undelivered. Road blocks have also been setup within China. He says that's having an affect on domestic distribution in China." Most of your Chinese leaders are already wanted by police. So, if they show up at a roadblock, or are asked by the police for their I-D, bang they're caught. So, they're basically ground for the time being." Harbert says many people are seeking answers to spiritual questions, making it fertile ground for evangelism.

Please go to http://www.mnnonline.org for missions news and a weekday audio broadcast.

Christian Aid Mission provides this persecution report.

Indonesia:

Damanik Sentenced to Three Years

Indonesian Christian peace activist Renaldy Damanik was given a three-year prison sentence Monday, June 16, for allegedly carrying illegal weapons in his car.

The Rev. Renaldy Damanik was attempting to evacuate Christians to safety on August 17, 2002, when police officers stopped his vehicle and ordered him to stand some distance away while they searched it. He did not realize any charges were filed against him until police announced the next day that they had found 14 illegal weapons and ammunition in his car.

Many observers believe the evidence was planted by police in retaliation for Damanik's criticism of authorities for failing to stop the Islamic terrorism and for his accusation of collusion of local police and the military with the Laskar Jihad terrorist attacks against Christians in 2001-2002. An expert legal witness for the defense said that the police search of Damanik's vehicle without warrant was illegal and any so-called evidence gained from it should be thrown out.

Damanik's trial was fraught with many irregularities. He was asked to go to Jakarta as a witness, but after he got there police arrested and detained him there for four months while his case was rejected three times by the Central Sulawesi High Court for insufficient evidence.

Only after testimony against him was obtained through an alleged eye-witness by torture was he secretly ushered back to Palu, Central Sulawesi, where his prison food was laced with rat poison.

Damanik is a peace activist, a co-signer of the Malino Peace Accord between Muslims and Christians, and even while in prison restrained Christians from retaliating against Islamic terrorist violence.

In contrast to Damanik's trial, Jafar Umar Thalib, leader of the militant Laskar Jihad, called for "holy war" against Christians in Indonesia and threatened the president and vice-president in April 2002. Yet he was acquitted of charges of inciting violence against Christians.

Damanik's weary and financially exhausted defense team needs to decide by June 23 if they will appeal the verdict. Persons wishing to provide financial assistance for the legal team may do so by going to http://www.persecution.org/Damanik.htm. Previous stories were published by Missions Insider on February 4 and May 21, 2003, and August 21 and September 25, 2002.

Letters of encouragement and support may be sent to Pastor R. Damanik, c/o Ruman Tahanan Maesa Palu, Jl. Bali Palu, Sulawesi Tengah, Indonesia.

Please visit http://www.christianaid.org to read many inspiring missions reports.

Forum 18 News Service presents these incidents of religious rights violations.

Belarus:

New spate of Pentecostal fines

Aleksandr Tolochko was fined 34 US dollars in Grodno on 4 June as part of the latest crackdown on Pentecostal home meetings in various towns and villages of western Belarus. "He hasn't paid the fine yet - he doesn't earn enough to pay it," Bishop Fyodor Tsvor of Grodno region told Forum 18 News Service. Among others fined were two Pentecostal women in Baranovichi, one a pensioner and one an invalid. Bishop of Brest region Nikolai Kurkaev blamed the highly restrictive new religion law. "You see the new law is working already," he told Forum 18. Igor Popov, religious affairs officials for Grodno region, denied to Forum 18 there is a campaign against Pentecostals but insisted all unregistered religious meetings are illegal.

Georgia:

"We'll be back," mob warns Pentecostals

Demonstrators reportedly organised by Orthodox priest Fr David blockaded a Pentecostal church in the capital Tbilisi for seven hours on 15 June,preventing believers from attending a special Pentecost service. "We will do everything to prevent you from meeting. We won't stop till there's blood," Vera Kalutskaya, wife of the pastor, quoted members of the mob as telling the Pentecostals. She told Forum 18 News Service they had threatened to kill her husband, Pastor Nikolai Kalutsky. "You have incorrect information. They were not Orthodox, they were just local residents," local police chief Timur Anjaparidze told Forum 18.

Georgia:

Did Orthodox arsonists destroy Baptist church?

In the wake of threats by the local Orthodox priest to burn down the Baptist church in Akhalsopeli in eastern Georgia, the building was wrecked by fire in the early hours of 15 June. "The walls survived the fire, but the interior has been reduced to ashes," Emil Adelkhanov of the Centre for Peace, Democracy and Development told Forum 18 News Service. "We're certain our priests were not involved," Metropolitan Daniil Datuashvili of the Orthodox Patriarchate told Forum 18. "Such attacks were always carried out in the past by schismatics who broke away from the Patriarchate." Adelkhanov ridiculed such claims. "There have constantly been incidents of violence when Patriarchate priests were involved."

Kyrgyzstan:

Campaign to close down Pentecostal church?

With its congregations in Karakol and Osh closed down after failing to gain registration, a senior pastor of the Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ has accused the authorities of launching a campaign to close down the Church and its affiliates. "We have not managed to register our affiliates in the provinces and the authorities are taking active advantage of that," VasiliKuzin told Forum 18 News Service. The religious affairs committee warned Kuzin that if members of the closed Osh church continue to meet in private apartments, his Bishkek congregation will have its registration removed.Murmurzak Mamayusupov, chairman of the religious affairs committee, denied there was any deliberate obstruction. "No-one is putting obstacles in the way of their registration," he told Forum 18.

Turkmenistan:

"We'll put you away for twelve years," Baptists were told

A Baptist church in Turkmenabad has become the tenth religious community known to have been raided since the authorities began their latest crackdown on religious minorities in early May. On 13 June, 11 officials raided a prayer meeting in an apartment, local Baptists reported in a statement reaching Forum 18 News Service. All those present were questioned for several hours. "We have been on your tracks for three months now, and we'll put you away for 12 years," officers warned church members Yeldash Roziev and Aleksandr Frolov. Head of the city police Alaverdy Khudoberdiev defended the raid, telling Forum 18 the police had done nothing unlawful.

Please go to http://www.forum18.org/ to learn more about religious rights violations in communist and post-communist lands.

ASSIST News Service has this praise item to report.

England:

Severe persecution of Christians in africa raised in House Of Commons debate

The severe persecution of Christians in parts of Africa was highlighted by MPs in a House of Commons debate yesterday (June 17).

Conservative MP for North East Bedfordshire, Alistair Burt, introduced the debate. He said: "By standing up for the rights of persecuted religious groups, we are also helping to tackle other human rights abuses and to promote a more healthy respect for human rights throughout the world."

Mr Burt went on to give an overview of the situation in Africa, focusing in particular on Nigeria. Noting that the current bouts of violence began in 1999, when some northern Muslim states began to impose Shari'ah Law, he pointed out that this was part of an overall strategy.

He added: "Some Nigerian Muslims openly admit that the ultimate aim is to impose full Shari'ah Law in a majority of Nigeria's 36 states. Once they have that majority they can challenge the country's constitution and, eventually, declare Nigeria a fully Islamic state, rather than the secular one that it is, by consent, now. That should be of deep concern to anyone who is interested in Nigeria's future welfare."

David Drew, Labour MP for Stroud, focused on the persecution of the newer Christian denominations in Eritrea. He drew attention to the particularly severe treatment of Christian soldiers. He said there were reports "that several young Christian soldiers were shot after being discovered reading the Bible." Other reports show Christian soldiers as having been arrested, tortured, assaulted or sexually abused.

Andrew Selous, Conservative MP for South-West Bedfordshire, covered a number of countries, some where violence against Christians had already broken out, and some where there were warning signs that it may do in the future.

He gave a number of examples of individual tragedies, such as an example from Ethiopia. A Muslim who converted to Christianity "had his life threatened and was accused of apostasy; he was beaten and hospitalized, and had to take refuge in a police station."

Nearly all the MPs who spoke paid tribute to the work of Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Mr Burt praised CSW "for their painstaking research and careful verification of allegations."

Conservative Front Bench Spokesman Peter Luff referred to CSW's "extremely impressive briefing material."

Christian Solidarity Worldwide's Parliamentary Officer, Dr Alan Hobson, worked closely with MPs to initiate the adjournment debate and to prepare material for it.

Mervyn Thomas, CSW Chief Executive said: "We're really pleased that so many MPs spoke up for Christians persecuted in Africa. Religious freedom should be a key part of the Foreign Office's policy considerations and we will be looking for the points raised in this debate to be taken on board in the UK's future relations with African countries."

Please see http://www.assistnews.net for edifying and uplifting news reports.

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