Christian persecution in China

We are naturally gravely concerned for Mr Yoo’s welfare. Activists in South Korea consider this a unique case, highlighting both the tragic background and the redemptive sacrificial motivation of Mr Yoo. Clearly his own loss has motivated immense humanitarian concern for others at risk and we sincerely hope that China will not punish Mr Yoo for simply seeking to implement the protection which China should be providing as a party to the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its Protocol. Although Mr Yoo is now a South Korean citizen, the broad international nature of the issues concerned, alongside the concerns expressed for his welfare as a North Korean, are prompting urgent calls for international intervention with China before the trial on Monday to seek his protection. Those close to Mr Yoo hope that the outcome could be a swift deportation to South Korea as opposed to other more grim possibilities. The trial date has come unusually quickly and it is felt that the Chinese may be seeking to deal with the issue swiftly before further international attention is attracted, especially in the light of the forthcoming Beijing Olympics.

April 12, 2007 China's Catholics, the Holy See and religious freedom
http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=942
By Magda Hornemann, Forum 18 News Service <http://www.forum18.org>

Many experts have noted that the relationship between the Chinese government and the Vatican has greatly improved over the last few years. They are quite optimistic that the relationship will be normalized relatively soon. What was once perceived as the major obstacle in the normalization of bilateral relations, the Vatican's diplomatic relations with Taiwan, has for all practical purposes been removed. The main issue of contention remains government control over the selection of Chinese clergy, especially bishops. However, even on this point, most, if not all, Chinese bishops appointed by the government-sanctioned Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA) unofficially seek the Vatican's approval even as they accept the government appointments.

Although some Chinese Catholics both inside and outside mainland China have condemned the CPA and have demanded that the Vatican declare the government-approved Chinese Catholic church to be schismatic, the Vatican has not taken this step. This may ultimately bear fruit for the Vatican, because a divided Catholic Church in China is very much in the interest of the Chinese government. A united Church that acknowledges the Vatican's authority, whether publicly or privately, may impede the government's efforts to control it and so may ultimately facilitate the growth of a church that is independent of the government, if not in law then at least in practice.

Among all the religions in China, Catholicism is notable for having a clear external political dimension. It is the one religious community in China that has a clear internationally recognized source of diplomatic power outside the country. The Holy See, after all, is a recognized state as well as a spiritual centre.

Tibetan Buddhism also has a source of power outside Chinese-controlled territory ever since the Dalai Lama escaped to India (see F18News 25 November 2004 <http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=462>). However, it is clearly different from the Holy See as it is not an internationally recognized state.

Having a clear source of power outside China has always made the Catholic community in China dangerous in the eyes of the communist rulers. The establishment of the "patriotic" religious organizations at the founding of the People's Republic was, arguably, directed primarily at concerns about the Vatican's continued influence in China. The communist leaders were arguably less worried about the influence of the disparate foreign Protestant groups. This concern about foreign influence in general and the Catholic Church's foreign connection in particular continues to be seen in recent official documents.

For example, in the October 1997 White Paper on "Freedom of Religious Belief in China," the Chinese government focused completely on the Vatican and foreign Protestant organizations and individuals when justifying the need for Chinese religious communities to remain independent of foreign influence. The Catholic Church and the Protestant communities were portrayed in the White Paper as "tools" of hostile Western countries, which were seeking to colonize China. The White Paper portrayed these communities as unwilling to permit Chinese clerics to assume leadership positions in the churches in China. The White Paper, in particular, noted that immediately prior to the Communist Party taking power, "among the 20 archbishops in China were 17 foreigners and only three Chinese; in the 143 parishes there were some 110 foreign bishops but only about 20 Chinese bishops."

This non-Chinese dimension to Catholicism in China is not new, nor - in keeping with Catholicism's self-understanding of itself as a universal and not a national church - has it been unusual in other countries. As long ago as the 16th Century, foreign Catholic intellectuals were influential within China (see F18News 2 August 2006 <http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=821>). But today, if the Church were able to freely exercise its religious freedom, the overwhelming majority of its leaders would be - as they are amongst both "underground" and "patriotic" Catholics - Chinese citizens.

An important part of this foreign dimension for Chinese Catholicism has been the fact that the Vatican and the Taiwan government have had formal diplomatic relations since 1951, two years after the defeated Chinese nationalist government headed by Chiang Kai-shek retreated to Taiwan. Undoubtedly, this decision was the reaction of a strongly anti-communist pope, Pius XII, and the Vatican's understandable outrage at the Chinese communists' purposeful and wanton destruction of Catholic churches in China and the persecution of Chinese Catholics.

To this day, Chinese officials continue to cite Vatican's diplomatic relations with Taiwan as one of the two obstacles toward the normalization of Sino-Vatican relations - the other being the Chinese demand that the Vatican give up all rights and efforts to control the Catholic community in China, most notably the appointment of Chinese bishops. However, the Taiwan-Vatican relationship, for over 25 years, has been all form and no substance. Since 1980, the Vatican's delegation in Taipei has been led by a charge d'affaires rather than a full-fledged ambassador, or a papal nuncio. Second, the Vatican has already indicated publicly through various high-ranking Catholic clerics, including Hong Kong Archbishop Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun - who is known for his public statements against Chinese government controls on the Catholic Church - that the Vatican is ready to end its diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Although the Chinese government was publicly outraged by the fact that Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian was present at Pope John Paul II's funeral, it would seem that the issue of Taiwan is a public relations point more than a substantive one. The substantive point may be the Chinese government wanting to secure political control of China's Catholic Church. If this is so, even if the Vatican were to end all diplomatic relations with Taiwan this break would make little difference to the issue of normalizing relations between China and the Vatican.

On the other hand, some experts argue that the philosophical differences between Catholicism - and all other religions - and Communism remain the core obstacle to the normalization of Sino-Vatican relations. Professor Beatrice Leung, a respected expert on state-religion relations and the Catholic Church in China, argued in a recent essay in the "Journal of Contemporary China" that the difficulty in the relations between the Vatican and the Chinese governments "rests in the ideological incompatibility between the dialectic materialism embedded in Marxism Leninism and religious idealism".

Undoubtedly, the contradictions between the doctrines of the Chinese Communist Party and the beliefs of most religious communities are too great and too numerous for some to overcome. Some Chinese Communist Party officials have been visibly alarmed that an increasing number of Communist Party members are also religious believers (see F18News 13 February 2007 <http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=910>). In a book published in July 2005 on "United Front Work" [Tongzhan gongzuo], the authors wrote in the section on "religious work" that "[Communist] Party members must be firm in their belief in Communism; they must not believe in religions. For party members who have lost their qualification as party members due to their belief in religions, and even those who use their authority to facilitate religious fanaticism, they must be strictly dealt with according to the regulations and requirements contained in the party constitution."

Yet, the differences between Communist theory and Catholicism are clearly not permanent barriers to improving the relationship between China and the Holy See. It is commonplace for observers to note that very few people in China today believe in Communism. As Forum 18 has found within China, many, if not most, people in the country see Communist Party membership as an instrument for career advancement, not an ideology they believe in. And as the state has publicly declared that religions will be in China for a long time and that religious communities are important for the construction of a "harmonious society", the communist state has officially given its approval to holding religious beliefs.

Certainly, Communist ideology has not prevented the Chinese government from allowing the Catholic Church in China to pay spiritual homage to the Vatican. A parishioner in the church that houses the headquarters of the Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA) in Beijing, for example, told Forum 18 that all Chinese Catholic adherents recognize and accept the Vatican's spiritual authority. The parishioner insisted that the Chinese Catholic Church actively seeks communion with the Vatican. Supporting the parishioner's testimony were news items posted outside the Wangfujin Catholic church in Beijing, which clearly stated that Chinese Catholics were encouraged to boycott the 2006 film "The Da Vinci Code" in accordance with the Vatican's instructions (see F18News 5 December 2006 <http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=883>).

As suggested earlier, it seems that the main obstacle in the normalization of Sino-Vatican relations remains political control, which is shown in the events of the past year. The Chinese government does not want the Vatican to have any say in the selection of senior Chinese clerics. This desire for exclusive political control is not necessarily connected with conflicts between Communism and Catholicism. To China, it just makes good political sense to make sure that it does not share domestic political authority with another government, especially when - as Communist party members admit in private - the Chinese Communist Party is insecure in its legitimacy and both the Communist Party and the Holy See are deeply suspicious of each others' motives.

For this reason, the Chinese government refuses to consider the "Vietnam model", which involves the Vatican submitting a list of candidates for bishops to the Vietnamese government, with the pope making a final decision based in part on the government's opinions. The Chinese government is unlikely to compromise significantly on this issue. But it may be possible that the Catholic Patriotic Association might agree to provide a list of candidates to the Vatican, and then to take a decision based in part on the Vatican's opinions. If so, then the question is whether the Vatican would be willing to accept this approach.

But assuming for a moment that the relationship between the Holy See and the Chinese government is able to overcome this major obstacle and become a normal diplomatic relationship, what effects would that have on the situation facing Catholics in China?

The most egregious problems that confront the Catholic community in China today involve local officials cracking down on the clerics and lay members of the so-called "underground" Catholic Church. According to the Cardinal Kung Foundation, whose founder, Joseph Kung, is a nephew of former Cardinal Ignatius Pei-Min Kung (who had served 30 years in prison between 1955 and 1985), as of March 2007, five bishops and 14 priests in the underground church were in prison, eight bishops were under house arrest or surveillance, and two others were in hiding. The problem of local officials attacking religious freedom is a long-standing problem, and affects all China's religious communities (see F18News 1 September 2005 <http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=641>).

If the relationship between the Vatican and China were normalized today, it is unlikely that these crackdowns would completely disappear. During the short to medium-term future, the best that Catholics could hope for is a reduction in the frequency of these incidents. A normalized relationship would mean that the Vatican may be more able to get the central Chinese government to reduce or halt these attacks. However, as these crackdowns are often generated at the local level and in policy areas that are controlled by the Ministry of Public Security and the state security organs, the Foreign Ministry - which would be the primary ministry the Vatican would be relating to - would be unlikely to have much influence unless it was also supported by political leaders like Premier Wen Jiabao, or the Vice-premiers in charge of those policy areas.

Also, some of these egregious violations of religious freedom reflect "internal" conflicts between senior leaders of the "underground" Catholic Church and their government-sanctioned counterparts. One source of this is that - as Cardinal Zen has noted - without continuing state support the Catholic Patriotic Association has the potential to disintegrate, as its members may publicly join the "underground" Catholic Church. A normalized state-to-state relationship may allow the Vatican to become more directly involved in the affairs of the Chinese Catholic Church and thus able to intervene in such internal conflicts. However, this may not be permitted by the Chinese government, which is likely to be extremely wary of any public effort on the Vatican's part to "intervene" in the affairs of the Chinese Catholic community. Like the other state-recognized religious associations, a monolithic "patriotic" facade conceals great diversity and potential for disputes (see F18News 5 December 2006 <http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=883>).

However, the Vatican has so far not formally declared that there is a schism between any part of the Catholic Church in China and the Vatican. This may indirectly help to remove the internal conflicts among Chinese Catholics, by providing the basis for a unified Chinese church. Here, the contents of Pope Benedict XVI's forthcoming "personal letter to Catholics in China" - announced in January 2007 - will have implications for both the church in China and for the Vatican's future influence on the Catholic community there.

Much of the internal conflict is between personalities, between those people who resisted the communist regime and suffered for their defiance, and those people who agreed to work within the government-sanctioned framework (see F18News 15 June 2005 <http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=584>). These personalities will over time become less influential, which may cause these conflicts to diminish.

In addition to these internal conflicts at the upper echelon of the Chinese church, it seems clear that the current diplomatic situation is a reflection of the absence of consensus within the Chinese government about the desirability of a normalized relationship with the Vatican. This is probably due to the tendency among Chinese political leaders to think of the relationship primarily in political terms. As Sister Betty Ann Maheu, a former editor of "Tripod," a publication of the Holy Spirit Centre in Hong Kong, wrote in November 2005, the current pope "must somehow convince the government in China that the mission of the church is religious, not political." This is a very large task, which one might even say is almost but not completely impossible.

It would be a mistake to overlook the positive effects that regular interactions between the Vatican and China can have on changing the perceptions of Chinese political leaders. Also, significant progress has already been made towards uniting the Catholic Church in China. This progress may eventually cause the Chinese government to change its position on diplomatic relations with the Holy See. However, whether full diplomatic relations will be restored still depends on whether the government thinks it is in its interest to strengthen the ties of China's Catholics to the Vatican, by allowing the Holy See to have a normal diplomatic presence in China.

But even if there is a normalization of relations between the Holy See and the Chinese government in the near future, this may not bring any significant short to medium term practical improvements in the religious freedom of Chinese Catholics or of other religious communities. This is because, for China's Catholics as for other religious believers, the major challenge to their religious freedom is the state's wish to control Chinese religious communities. (END)

http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=910
Numbers of religious believers in China are, recent surveys indicate, much greater than previously thought, and a growing percentage of these believers are also Communist Party members, Forum 18 News Service notes. Many Chinese citizens Forum 18 has spoken to - including "religious Communists" - see Party membership just as a matter of gaining material advantages, and religious belief as a "private" matter. This "privatization" is encouraged by the state's attempts to stop religious communities becoming a force that can challenge the party-state. Yet freedom to believe is only one part of religious freedom; the freedom to practice religion is also vital. "Privatized" religious belief, operating within state-prescribed legal and administrative boundaries, is highly unlikely to produce the two things the state ostensibly most wants from religious communities - contributions to social welfare reforms and social progress. If China had true religious freedom, religious communities would be able to organize themselves independently, and more able to help with social welfare - and China would definitely be on the path to democracy.

As Chinese officials host the Archbishop of Canterbury, the seriousness of the restrictions on Christian activity in the country have been highlighted by the sentencing of a disabled pastor for printing Bibles and Christian literature.

Pastor Wang Zaiqing, a well known house church pastor from Anhui province, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment and fined 100,000 yuan ($12,700) for producing Bibles and Christian materials. In a now familiar tactic, Pastor Wang was charged with conducting ‘illegal business practices’ even though he gave the literature away and made no profit.

The verdict was announced on 9 October, the same day the Archbishop discussed the need for more pastors and theological training for the Church in China during his visit to Shanghai.

Pastor Wang’s case is the third such prosecution for illegal business practices for production of Christian literature in the last year. It highlights the Chinese authorities’ tactic of criminalizing religious activities in order to disguise religious persecution under the cloak of the law.

The most prominent of these cases has been that of well known Beijing house church leader Pastor Cai who was sentenced to three years in prison for illegal business practices on 8 November 2005 for producing Bibles and Christian literature. Pastor Cai was defended by Mr Gao Zhisheng, the prominent lawyer who has been targeted for his fearless defense of religious freedom and human rights. Gao has been charged with ‘inciting subversion of state power’. His lawyer received the notification of the decision to charge him during the Archbishop’s visit, on 12 October. The charge followed weeks of silence after Gao’s removal by a dozen security officers on 15 August, prompting strong international criticism.

In releasing the news of the sentence of Wang Zaiqing, Rev. Bob Fu of China Aid Association said: ‘It is totally unacceptable for the Chinese authorities to arrest this pious [disabled] pastor simply for printing Bibles. We appeal to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who will hold a press conference in Beijing Monday, October 23, at the conclusion of his visit to China, to voice his concerns on the situation of religious freedom in China’.

Tina Lambert, Deputy National Director of Christian Solidarity Worldwide says: ‘It is sadly ironic that at the time Chinese officials are seeking to show progress in religious matters they are simultaneously sentencing a pastor for producing Christian literature. China claims to be afraid of cults, yet it suppresses production of Christian materials, forces groups to operate secretly and prevents them from running seminaries. Such policies simply create a breeding ground for heresies and unorthodox practice. It would make much better sense to allow all groups to operate freely in public without the current restrictions which breach international standards. For a long time now the unregistered church of China has been calling for the government to acknowledge and establish dialogue with its leaders. We hope that China will recognize that now is the time to take this step forward to provide concrete proof of its claims of progress in religious matters.’

For general letter-writing campaigns, please do not quote CSW as the source of information

Dear Friends,

In recent days we have received disheartening news regarding a number of cases in China. Pastor Zhang Rongliang has been sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment despite being dangerously ill, and Pastor Xu Shuangfu has been sentenced to death along with two other pastors. We encourage you to pray and to write letters using the information and addresses below. Please also pray for 72-year-old underground Catholic Bishop Jia Zhiguo, who has been arrested for the ninth time since 2004 even though he is still recovering from an operation he had early in June.

Pastor Xu Shuangfu and others

Mr Xu Shuangfu (also known as Xu Wenku), leader of the religious group known as The Three Grades of Servants, has been sentenced to death for murder, along with fellow leaders Mr Li Maoxing and Mr Wang Jun. Three others were given two-year suspended death sentences on the same charge. A further eleven members of The Three Grades of Servants were given sentences of between three and fifteen years.

The trial of the group members initially took place from February 28th to March 3rd, 2006 in Shuangyashan Intermediate Court, at which evidence emerged that severe torture and sexual abuse had been used to extract confessions from defendants. The defendants are accused of murdering twenty leaders of a group known as Eastern Lightning and defrauding members of their own group of 32 million yuan (£2.2 million). The verdict was reportedly issued by the Chief Judge, Mr Liu Qingyi, on June 28, and delivered to the defense lawyers on July 5.

It is extremely concerning that these death sentences have been pronounced following an unfair trial which has revealed the use of torture. Two prominent lawyers in the case have reportedly expressed the opinion that the prosecution evidence failed to prove the guilt of the defendants.

Pastor Zhang Rongliang

Pastor Zhang Rongliang was sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment by the Zhongmu City People's Court on June 29. He is the leader of China for Christ Church, which is estimated by some to have 10 million members, and has been detained since he was arrested without charge on 1 December 2004. He was accused of falsifying a passport, obtaining passports under false pretences and illegal border crossing.

The sentence is unexpectedly long. It is also particularly harsh given Pastor Zhang's poor health. He has serious diabetes and high blood pressure and has been in hospital for most of the four months prior to the trial. An official hospital diagnosis in 2005 recognized that he has five chronic illnesses. Such is the precariousness of his situation that reportedly the officials from the Zhongmu City Court initially refused to accept him as they feared he might die in custody. We are hoping that he may therefore be released on medical parole.

The case would not have arisen if it were not for the discrimination faced by religious figures in the issuing of passports, freedom of movement and freedom of association with co-religionists abroad, all of which are in violation of international standards. The sentencing of Pastor Zhang demonstrates how the persecution of religious believers can be disguised by other seemingly unrelated charges.

Addresses

As the two cases are of different natures we would recommend writing separate letters. For ease you can write to the first address on the list and cc your original letter to the other addresses.

President of the People's Republic of China
Hu Jintao
The State Council General Office
Yongneixijie
Beijingshi 100017
People's Republic of China
(Salutation: Your Excellency)
Fax: 00 86 10 63070952

His Excellency Zhou Wenzhong
Ambassador
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
(Salutation: Your Excellency)

Minister for Justice Ms Wu Aiying
Ministry of Justice for People's Republic of China
No. 10 Nan Da Jie
Chaoyangmen
Beijing City 100020
People's Republic of China
Fax: 00 86 10 64729863

We would also be grateful if you could write to your political representatives, asking them to raise the cases.

Write to your Senator at U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 20510, or your Representative at U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515. (Call the Capitol Hill Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to find out your Congressperson’s name). Ask your Congressperson to raise your concerns with both the Congress and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and to additionally raise this in appropriate international forums.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
Fax: (202) 261-8577
Phone: (202) 647-4000
Email: secretary@state.gov

Thank you so much for your concern and action

May God bless you as you speak up for those without a voice

Pastor Gong Shengliang, leader of the South China Church, has been beaten again in prison. The attack took place on 21 March in Hong Shan prison, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, where Pastor Gong is currently held. As a result he was unable to move his mouth for three days and suffered some loss of hearing in his right ear.

The news emerged on 2 June after China Aid Association (CAA) learnt that Pastor Gong's two sisters, Ms Gong Shuqin and Ms Gong Shuzhen, were permitted to visit him on 18 April and saw that the right side of his face was still swollen. He informed them that Lei, a prisoner designated as his 24-hour guard by the prison officer, was responsible for the unprovoked beating. Following the attack, Lei was applauded by the prison officer and left unpunished, whereas Pastor Gong had two merit points taken off his prison record. Pastor Gong's request to have Lei moved to another group in the prison was rejected by the prison officer.

Gong's family had not received any news from him for over a year because the prison prevented the communication of letters between them. Gong's sisters reported to CAA that when they visited, Ms Gong Shuqin was only allowed 10 minutes with him, and Ms Gong Shuzhen was threatened with not even seeing him at all.

These are just the latest in a series of injustices faced by Pastor Gong since his initial arrest and detention in 2001. At that time he was sentenced to death along with five other leaders after the South China Church was branded a cult by the Chinese authorities. However, following an international outcry the cases were re-heard on appeal and Gong was instead sentenced to life in prison.

Now in his mid-50s, Pastor Gong has been subject to horrific torture and mistreatment which has left him in danger of his life. In 2003 he was beaten into a coma and sustained serious internal injuries that left him bedridden for weeks. In April 2004 it was reported that he said to his sister 'If you are able in any way, please transfer me to another prison - otherwise just come and pick up my corpse'.

CSW-UK's Advocacy Director, Tina Lambert, stated: 'It is a matter of deep concern that the first news to emerge in over a year regarding Pastor Gong Shengliang reveals yet more torture and discrimination against him. His treatment continues to be in flagrant breach of international human rights standards. We call on China to stand by those international treaties to which she is a signatory and to release Pastor Gong in recognition of the fundamental right of religious freedom.'

Pastor Gong's religious activities prior to his arrest were considered illegal by the Chinese authorities because the South China Church is unregistered and therefore unofficial. Many Chinese Christians prefer to worship at unregistered churches, as the government-sanctioned official church places restrictions on teaching and other church activities.

We are writing with very disturbing news of the arrest of one of the most prominent Protestant house church leaders in

China

. Pastor Zhang Rongliang, aged 53, was arrested on Wednesday 1^st December in Xuzhai village, in Zhengzhou in Henan Province . It is believed that he is being held incommunicado in the Jinshui area in Zhengzhou . We are deeply concerned for his welfare and safety, especially as he suffers from severe diabetes and may be unable to withstand the mistreatment that can be expected at this time.

We would be very grateful if you would pray for him, his family and the church at this time and if you would contact the Chinese authorities as a matter of urgency to raise concern about him.

Pastor Zhang is the leader of the China for Christ Church , which is estimated to have about 10 million members, and is also the leader of the Fangcheng Mother Church . He is featured in the book ‘The Heavenly Man’, to which he writes a Foreword.

He has been wanted for many years and has already spent twelve years in prison for his faith, during five separate detentions. There is concern he may be less able to withstand such conditions in his current state of health.

Around lunchtime on 1^st December, a white Volkswagen car, with a Zhengzhou registration plate with the number 0191, was seen parked by Pastor Zhang’s flat. Shortly afterwards, Pastor Zhang was arrested and there has been no communication with him since that time.

Pastor Zhang’s wife and immediate family are all in hiding following the arrest. On 1^st and 2^nd December the authorities raided every home in Xuzhai, where the arrest took place, apparently searching for the Zhang family.

There is also concern for Gao Shunping, who had helped in the provision of ID for Pastor Zhang, who has been missing since 2^nd December.

The police have conducted a number of follow up raids in Zhengzhou and elsewhere, including raiding at least three house churches in Fangcheng city.

Pastor Zhang’s arrest comes in the midst of a serious crackdown on the house churches and increased arrests and other incidents this year.

CSW is calling for international attention to be drawn to Pastor Zhang’s case and for the Chinese authorities to disclose Pastor Zhang’s precise whereabouts, provide medical care and release him as a matter of urgency.

We will be deeply grateful for your help in raising this situation. Addresses follow.

Thank you so much for your care and action in standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are suffering for Christ.

Addresses

The following are useful addresses for lobbying purposes. You do not need to write to all and you can cc your original letter to other addresses rather than writing a number of letters.

President of the People's Republic of

China

HU Jintao
The State Council General Office
Yongneixijie
Beijingshi 100017
People's Republic of

China

Telegram: President Hu Jintao, Beijing , China
(Salutation: Your Excellency)

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of

China

LI Zhaoxing
Waijiaobu
2 Chaoyangmen Nandajie
Beijingshi 100701
People's Republic of

China

Tel: 00 86 10 6596 1114
Fax: 00 86 10 6596 1109 / 2660
E-mail: webmaster@fmprc.gov.cn
Telegram: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Beijing , China
Salutation: Your Excellency

Further evidence of the crackdown on religious believers in

China

has emerged with news of fresh arrests.

Arrests of Catholics in Hebei Province
On August 6th, at around 6 pm, eight underground Roman Catholic priests and two underground Roman Catholic seminarians were arrested during a religious retreat in Sujiazhuang Village in Quyang County in Hebei Province . The Cardinal Kung Foundation, which reported the arrests, stated that nine of the ten arrested belong to the Baoding Diocese. Amongst those detained are Father Huo Junlong, the administrator of the Baoding Diocese in Hebei , Father Zhang Zhenquian of Baoding and Father Huang of Sujiazhuang. Around twenty police vehicles and a large number of security policemen surrounded Sujiazhuang Village and conducted house-to-house searches to carry out the arrests. The detainees are now being held in the Baoding Security Bureau.

Notices of Criminal Detention and Further Arrests Following Mass Arrest in Henan
The arrests occurred the same day as a number of other incidents targeting religious believers. These included the arrest of over a hundred Protestant house church leaders meeting for a retreat in Tongxu County in Kaifeng City in Henan Province . China Aid Association has reported that the families of six of those arrested have now been given formal notice of the "criminal detention" of their family members. Contrary to principles of justice, Chinese law allows for administrative detention of up to three years. Family members of those arrested were also targeted in the following days. Ms Ru Xi Feng and Ms Ma Na, the wife of arrested Pastor Han Quan Shui, were arrested on August 7th. Ms Xue Ying, the wife of arrested Pastor Zheng Wan Shun, was also detained and interrogated in the follow up.

Individuals Singled out for Detention after Mass Arrest in Xinjiang Province
The mass arrest in Henan was the third known arrest of over a hundred house church leaders to take place in the last three months. Less than one month earlier over a hundred leaders were arrested at a retreat in Xinjiang Autonomous Region on July 12. Most of those arrested have now been released, but five are still detained in A Ke Su prefecture near the provincial capital of Urumqi . It is feared that they could face long prison sentences. The detainees are Mr Zhao Xinlan, 50, Ms Li Cuiling, 44, Mr Wang Chaoyi, 39, Mr Yang Tian Lu, 39, and Ms Gao Rui'er, 28.

Transfer of Anhui Church Leader to Prison
The retreat in Xinjiang was organized by the estimated five-million-strong Anhui-based house church network, Ying Shang Church . One of the leaders of the group, businessman Luo Bing Yin, has been transferred from the local detention centre to Funan Prison in Anhui Province . Sources report that no court hearing has taken place and that charges against him are not known. His wife, Huang Xiu Lan, and their two children, a 17-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son are under intense pressure from the police. It is reported that his DVD duplication business was raided and equipment confiscated, including computers believed to hold details of other house church Christians. There is grave concern for Luo Bing Yin. He has twice been imprisoned before, once in 1978 and then in 2001, when his case was handled by the National Security Bureau, demonstrating that the Chinese authorities consider him to be an important figure in the house church.

Crackdown on Unregistered Religious Activity
These measures occur in the context of a renewed assault on unregistered Christian activity in

China

. A number of reports have emerged of a new campaign directed by central authorities to clampdown on unregistered Protestants. An inside source disclosed that the Politburo convened a secret meeting which called on the Party and every level of government to crackdown on illegal religious activities and directed the Department of Propaganda to carry out a campaign to promote atheism.

CSW is calling for the immediate release of all those imprisoned for their faith and is urging

China

to bring its policies and practice into line with international standards. CSW is also encouraging those concerned to raise these issues with the Chinese authorities and with their political representatives.

We have received fresh news from China of a number of new religious arrests and various developments following earlier mass arrests. We would be most grateful for your prayers and action in support of those who have been targeted.

On 6^th August, at around 6 pm, eight underground Roman Catholic priests and two underground Roman Catholic seminarians were arrested in Sujiazhuang Village in Quyang County , Hebei Province, during a religious retreat. The Cardinal Kung Foundation, which reported the arrests, states that nine of the ten arrested belong to the Baoding Diocese. Amongst those detained are father Huo Junlong, the administrator of the Baoding Diocese in Hebei , Father Zhang Zhenquian of Baoding and Father Huang of Sujiazhuang. Around twenty police vehicles and a large number of security policemen surrounded Sujiazhuang Village and conducted house-to-house searches to carry out the arrests. The detainees are now being held in the Baoding Security Bureau.

The arrests occurred the same day as a number of other incidents targeting religious believers. These included the arrest of over a hundred leaders meeting for a retreat in Henan Province . China Aid Association reports that the mass arrest has been followed by further arrests of family members in subsequent days. Ms Ma Na, the wife of arrested Pastor Han Quan Shui, was arrested on 7th August. Ms Ru Xi Feng was also arrested on the same day. Ms Xue Ying, the wife of arrested Pastor Zheng Wan Shun, was also detained and interrogated.

The families of six of those arrested in Henan on 6^th August have now been given formal notice of the "criminal detention" of their family members. Chinese law allows for administrative detention of up to three years.

The mass arrest in Henan was the third known arrest of over a hundred house church leaders to take place in the last three months. Less than one month earlier, over a hundred leaders were arrested at a retreat in Xinjiang Autonomous Region on 12^th July. This incident also involved follow-up arrests. Most of those arrested in the context of the retreat have now been released following international pressure. However five of those arrested are still being detained in A Ke Su prefecture near the provincial capital of Urumqi . Their names are Mr Zhao Xinlan, 50, Ms Li Cuiling, 44, Mr Wang Chaoyi, 39, Mr Yang Tian Lu, 39, and Ms Gao Rui'er, 28. It is feared that they could face long prison sentences.

The retreat in Xinjiang was organised by the estimated five-million-strong Anhui-based house church network, Ying Shang Church . One of the leaders of the group, businessman Luo Bing Yin, has been transferred from the local detention centre to Funan Prison in Anhui Province . Sources report that no court hearing has taken place and that charges against him are not known. His wife, Huang Xiu Lan, and their two children, a 17-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son are under intense pressure from the police. Sources report that his DVD duplication business was raided and equipment confiscated, including computers believed to hold details of other house church Christians. There is grave concern for Luo Bing Yin. He has twice been imprisoned before, once in 1978 and then in 2001, when his case was handled by the National Security Bureau, demonstrating that the Chinese authorities consider him to be an important figure in the house church.

These measures occur in the context of a crackdown on unregistered Christian activity in

China

. We are anxious that concern about the increasing pressure on religious believers should be raised with the Chinese authorities. We would therefore be most grateful if you would write to the Chinese authorities and your parliamentarians to express concern about these issues and individuals, including:

        ¨      The ten Catholics arrested in Hebei Province on August 6th
¨      Those detained in the mass arrest in Henan Province on August 6th and those subsequently arrested, including:
            Ms Ma Na, the wife of arrested Pastor Han Quan Shui
            Ms Xue Ying, the wife of arrested Pastor Zheng Wan Shun
            Ms Ru Xi Feng
¨      The six arrested in Henan on August 6th who have now been given formal notices of 'criminal detention'
¨      The five who are detained in A Ke Su prefecture following the mass arrest in Xinjiang Autonomous Region on July 12th, namely:
            Mr Zhao Xinlan
            Ms Li Cuiling
            Mr Wang Chaoyi
            Mr Yang Tian Lu
            Ms Gao Rui'er
¨      Luo Bing Yin, who has been transferred from the local detention centre to Funan Prison in Anhui Province .

Thank you so much for taking the time to write on behalf of these individuals and to maintain them in your prayers. May God bless you as you stand in solidarity with them and 'remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners'.

The following are useful addresses for lobbying purposes. You do not need to write to all and you can cc your original letter to other addresses rather than writing a number of letters.

President of the People's Republic of China
HU Jintao
The State Council General Office
Yongneixijie
Beijingshi 100017
People's Republic of

China

Telegram: President Hu Jintao, Beijing , China
(Salutation: Your Excellency)

Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom
Mr. ZHA Peixin, Ambassador,
Chinese Embassy to the

United Kingdom

,
49- 51 Portland Place , London WIN 4JL
Fax: 020 7636 2981 / 5578
(Salutation: Your Excellency)

Director of the State Council Bureau of Religious Affairs
YE Xiaowen Juzhang
Guowuyuan Zongjiao Shiwuju
Guowuyuan
22 Xianmen Dajie
Beijingshi 100017
People's Republic of

China

Telegram: Director of the State Council Bureau of Religious Affairs, Beijing , China
(Salutation: Dear Director)

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
LI Zhaoxing
Waijiaobu
2 Chaoyangmen Nandajie
Beijingshi 100701
People's Republic of

China

Tel: 00 86 10 6596 1114
Fax: 00 86 10 6596 1109 / 2660
E-mail: webmaster@fmprc.gov.cn
Telegram: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Beijing , China
Salutation: Your Excellency
(Fax is likely to be more effective than e-mail)

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
Fax: (202) 261-8577
Phone: (202) 647-4000
Email: secretary@state.gov

Japanese aid worker Takayuki Noguchi has been released by China after serving an 8-month prison sentence for attempting to assist two Japanese-born North Korean refugees.

At about 9pm on August 9, he arrived in

Japan

to be greeted by family members, friends and dozens of reporters. Looking thinner, but smiling, Noguchi had an emotional reunion with family members before holding an impromptu press conference.

His mood sobered as he spoke with sorrow of the fate of the North Koreans he had been arrested with. He described how he is haunted by the male refugee's desperate groan of "I'm already dead" when the Chinese police entered their hotel room.

The man was in his 50s and was born in West Japan, but moved to

North Korea

in the early 1960s. The other refugee was a woman in her 40s who was born in Japan , but was taken to North Korea as a child by her mother who believed the propaganda that

North Korea

was 'a paradise on earth'.

Tragically, both refugees were repatriated. The man's prediction is sadly realistic, as those returned to

North Korea

regularly face mistreatment, imprisonment, torture and even execution. Those found to have come into contact with foreigners and aid workers or who have sought to leave the country are treated with particular brutality, with reports of executions in such cases.

Noguchi had been pleading for intervention to secure the protection of the two refugees from repatriation. His sentence arose from his refusal to cooperate with the authorities to secure his own release unless given assurance of their safety.

His case has highlighted, once again,

China

's abysmal record regarding North Korean refugees. Although a party to the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, China refuses to allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees access to North Koreans who have escaped into

China

. Denied the channels to exercise the right to claim asylum, North Koreans live in precarious conditions in

China

, or are forced to take the dangerous route of seeking to escape to a safe third country. Many are forcibly repatriated to face harsh punishment at the hands of the brutal North Korean regime.

At the press conference, Noguchi reiterated his commitment to helping North Koreans deprived of their human rights, stating: "I was deprived of my freedom, and I feel that I have experienced a small part of what they live through."

There are a number of other aid workers still detained in

China

for similar activities. Japanese citizens have fared better than others in similar situations. In May 2003 a court in Yantai sentenced five individuals up to five years in relation to an attempted escape by North Koreans by boat.

CSW had hosted Mr. Kato, the Secretary General of Life Funds for North Korean Refugees, the NGO Noguchi works for, on a

advocacy visit on Noguchi's behalf. The February visit included a number of official meetings, media interviews and a press conference in Parliament at which Mr. Kato pleaded for Noguchi's release.

Noguchi had been arrested on human rights day, December 10, 2003, in Nanning in Guangxi. He was tried on June 28th and sentenced to eight months imprisonment. As time served already counted, he was released on August 9th and immediately deported.

More information on Life Funds for North Korean Refugees is available at www.northkoreanrefugees.com, or through contacting the organization at nkkikin@hotmail.com or on (phone and fax) 81 3 3815 8127.
---------------------------

More than 100 house church leaders were arrested in Tongxu County , Kaifeng City , Henan Province on August 6.

The group was beginning a two week retreat when more than 200 military police, Public Security Bureau (PSB) and other officers surrounded the venue. No arrest warrants or official identification papers were shown during the arrest.

In a separate development, three Christians were sentenced to between one and three years for giving information on a public court case against a fellow Christian to a foreign magazine, also on August 6.

The raided meeting of the 100 house church leaders was held at the home of Mrs. Xiang Zi, the wife of one of the retreat organizers. She was arrested along with their three children, aged between eight and eleven years. According to an eyewitness cited by the reporting organization, China Aid Association, the children were crying and greatly distressed as they were dragged away.

The retreat was sponsored by the non-denominational house church network, Henan House Church . Those arrested came from various provinces, including Heilongjiang and Liaoning , as well as different areas throughout Henan in central eastern

China

. Among those arrested are the leaders Zhang Wanshun of Sanmenxia City , Mr. Zhang Tianyun of Nanyang City and Mr. Yu Guoying of Tongxu County .

A church leader from Yima County , Sanmenxia City in Henan was also arrested on his way to the retreat. He was expected to bring copies of Christian literature, including the Christian Life Quarterly Magazine, to the retreat participants. His house was raided and significant amounts of Christian literature were confiscated.

This is the most recent in a series of mass arrests of unregistered Protestant Christians in

China

and is yet further proof of the increased crackdown on the house churches.

On the same day as this mass arrest, three Chinese Christians were sentenced to terms of between one and three years imprisonment by the Intermediate People's Court of Hangzhou City in Zhejiang Province . Liu Fenggang, Dr. Xu Yonghai and Zhang Shengqi were sentenced to terms of imprisonment of three years, two years and one year respectively.

The three were convicted under Article 111 of the Chinese Criminal Law. According to China Aid Association, who publicized the verdict, their crime was given as "illegally soliciting and providing national intelligence to overseas organizations". They are alleged to have committed the crime by providing public court information about the trial of a house church Christian, Ms Li Baozhi, to an overseas magazine, Christian Life Quarterly.

The court verdict papers also refer to Liu Fenggang writing about reports on the demolition of house churches in Zhejiang Province in 2003.

Defense attorneys and some family members were present in the court when the chief judge announced the verdict at about 10 am on Friday. All three men plan to appeal.

Liu Fenggang, who is a leader of a house church, was arrested in October 2003 while based in Beijing , when researching a Christian crackdown in Hangzhou 's Xiaoshan district. Liu's wife only received official notification of his arrest in mid-February.

Dr Xu Yonghai, a psychiatrist, and Zhang Shengqi, an internet writer, were active members of Liu's house church when they were arrested in November 2003 in Beijing and Jilin respectively.

An eyewitness in the court reported that the three men appeared to be in good health.

The three men had been tried at a secret three-hour hearing on the morning of March 16 2004 at the court in Hangzhou . Family members were prohibited from attending the trial. Ms Li Mingzhi and Ms Ye Jifei arrived at the courthouse on Tuesday to support their respective son and fiancé. However, instead of being granted admittance, the two were detained for three hours and sent back to the train station to return to their homes thousands of miles away. In addition, Ms. Li Shanna, wife of Dr. Xu Yonghai, was denied admittance to the court hearing and taken on a forced 'tour' all day.

CSW is urging those concerned to raise these cases and the broader crackdown against unregistered Christians with the Chinese authorities. The injustice against the three sentenced at Hangzhou is particularly apparent as the information they are convicted of reporting came from a public trial. S

We would be most grateful if you would pray for Liu Fenngang, Dr. Xu Yonghai, and Zhang Shengqi who are due to be sentenced this Friday August 6.

The three men were tried at a secret three-hour hearing on the morning of Tuesday 16^th March 2004 at The People's Intermediate Court in Hangzhou , the provincial capital of Zhejiang Province . The men are charged with leaking public court information about the 2000 trial of house church Christian Ms Li Baozhi to an overseas magazine, Christian Life Quarterly. Prosecutors referred to the magazine as an 'evil cult' magazine, although it is well known and internationally recognised as an evangelical Christian magazine. Mr Liu was also reported to have been charged regarding reports on the demolition of house churches in Zhejiang Province in 2003.

The three men have been waiting for a verdict to be given. While there is no way to be sure of the likely sentence, it is deeply concerning that one report expressed the concern that they could face up to ten years or even life in prison if convicted. Please pray that God will intervene in the sentencing.

Family members were prohibited from attending the trial. Ms Li Mingzhi and Ms Ye Jifei arrived at the courthouse on Tuesday to support their respective son and fiancé. However, instead of being granted admittance, the two were detained for three hours and sent back to the train station to return to their homes thousands of miles away. In addition, Ms Li Shanna, wife of Dr Xu Yonghai, was denied admittance to the court hearing and taken on a forced 'tour' all day.

Liu Fenngang is a leader of a house church, and was arrested in October 2003 while based in Beijing , when researching a Christian crackdown in Hangzhou 's Xiaoshan district. Liu's wife only received official notification of his arrest in mid-February.

Dr Xu Yonghai, a psychiatrist, and Zhang Shengqi, an internet writer, were active members of Lui's house church when they were arrested in November 2003 in Beijing and Jilin respectively. All three of the arrested men were charged with "providing intelligence to overseas organizations".

We greatly appreciate your prayers for these three men who have taken such bold risks to make known the situation of the persecuted church in

China

We would be most grateful if you could pray and intervene on behalf of over a hundred house church leaders who have been arrested in Xinjiang Autonomous Region in North West China. The believers were arrested on 12th July as they met for a retreat at the Retreat Centre for Railroad Workers in Section 5 of Liu Gong Town, Chang Ji Zhou District in Xinjiang. Over two hundred military police, Public Security Bureau (PSB) and other officers converged on the scene in 46 military and police vehicles and surrounded the group. No warrants or other official documents were shown during the arrest.

The report of the incident, which comes from China Aid Association (CAA), an organization closely linked to the Chinese house church, states that thirty believers remain under PSB detention near the place of arrest. Most have been transferred back to their home areas where they are being detained by local PSB. Several are held in the 'Transformation and Study Center' where they are being interrogated and pressured to renounce their faith, on penalty of being formally charged and tried if they refuse to do so.

Those believers who had travelled from outside the province are subject to specific investigation due to it being illegal to cross a provincial border to hold religious meetings without the approval of the official Religious Affairs Bureau and state-controlled Three Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM). The PSB has already contacted home villages to obtain further information on the religious activities of those arrested.

The meeting was sponsored by the large Anhui-based house church network, Ying Shang Church . Wang Yu Lian, a leader in the church for over twenty years, was arrested and is currently being held in Xinjiang. Jin Da, the 34 year old General Secretary of the TSPM of Ningbo City in Zhejiang province, is also amongst those arrested. He is responsible for 46 TSPM churches, but is also reported to be supportive of the house churches.

This incident is the latest in a pattern of increased persecution and arrests targeting the unregistered house churches of

China

. A number of reports have emerged of a new campaign directed by central authorities to crackdown on unregistered Protestants. A report last month from an inside source disclosed that the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party had convened a secret meeting which called on the Party and every level of government to crackdown on illegal religious activities. It also directed the Department of Propaganda to carry out a campaign to promote atheism.

Further arrests occurred last week at a training seminar in Cheng Du City in Sichuan Province . Forty house church leaders and a Taiwanese couple who were leading the seminar were arrested. The forty have been released but the whereabouts of the Taiwanese couple is not known.

These mass arrests follow the arrest in Wuhan City in Hubei Province on June 11th of about a hundred members of the China Gospel Fellowship (CGF). CAA reports that the remaining detainee from the arrest, 39-year-old Pastor Xing Jinfu, a senior CGF leader, has been transferred from Hubei to an undisclosed location in Henan Province . CAA quotes a reliable source as stating that Pastor Xing has been tortured by his interrogators to force him to disclose information about CGF's activities. Sadly, this account is consistent with the frequent reports of torture of detained Christians.

Earlier this year, on 27th April, Gu Xianggao, a 28 year old teacher in the Three Grades Servants house church, was beaten to death in custody in Heilongjiang Province . He had been arrested only a day earlier during a series of major raids targeting the group. His parents were given significant compensation (230,000 RMB) and ordered not to speak about his death.

The release of the other members of the CGF, and those of other house church leaders, have been clearly attributed to international pressure.

In light of the increased persecution, the policy directives and the impact of international attention, we would be most grateful if you could raise concern on behalf of the detained individuals. We would also be grateful if you could encourage strong representations to be made to the Chinese authorities about the crackdown on unregistered Protestants.

May God bless you as you use your voice to speak out for our persecuted brothers and sisters.

The following are useful addresses for lobbying purposes. You do not need to write to all and you can cc your original letter to other addresses rather than writing a number of letters.

President of the People's Republic of China
HU Jintao
The State Council General Office
Yongneixijie
Beijingshi 100017
People's Republic of

China

Telegram: President Hu Jintao, Beijing , China
(Salutation: Your Excellency)

Ambassador Yang Jiechi
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington DC 20008
Phone: (202) 328-2500
Fax: (202) 588-0032
Email: chinaembassy_us
@fmprc.gov.cn
(Salutation: Your Excellency)

Director of the State Council Bureau of Religious Affairs
YE Xiaowen Juzhang
Guowuyuan Zongjiao Shiwuju
Guowuyuan
22 Xianmen Dajie
Beijingshi 100017
People's Republic of

China

Telegram: Director of the State Council Bureau of Religious Affairs, Beijing , China
(Salutation: Dear Director)

Premier of the People's Republic of China
WEN Jiabao
Guowuyuan,
9 Xihuangchenggenbeijie, Beijingshi 100032,
People's Republic of

China

Telexes: 210070 FMPRC CN or 22478 MFERT CN
Telegram: Premier Wen Jiabao, Beijing , China
(Salutation: Your Excellency)

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
LI Zhaoxing
Waijiaobu
2 Chaoyangmen Nandajie
Beijingshi 100701
People's Republic of

China

Minister of Public Security of the People's Republic of China
ZHOU Yongkang
Gong'anbu
14 Dongchanganjie
Beijingshi 100741
People's Republic of China
Telexes: 210070 FMPRC CN
Telegram: Minister of Public Security, Beijing , China
Salutation: Your Excellency

Political representatives:

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
Fax: (202) 261-8577
Phone: (202) 647-4000
Email: secretary@state.gov

You could copy your letter to the International Olympic Committee at the following address:

International Olympic Committee
Mr. Jacques Rogge, President,
Chateau de Vidy, 1007 Lausanne , Switzerland

More than 100 house church leaders were arrested in Xinjiang Autonomous Region in North West China on July 12. More than 200 military police, Public Security Bureau (PSB) and other officers arrived in 46 military and police vehicles. They surrounded the group as they were meeting for a retreat at the Retreat Centre for Railroad Workers in Section 5 of Liu Gong Town, Chang Ji Zhou District in Xinjiang. No warrants or other official documents were shown in making the arrests.

The report of the incident, which comes from China Aid Association (CAA), an organization closely linked to the Chinese house church, states that 30 believers remain under PSB detention near the place of arrest. Most have been transferred back to their home areas where they are being detained by local PSB. Several are held in the 'Transformation and Study Center' where they are being interrogated and pressured to renounce their faith, on penalty of being formally charged and tried if they refuse to do so.

Those believers who had traveled from outside the province are subject to specific investigation due to it being illegal to cross a provincial border to hold religious meetings without the approval of the official Religious Affairs Bureau and state-controlled Three Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM). The PSB has already contacted home villages to obtain further information on the religious activities of those arrested.

The meeting was sponsored by the large Anhui-based house church network, Ying Shang Church . Wang Yu Lian, a leader in the church for over 20 years, is among those arrested and currently being held in Xinjiang. Jin Da is the 34-year-old General Secretary of the TSPM of Ningbo City in Zhejiang province and is responsible for 46 TSPM churches. He is also reported to be sympathetic to the house churches and is among those arrested.

This incident is the latest in a pattern of increased persecution and arrests targeting the unregistered house churches of

China

Further arrests took place last week in Cheng Du City in Sichuan Province at a training seminar when 40 house church leaders and a Taiwanese couple who were leading the seminar were arrested. The 40 have been released, but the whereabouts of the Taiwanese couple is not known.

These mass arrests follow the arrest in Wuhan City in Hubei Province on 11^th June of about 100 members of the China Gospel Fellowship (CGF). China Aid Association reports that the remaining detainee from the arrest, 39-year-old Pastor Xing Jinfu, a senior CGF leader, has been transferred from Hubei to an undisclosed location in Henan Province . CAA quotes a reliable source as stating that Pastor Xing has been tortured by his interrogators to force him to disclose information about CGF's activities. Sadly, this account is consistent with the frequent reports of torture of detained Christians.

On April 27 2004, Gu Xianggao, a 28-year-old teacher in the Three Grades Servants house church, was beaten to death in custody in Heilongjiang Province . He had been arrested only a day earlier during a series of major raids targeting the group. His parents were given 230,000 RMB ($28,000) and ordered not to speak about the situation.

An aid worker detained since August 2002 for his work with North Korean refugees has arrived home in South Korea today after his release from detention in

China

Kim Hee-tae, 33, was in good spirits and health and thanked all those who had advocated on his behalf and prayed for him during his 22 months and 15 days of detention. He committed himself to work with greater determination and effort for the cause of human rights and for North Koreans in particular.

Mr. Kim was captured in Jilin Province (on the border with North Korea ) as he was guiding a group of North Korean defectors on their way to Beijing to submit official documents for refugee status. He was charged under Article 318 of the Chinese Criminal Code, relating to crimes involving illegal border crossing. After almost two years, the verdict on his case was finally given yesterday, recognizing that assisting travel across the country could not infringe laws on illegal border crossing. After his release yesterday he was able to travel to Seoul this afternoon.

Another detainee arrested in relation to the North Korean refugee issue was also released this month. O Yong-pil had been arrested in March 2003 when he was planning to cover stories about a group of North Korean defectors attempting to enter foreign missions in Kwangzou. He was found innocent by a district court in Kwangzou, also unable to convict him of charges related to illegal border crossing for activities within the country.

However these cases are only a couple of many relating to activities to help the plight of desperate North Koreans in hiding in

China

. Only last month, on June 28, the Chong Zuo Intermediate People's Court in Nanning , Guangxi, sentenced Mr. Takayuki Noguchi, 33, a member of the Japanese NGO Life Funds for North Korean Refugees, to eight months in prison and a fine of $2400. Mr. Noguchi was charged with one count of illegally transporting people with the intent of crossing the border (Article 321 of the Chinese Domestic Criminal Code) and an additional count of attempting to assist in illegal border crossing (Article 61). In addition to his fine, all his personal goods, including 340,000 yen in cash (about $3100), a video camera and a cellular phone were confiscated.

Mr. Noguchi was arrested with two North Koreans. One, a woman in her 40s who was born in Japan , was taken to North Korea as a child by her mother who believed that "

North Korea

was a paradise on earth". The other is a man in his 50s who was born in West Japan and moved to

North Korea

in the early 1960s.

Mr. Noguchi has been anxiously pleading for intervention to secure the protection of the two refugees from repatriation. He has courageously refused to co-operate with the authorities to secure his own release unless given assurance of their safety. There is still ongoing concern for their safety.

The 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees states that individuals must not be returned to their home country if they have a well-founded fear of persecution. China's ongoing policy of repatriating North Koreans to face harsh treatment, including torture and execution in some cases, and her detention of aid workers for providing the protection she is obligated to ensure, is a grave breach of respect for human rights.

A number of other aid workers are still in prison. On 22 May 2003 a court in Yantai, Shantung Province , completely ignored pleas from the international community and its own country's pledge to uphold the Convention on Refugees when it sentenced five individuals who had been arrested in relation to an attempted boat escape by North Koreans. Amongst those involved were Mr. Choi Yong-hun, a South Korean, who was sentenced to five years imprisonment and a fine of 30,000 RMB ($3500). Mr. Choi Yong-hun suffers from high blood pressure, diabetes and asthma, but has been denied medication, resulting in deterioration in his health. He did not even recognize his wife when she was finally allowed to visit him.

There is particular concern for the welfare of a North Korean man sentenced on the same occasion. Mr. Park Yong-chol was given a term of two years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000 RMB ($600). However, he is afraid of being released from prison in China on the expiry of his sentence, as he faces deportation, followed by likely execution in

North Korea

CSW is asking supporters to convey their concerns about these injustices to their political representatives and the Chinese Embassy;

Ambassador Yang Jiechi
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington DC 20008

The Japanese aid worker Mr Noguchi, who is detained in China for helping North Koreans, is due to appear in court in Nanning on Monday 28th June. We would be very grateful if you could pray for him. Other aid workers have been sentenced to years of imprisonment for similar activities and we would be grateful if you could pray that he will not suffer a similar punishment.

Please also pray for the two North Koreans who were arrested with him. One is a woman in her 40s who was born in Japan and taken to North Korea by her mother. The other is a man in his 50s who was born in West Japan and moved to North Korea in the early 1960s. Mr Noguchi initially refused to be released over fear of their welfare and we continue to be concerned over their fate.

We have just heard from the China Aid Association of a massive arrest of house church leaders in China READ THE STORY BELOW. We would be grateful if you would write to the Chinese authorities to protest against these arrests. In your letter we suggest you do not link the arrests to the secret directive to crack down on 'ille

Addresses

We would be most grateful if you would pray for Liu Fenngang, Dr. Xu Yonghai, and Zhang Shengqi who are due to be sentenced this Friday August 6.