HUBEI PROVINCE, CHINA (ANS) — Several orphan children and their caretakers were forced to spend the night in a hotel room after having been evicted from their orphanage by local police officials on Christmas day.

China Aid Association (CAA) says the orphanage’s caretakers, Ming Xuan Zhang along with his two sons, had prepared to celebrate Christmas with the children, but were in no way prepared to deal with the situation that unfolded that morning.

After presenting an eviction notice, officials then proceeded to beat the care-takers and the children until they were literally forced onto the street. The Director of Security order of the Village of Sanhe, along with other government officials from the Religious Bureau and United Work Front Department, had threatened the landlord to stop renting land to Zhang and the children or face imprisonment.

Left with little choice, the landlord was forced to evict Zhang after 5 years of faithful occupancy. The children slept in a hotel room as Zhang frantically searched for space to rent for the orphanage. Unfortunately, Government officials had not limited the Christmas Day eviction to a single affair. On three separate occasions, landlords were threatened not to rent space to Zhang and the orphans, or face criminal charges and prison time.

Government officials continue to persecute Ming Xuan Zhang for his leadership role in the Chinese House Church. Affectionately known as “Bike”, Ming Xuan Zhang has experienced severe persecution and has been imprisoned 12 times by Government officials, who are trying to isolate him from the Chinese house church alliance.

In 2006, US President George W. Bush requested a meeting with Ming Zhang during his visit to China, but was denied by Communist Party officials. Zhang and his son were kidnapped at a train station after CPC officials discovered he had been invited to meet the President.

Zhang has written a second open letter to President Hu Jintao, in hopes of receiving relief from persecution. No response has been issued. Government officials continue to hinder Zhang from renting space for his orphanage by threatening landlords who offer to lease to him. Zhang and the children continue to remain homeless as they search for permanent living space.

In a statement, CAA says: “We implore the international community and those involved to take action against the crimes committed against Ming Zhang and his orphanage. The eviction and closure of an orphanage on Christmas day, due to the religious persecution of its caretaker is behavior that can not be tolerated of any Government or nation.”

Click Here to view full text of Ming Zhang’s open letter to President Hu Jintao http://chinaaid.org/2008/01/10/senior-house-church-pastor-issues-second-open-letter-to-president-hu-jintao/

If you would like to personally contact Ming Xuan Zhang, he can be reached at:86-139-3067-8090.

Please contact the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC for more information. Address: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20007; Tel: (202) 338-6688, (202)5889760 Fax: (202) 588-9760
________________________________________________________________________________________

China Aid Association, Inc.
E-mail: info@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org
www.monitorChina.org

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael’s involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department — Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) — of ACT International at: Artists in Christian Testimony (ACT) International. His weblog appears at: Michael Ireland Media Missionary.

** You may republish this story with proper attribution.

Send this story to a friend.

CHHATTISGARH, INDIA (ANS) — A group of 35 Hindu radicals severely beat up three Pastors and a few church members and got them arrested by the Police for preaching the gospel on Thursday, January 10.

According to the website www.persecution.in, this incident took place on at around 9:15 in the morning in a village called Gathapar in Chhattisgarh State. A group of Pastors were conducting a prayer meeting in a newly Registered Church called Horeb Prarthana Seva Samithi (Horeb Prayer Service Society). These pastors were invited to conduct a prayer meeting in Gathapar village at the request of the villagers who were non Christians.

There were around 150 villagers (100 women and around 50 men) who attended the meeting. As the prayer was going on the village Sarpanch (Chief of the village) called the Hindu Radical group Bajrang Dal (Monkey Brigade group) members and informed them about the meeting.

Around 35 Bajrang Dal activists reached the place and started shouting and abusing, threatening and accusing the pastors of “forceful conversion.” Immediately the women members of the church came forward and said and one of them said, “We have invited these pastors to come here and conduct the prayer and you people should leave them alone.”

The Bajrang Dal activists promised the women believers that they would not beat up the pastors, but instead would them to the police station. The believers said that they would then follow along with the pastors to the police station.

The Bajrang Dal Activists got very angry seeing the fellowship and love of the believers, and started beating the three Pastors and a few believers. The other church members came to protect them especially the Woman, but they were pushed away by the attackers.

The names of the pastors who were beaten were Pastor Devsingh Manikpuri, 25, Pastor Dhananjay Manikpuri, 26, and Dilip Manikpuri, 27, who is married and has a child. The names of the church believers who were beaten were Gopal Manikpuri, 32, and Pradeep Verma, 24.

They beat Devsingh Manikpuri so severely that he fell unconscious and Pradeep was also beaten badly. After beating the pastors, they were taken to the Bakhara Police Station which is 5kms from Gathapar village. The pastors and believers have spent the night at the police station.
James Varghese is a reporter for the “V” TV news in Gokak, Karnataka state, India, and is freelance journalist working for ANS.

** You may republish this story with proper attribution.

Send this story to a friend.

AROUND THE GLOBE (ANS) — ANS readers have responded from around the globe to our questions pertaining Benazir Bhutto’s assassination and on the postponement of Pakistan parliamentary elections to Feb 18.

In her initial reaction at the assassination of Ms. Bhutto, Judy Wolvaardt from Western Cape Town, South Africa, wrote that she was utterly “shocked and mortified”.

“Unless someone steps in, I foresee a bleak future for Pakistan – with the Taliban running the show behind the scenes perhaps. Christianity being banned as it is now in Afghanistan next door…,” wrote Judy while responding to an ANS question as to where Pakistan was heading after the murder of Pakistan two time former Prime Minister.

In reply to a question that asked if delaying of Pakistan polls was a good move, she wrote: “It would give people time to grieve and settle down emotionally”.

Mrs. Araba Ata Sam from Ghana was of the view that the ruling government would benefit from the killing of Mrs. Bhutto. Commenting on the delaying of Pakistan parliamentary polls she wrote: “It is not, but they feel it is, in order to buy time”.

“Fresh memories of Bhutto’s death would have put them in their proper place – losing the election”, she wrote while replying a ANS question that asked readers in what ways it would be good had government held election on the date they were originally planned for.

Cheryl J. Hansen from Niceville, Florida wrote his initial reaction on slaying of Ms. Bhutto was that of disbelief. She wrote that he feared what would happen to Pakistani people following the assassination of Ms. Bhutto.

She added: “Most assuredly Musharraf is the one and only person who could benefit from this horrific murder”.

“If Mrs. Bhutto’s husband and son are able to do half of what she would have done, then they will do all should work out just fine. If Musharraf is able to stifle them as well, then only God knows the horrors Pakistan will be forced to face with Musharraf in charge”, she wrote in response to an ANS question that asked readers where they saw Pakistan heading following killing of Ms. Bhutto.

Reacting to an ANS question that asked its readers if delaying of the country’s poll was a good move she wrote: “Yes, because the people need to grieve and her husband and son need time to show they are a worthy replacement.”

Answering a ANS question that asked its readers in what ways it would be good if the government had held polls on the date they were originally planned for she wrote: “With delaying the elections Musharraf can further himself from the murder of Mrs. Bhutto. He has already made sure that the evidence has been washed away, literally. By bringing in the British detectives he is just whitewashing his involvement even more. It’s all a smoke screen, but we will never know for sure; at least not until we get to heaven and then I believe we will know everything.

Pete Kelly from Fauquier County, Virginia, USA said in his initial reaction at the killing of Ms. Bhutto wrote: “My initial reaction was, If Pakistan doesn’t fall apart, maybe this will keep them from being railroaded by the West…..”

”Had she not died, there could be at best a detente between her and the other political figures (Sharif and Musharraf)”, he added.

“Pakistan is now heading for greater disintegration, or greater regional autonomy, depending on one’s point of view”, he said while responding to the ANS question as to where the country was heading after the killing of Ms. Bhutto.

“Where there is trouble, there are hurting hearts, and there can be open doors for the gospel. We don’t know what God will do with this, but we can pray”, she wrote.

”Delay in the election is a good idea. At this point, to hold an election would mean to just go through the administrative motions. There must be too many people who are hurt or who have only revenge on their minds. They need time to slow down, quiet down, and regain some wee bit of hope in the democratic process, if an election is to be worth anything. I don’t know whether they can do that. And there may be further shoes to drop”, he wrote while answering a ANS question that sought readers’ opinion on delay of Pakistan parliamentary polls.

“The harm of postponing the elections consists of two parts. Those who are primarily anti-Musharraf will see it as part of a pattern of his attempting to retain all power, and they will continue their agitation. That can be significant. Postponement will tend to restrain international help as it suggests that Musharraf is not doing things that a trusted pro-Western leader would be expected to do.

“I think on balance holding the elections would be more harmful. Upheaval in the short term would likely be worse, and then nothing scorches the ground quite like a failed election. A failed election is what you have when large elements of the electorate boycott the vote and others are effectively disenfranchised because their candidates are dead, banned, or totally absent. Only cynicism flourishes in that kind of soil, and Pakistan might not be ready for a serious election for several years”.

Bill Dolack from Waynesboro, VA, USA, expressing his initial reaction at the murder of Ms. Bhutto wrote: “I was saddened when I initially heard the news, and from what I have heard from Ms. Bhutto since, my sadness has deepened”. In his view President Musharraf could benefit from Ms. Bhutto’s assassination in the long-term.

“I see the country plunging into further turmoil. While Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are apparently safe at this time, the possibility exists for elements within the military and government to conspire with the radical Islamists”, wrote Bill giving his opinion of where he saw country heading after the populist leader’s killing.

In response to an ANS question that asked if delaying of polls was a good move he wrote: “Yes, because if the elections were held as planned, it would be an excuse for more violence.”

Rebekah Montgomery from Kewanee, IL, USA, describing her initial reaction to Ms. Bhutto’s slaying wrote: “I was dismayed. Bhutto was sort of a heroine of mine, not necessarily because of her political views, but because as a women, she overcame tremendous religious as well as political opposition to lead”.

In her opinion no one benefited from the popular opposition leader’s killing she wrote: “In reality, no one. Her enemies have made a martyr out of her. Of all people, Muslim extremists should know that martyrs are powerful motivators. Her nation has lost a leader, a great loss for any nation”.

Barbara C. Kiser from Jacksonville, FL, USA penned down her initial reaction at the assassination of Ms. Bhutto in this way: “I was first informed of Mrs. Bhutto’s death in person by presidential candidate Mike Huckabee at a rally in Orlando Florida. My reaction was the same as his, dismay and expressing heartfelt condolences and sympathy.

“Radical jihadists have benefited most by her death, due to the destabilizing influence on the country. Hopefully, Pakistan will continue to head toward a more democratic government after this tragedy. Delaying the elections for one month is not good, but probably necessary. It would have been good to hold the elections as originally planned if that had been possible. Possible harm could be propaganda for the jihadists and further riots”, she wrote.

Broadcaster Warren Duffy from Huntington Beach, CA wrote: “Benazir Bhutto is a great heroine of history. She could always have opted for the life of the spoiled little rich girl once she finished her studies in Europe and America, but she went back to Pakistan after her education and tried twice to clean up her country. Regretfully, she had a husband who could not be trusted and twice he created situations which both embarrassed Ms Bhutto and caused her government to crumble”.

“Pakistan’s dictator cut a deal, even took off his uniform at the direction of Washington when he suspended parliament a few months back, and we have poured money into his regime while ostensibly developing a new ally…… When Bhutto became an obvious threat to his regime and as her popularity grew before the upcoming elections, he simply had her eliminated and now, has appeared before the international media and claimed “it was all her fault for standing up in her sunroof vehicle and putting herself at risk”. That is the ultimate insult”, he wrote.

Karleen Dewey from Colorado, USA wrote that the news of the assassination of Ms. Bhutto was shocking and when she first heard of it she could not believe it.

“The terrorists and possibly the present government including the military”, she wrote in response to an ANS question that asked its readers as to who in their view could benefit from the assassination of Ms. Bhutto.

“I am concerned that the country will move away from democracy and freedom of religion (especially for Christians).It may have been a good move by the government but not a good move for the people”, she wrote while giving her opinion on delaying of Pakistan parliamentary polls.

“I think it would have removed some of the suspicion that the government was involved in the assassination. The killing of Bhutto appears to be too convenient for the government. Postponement could turn into martial law as it did years ago in the Philippines. It is my hope that Bhutto’s party will have the opportunity to regroup and find a leader. I think the strongest leader and perhaps the best hope of democracy and freedom for Christians in the country has been snuffed out”, she wrote while reacting to a ANS question that asked readers in what way it would have been good if the polls had gone ahead as originally planned.

“Also, I could not believe my ears when I heard an interview of Musharraf on TV. He said the assassination of Bhutto was her completely her fault because she stood up on the car. How callous”, she wrote.

Dr. Tom Murphy from Fort Wayne, IN, expressing his initial reaction at the killing of Ms. Bhutto wrote: “I was distressed but not surprised”.

“The terrorist will benefit most, the present government secondly; the Muslim-militants”, he wrote in response to ANS question that asked who would benefit from the assassination of Ms. Bhutto.

Reacting to an ANS question as to where the country was heading after Bhutto’s assassination he wrote: “Return to a military dictatorship operated by increasingly oppressive Islam”.

“Had the elections been held as scheduled, that might have given Musharraf some credibility; but, the back side of that, elections would have been reactive and the opposing side could not have had preparations or participations–hence, sheer chaos”, he wrote.

Lisa Evanoff of Roseville, Michigan said that her initial reaction to Ms. Bhutto’s assassination wrote: “I knew it was going to happen when she first set foot back in Pakistan, I was not the least bit surprised.”

She did not see anyone benefiting from the situation unfolding after the assassination of the popular opposition leader.

“The same as it has been, before (Ms. Bhutto’s) the assassination”, she wrote while responding to a ANS question that asked readers where they saw Pakistan heading after killing of Mrs. Bhutto.

Dr. Bill Bray of Charlottesville, VA USA wrote: “Her killing stunned me personally. She was such a bright light of hope on so many levels, especially to women and persecuted minorities like the Christians of Pakistan”.

“I could hardly think of anything else for the rest of that day! I saw similar reactions from many around me, even those who had never lived in South Asia and hardly knew anything about that part of the world,” he wrote.

“Her murder was a wake-up call for those of us who had grown used to daily reports of suicide bombings and attacks in Pakistan and throughout the Muslim world. It has helped to focus people’s attention on the destructive impact of Islamic Jihad not just on Christians but on other Muslims and so many innocent bystanders. And of course, incidents like this help the whole world to understand the culture of violence that dominates not only Pakistan but the neighboring states. The Jihadist culture dominates not only Pakistan but north India and Afghanistan as well.”

“As Christians, I don’t see think we should see this murder so much in political or military terms, but as a prod to prayer. Probably it won’t matter much on the ground unless we use it as a focus for more prayer. We have to reach out to Pakistanis we meet every day in love and to Muslims everywhere, expressing our sympathy to them and pray for the Muslim world,” he wrote.

Bruce Atchison from Alberta, Canada, wrote: “I was very sad when Benazir Bhutto was murdered because she was Christian minority’s only hope to rid Pakistan of blasphemy law”.

“I believe that the benefit of her murder is split between the government and the Taleban. In a bid to hang onto power the military didn’t protect Ms. Bhutto well enough. That bought them time to stay in power while shifting the blame to terrorists”, he wrote.

Responding to an ANS question as to where country could head following Ms. Bhutto’s assassination he wrote: “It can only get worse in Pakistan unless the governments of the country and America team up to stomp out the Taleban…”

“It would be a bad move if the election was delayed longer than the February 8th date already set. The Taliban know this and I’m sure will cause as much trouble as they can”, he wrote in response to an ANS question.

“It would be a bad move if the election was delayed longer than the February 8th date already set. The Taliban know this and I’m sure will cause as much trouble as they can”, he wrote.

The writer is a freelance journalist based in Pakistan.

** You may republish this story with proper attribution.

Send this story to a friend.

NEW DELHI, INDIA (ANS) — The recent community-wide violence in Orissa’s Kandhamal district was an “unprecedented” attack on the Christian community in India, says a rights group in its fact-finding report.

A story on the web site www.NewKerala.com reported that Joseph D’Souza, president of the All India Christian Council (AICC) said, “We are saddened to acknowledge that the violence in Orissa, which left at least four killed and 730 houses and 95 churches burnt, will go into the history books as an unprecedented attack on Christians in India..”

D’Souza added, “The tragedy is deepened by the fact that the violence was avoidable if the authorities had enforced the rule of law.”

According to NewKerala, the state chapter of the AICC visited the affected villages on Jan. 3-5 in Kandhamal to assess the damage.

In its fact-finding report, NewKerala reported the Christian rights group noted that followers of the radical Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) group had attacked members of the minority community using guns, knives, bombs and other weapons.

“Many of them had a yellow ribbon on their heads and vermilion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermilion) on their foreheads,” NewKerala reported the AICC report said.

According to NewKerala, the AICC accused the state police of bias and inaction. “In all the villages we have visited, people testify that the attacks, destruction and looting was done in the presence of the police.”

NewKerala noted the rights group also alleged a “conspiracy to hide the bodies of Christians killed by VHP cadre to destroy evidence,” indicating that the death toll could be much higher. “Many are missing – both adults and children – in every village.”

NewKerala noted the AICC report said that the worst hit area was Barakhama village, where 415 of the 450 houses belonging to tribal Christians were burnt down, and six of the seven churches were vandalized.

The AICC also said, NewKerala reported, that a church in Barakhama was turned into a Hindu cremation ground.

“On that day (Dec 24), an old Hindu person had died naturally. To desecrate the place of worship of Christians, the VHP cadre brought the body and cremated it right in front of the pulpit (of a church that was celebrating Christmas Eve). The ashes of the body remain there until today (Jan 5). We have a photograph.”

Describing how the first killing of a Christian took place, NewKerala reported the report said that 50-year-old Bhogra Naik from Barakhama was “cut into three pieces” after his house was destroyed.

NewKerala reported that the AICC report said Brahmani was another village that suffered a huge amount of violence. Talking about an attack there, it said VHP cadre took away a goat from a Christian family and butchered it. Then shouting slogans, they began attacking looting houses owned by Christians.

The report added that all the men in this village went into hiding in a nearby forest to save their lives. While there they licked the dew on the leaves of plants and trees to quench their thirst.

Referring to another incident, NewKerala noted the report said attackers forcibly shaved the heads of, and “reconverted” to Hinduism, 12 Christian families and their pastor, in the Kutikia area in Baliguda.

“Later, all of them were told to eat raw rice mixed with goat blood to become Hindus,” NewKerala said the report noted.

The story on NewKerala noted the report concluded that the violence was pre-planned, given its simultaneous eruptions across the district within hours of the first incident, and the fact that it could be sustained for more than a week despite the presence of law enforcement.

The violence began Dec 24, NewKerala reported. As the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Brahmani village was pitching a tent for Christmas celebrations, a mob allegedly led by members of the VHP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) launched a fierce attack on Christians and their stores to protest Christmas celebrations.

There were also reports of some Christians engaging in vandalism in the ensuing violence.

Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder and director of Joy Junction, New Mexico’s largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org or http://www.christianity.com/joyjunction. He has a master’s degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is “Homeless in the City: A Call to Service.” Additional details about “Homeless” are available at http://www.HomelessBook.com He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net. Tel: (505) 877-6967 or (505) 400-7145. Note: A higher resolution JPEG picture of Jeremy Reynalds is available on request from Dan Wooding at danjuma1@aol.com.

** You may republish this story with proper attribution.

ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (ANS) — Subhash Chauhan, the national secretary of the Hindu radical group, Bajrang Dal (Monkey Brigade), has demanded that the State Government enact an anti-conversion law in the State to curb conversion of Hindus, particularly those belonging to SC (Scheduled Castes) and ST (Scheduled Tribes) communities to Christianity.

Speaking to Media on Tuesday, January 8, he alleged that the rate of conversion has gone up under Chief Minister Mr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in the State.

He further pointed out that the Congress Government in the State and the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre are hell bent on lifting the flood gates of conversion by allowing the SCs to maintain the same status even after conversion into Christianity.

He said that conversion of Hindus into Christianity has reached an “alarming rate” in Kerala, North-Eastern States, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
James Varghese is a reporter for the “V” TV news in Gokak, Karnataka state, India, and is freelance journalist working for ANS.

** You may republish this story with proper attribution.

Send this story to a friend.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA (ANS) — Religious persecution continues in Iraq as nine Christian houses of worship were bombed this week.

According to Christian Solidarity International (CSI), the attackers used both car bombs and explosive charges in an effort to wipe out churches and monasteries in Baghdad, Mosul and Kirkuk. At least six people were wounded.

Concerned not only about saving lives and securing the country for Christian refugees to return home, CSI foresees the possible “extinction” of the Christian community in Iraq. Working to turn the tide, CSI is launching “Save Iraqi Christians,” a movement calling for greater action against the crisis facing Christians in Iraq.

CSI is providing emergency humanitarian aid, including food and basic items, to help these peaceful victims survive but they also need physical protection. The organization is working to prevent the extinction of Christians in Iraq — either through death or forced emigration.

“I received in Iraq accounts of a devastating wave of bombings, beheadings, kidnappings, death threats, vandalism and discrimination against Christians in Iraq who are persecuted by their own countrymen — Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish extremists,” said Dr. John Eibner, CEO of Christian Solidarity International (USA).

As a result of this persecution, approximately half of Iraqi Christians — 400,000 — have fled the country since 2003. Many of those who remain in Iraq are internally displaced. Prior to the fall of Saddam Hussein, Christians made up approximately three percent of the country’s population.

“Now is the time for America’s Christian leaders to intensify efforts to protect Christians in Iraq and urge the U.S. government to help Iraqis practice their faith freely and openly,” said Eibner. “We’re urging all people to join the effort to ‘Save Iraqi Christians.’”

For more than 30 years Christian Solidarity International has been a voice for victims of religious repression. The organization stands in solidarity with persecuted Christian communities and works to ensure every human being has the God-given right to choose and practice his or her faith.

CSI advocacy and humanitarian campaigns have contributed substantially to the liberation of thousands of slaves and other Christian captives in Sudan and throughout the world.

Based in Zürich, Switzerland, CSI has its U.S. headquarters in Westlake Village, California. www.csi-int.org

CONTACT: Amy Anderson or Kelly Wells(770) 813-0000 or(404) 545-1191 cell
www.csi-int.org

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael’s involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department — Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) — of ACT International at: Artists in Christian Testimony (ACT) International. His weblog appears at: Michael Ireland Media Missionary.

** You may republish this story with proper attribution.

Send this story to a friend.