Church raided, missionary sentenced to labor

A house church in Liang Jiagou Village, Wudaqu District, Wuhai City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China has been raided by the local police.

According to the China Aid Association (CAA), at around 8 AM, August 19, the local police, accompanied by the officers of the Local United Front Department and the Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee went to the Liang Jiagou Church and confiscated church property including stools and a blackboard, etc. They warned the Christians that they can not gather except at the government sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement Church (TSPM).

CAA also learned that August 5, 2006, Wu Guilan, a female Mongolian missionary was sentenced to one year in a re-education through labor camp by the local government.

In its media advisory, CAA says: "It is said that Sister Wu Guilan was evangelizing the Mongolian people in Yi Jin Huo Luo Flag, Inner Mongolia Autonomous District. She preached that the Mongolian people should not worship Genghis Khan (which was useless), but should worship the 'Heavenly God.' She also organized several evangelistic activities. The 50-year-old female missionary was arrested by the local Public Security Bureau July 27, 2006.

CAA says that on August 5, 2006, Wu Guilan was sentenced to one year in a re-educated through labor camp by the local "Re-education through Labor Administrative Committee" on suspicion of organizing a cult.

"The attack on the House Church and the labor camp sentence of the missionary in Inner Mongolia are certainly contradictory to the Chinese government’s repeated claims of protecting the minority people’s religious freedom," said Rev. Bob Fu, President of China Aid.

The re-education through labor decision for Wu Guilan, legal document states that the Yijinhuoluo Flag Public Security Bureau concluded that: "Since July, 2006, Wu Guilan has been spreading heresies among the Mongolian masses in the territory of Yijinhuoluo Flag; that 'illness could be healed without medicine by believing in the Heavenly God,' and that 'one could become rich without working;' moreover, 'the traditional lifestyle of the Mongolians is not good, one should believe in the heavenly God instead of worshipping Genghis Khan, which is useless.' She also instigated others to engage in cult activities. Wu Guilan has confessed to all of these accusations."

The Re-education through Labor Administrative Committee verified the crime. The statement adds: "The above fact is proven by Wu Guilan’s confession, the evidence and witnesses, as well as the statement of the victims. We have informed Wu Guilan that she has the right to ask for a hearing, and she expressed that she would not ask for one."

The Reeducation through Labor Administrative Committee concluded that: "Wu Guilan interfered with the execution of national law by organizing cult. The fact is clear, the evidence is abundant. Her case fits the condition of Reeducation through Labor. Based on the 4th Item of the 10th Article in 'Trial Method of Re-education through Labor,' we declare that Wu Guilan be re-educated through labor for one year, beginning July 27, 2006 to July 26, 2007."

The document stated: "If you refuse to accept this decision, you can apply for administrative review to the Autonomous District Re-education through Labor Administrative Committee (address: in the District Public Security Department) within 60 days after receiving this decision. Or, you may file an administrative law suit with the local court within 3 days after receiving this decision."

Concerned Christians may contact the following regarding these cases:

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington DC 20008
Tel: (202) 328-2500 Fax: (202) 588-0032
Director of Religious Affairs: (202) 328-2512

Chinese Consulate General in Chicago, IL
Address: 100 West Erie Street,
Chicago, IL 60610
Tel: (312) 803-0095
Fax: (312) 803-0110

Chinese Consulate General in Houston, TX
Address: 3417 Montrose Blvd.,
Houston, TX 77006
Tel: (713) 524-0780
Fax: (713) 524-7656

Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, CA
Address: 443 Shatto Place,
Los Angeles, CA 90020
Tel: (213) 807-8018
Fax: (213) 380-1961

Chinese Consulate General in New York, NY
Address: 520 12th Avenue,
New York, NY 10036
Tel: (212) 244 9392
Fax: (212) 502 0258

Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, CA
Address: 1450 Laguna St.
San Francisco, CA 94115
Tel: (415) 674-2940
Fax: (415) 563-4861

For more information, contact:
Bob Fu
China Aid Association, Inc.
PO Box 8513 Midland, TX 79708
Tel: (267) 205-5210 Fax: (432) 686-8355
info@ChinaAid.org
www.ChinaAid.org
www.monitorChina.org

Source: Michael Ireland, ASSIST News Service