In a move designed to restore favour ahead of a visit to the U.S. by China's then president Jiang Zemin, the Hubei Higher People's Court overturned the death sentences and ordered a retrial, which took place in the Jingmen Intermediate People's Court on 10 October 2002.

Young women prisoners from the South China Church (SCC) were savagely beaten, sexually molested and tortured with electric shock until they signed "confessions" that pastor Gong Shengliang had raped them. The women later recanted their "confessions" saying they were given under extreme duress. However, on the basis of those "confessions" pastor Gong Shengliang is now serving a life prison sentence for rape and battery. The women were declared innocent in the court in 10 October and released. However, they were re-arrested later the same day and sent to Shayang Laogai Camp of Hubei for three years of re-education through labour.

Among pastor Gong's colleagues, Xu Fuming and Hu Yong also received life sentences while Gong Bangkun and Li Ying were jailed for 15 years on assault charges. The Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said that all had indicated they would appeal against the sentences.

UPDATE ON PASTOR GONG SHENGLIANG

Chinese authorities, angry about the leaking of information on the conditions of detention, including the vast practise of violence and torture, have now denied pastor Gong his right to appeal.

China advocate and executive director of the Committee for Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China (http://religiousfreedomforchina.org/ ), Mr. Bob Fu, reports that pastor Gong commenced a hunger strike on 14 November in protest. "He did it," says Mr. Fu, "because the prison of Jingmen city, Hubei province, where he is staying, confiscated two documents he wrote after the second trial in October - one is an appellate paper (about 20,000 words) and the other one is about some historical facts on South China Church (about 30,000 words)."

"I was told," says Mr. Fu, "that pastor Gong's heath has been very fragile, even before the hunger strike, due to the numerous tortures he has been subjected to, and now he is not able to stand up at all."

Mr. Fu also reports that the four ladies sent to Shayang Laogai Camp of Hubei, have also had their right to appeal denied them by the Hubei provincial Re-education through Labor Commission.

U.S RESUMES HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE WITH CHINA

On 16 December 2002, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Mr. Lorne W. Craner, will head the resumed human rights dialogue with China in Beijing. Mr Fu has appealed to Mr. Craner to raise the issue of religious freedom, particularly pastor Gong's case, with the Chinese authorities.

It is to be hoped that the subject of the status and treatment of North Korean defectors in China will also be discussed. South Korean missionary, Choi Bong-il (54), and six other North Korean and Chinese citizens are presently on trial in China on charges of smuggling seventy North Korean refugees into China. Joseph Choi (47), a Korean-American missionary, has been under detention in Yanbian since May on charges of assisting North Korean refugees.

Hopefully Mr Craner can make a strong case for the absolute necessity of the fundamental right to religious freedom, because as Mr Craner leaves Beijing, North Korean leader Kim Jong-ill will fly in to seek aid, and advice from China's leaders on how to improve relations with the international community.

LETTER OF SUPPORT TO LORNE CRANER

At the following U.S. Department of State web address, it is possible to send a message to the U.S. Secretary of State. http://contact-us.state.gov/ask_form_cat/ask_form_secretary.html A message such as the following may be helpful to the cause of religious freedom in East Asia.

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To Mr. Lorne Craner, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour,

I write in support of your participation in the human rights dialogue with China to be held in Beijing during the week commencing the 16 December 2002.

I wish to urge you to raise the issue of religious freedom, and particularly the case of Pastor Gong Shengliang (50), the founder-leader of the persecuted South China Church. Pastor Gong is on a hunger strike in prison, protesting the fact that his right to appeal a life sentence has been denied him. Prison authorities are angry over the leaking of information on the conditions in detention, including the vast practise of torture. We believe his imprisonment to be unjust, and that he has been falsely accused for the purpose of disabling the leadership of this growing Protestant denomination.

I also wish to urge you to raise the issue of North Korean refugees in China, their status and the imprisonment of those who assist them. Korean-American missionary, Joseph Choi (47), has been under detention in Yanbian since May 2002 on charges of assisting North Korean refugees in China. It is well known that North Korean defectors who are forcibly repatriated are usually imprisoned or killed. This issue is especially relevant as North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il will be in Beijing for talks with Chinese authorities shortly - possibly after 19 December.

Sincerely,

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- Elizabeth Kendal

**WEA Religious-Liberty e-mail Conference** <>

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