Religious Liberty Prayer List - No. 199 - Tue 10 Dec 2002

--------------------------------------------- CHINA: PASTOR GONG, AND THE US-CHINA DIALOGUE ---------------------------------------------

In December 2001, Pastor Gong Shengliang (50), the founder and leader of the South China Church (SCC), and four other SCC leaders were convicted and sentenced to death under China's anti-cult legislation for 'using an evil cult to undermine the law'.

The case drew international condemnation, so trying to regain favour, China dropped the religious charges and ordered a re-trial. Young women prisoners from the SCC were then savagely beaten, sexually molested and tortured with electric shock until they signed 'confessions' that Pastor Gong had raped them. The women later recanted their statements, saying they signed under extreme duress. However, on the basis of those 'confessions' Pastor Gong is now serving a life sentence for rape and battery. The women have been sent for three years of 're-education through labour' in one of China's many labour camps, and several other SCC leaders have lengthy prison sentences.

Angered by the leaking of information on torture and violence in detention, Chinese authorities have withdrawn the SCC prisoners' right to appeal. Pastor Gong commenced a hunger strike on 14 November in protest. China advocate, Mr Bob Fu reports, 'Pastor Gong's health had been very fragile even before the hunger strike due to the numerous tortures he was subjected to, and now he is not able to stand up at all.'

Starting Monday 16 December, the US Assistant Secretary of State, Mr Lorne W Craner, will head the resumed human rights dialogue with China in Beijing. Bob Fu has appealed for Lorne Craner to raise Pastor Gong's case with Chinese officials.

Another issue for discussion should be the status of North Korean defectors in China. South Korean missionary, Choi Bong-il (54), and six other North Korean and Chinese citizens are presently on trial in China, charged with smuggling 70 North Korean refugees into China. A Korean-American missionary, Joseph Choi (47), has been detained in Yanbian since May on charges of assisting North Korean refugees in China. As Mr Craner leaves Beijing, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il will fly in to seek aid and advice from China's leaders on how to improve relations with the international community.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:

* the physical, emotional and spiritual strength and protection of Pastor Gong Shengliang, Joseph Choi and all other Christians imprisoned in China, and for their witness. 'It is not good to punish an innocent man, or to flog officials for their integrity.' Proverbs 17:26

* God to be preparing the hearts and minds of Mr Lorne Craner and the US and Chinese authorities participating in the US-China human rights dialogue to resume on 16 December.

* this dialogue to impact religious freedom in China, and hasten justice for Pastor Gong and the SCC prisoners; may it also pave the way for religious liberty in North Korea as an outcome of later talks between Chinese authorities and Kim Jong-il.

'Many seek the ruler's favour, but justice comes from the Lord.' Proverbs 29:26.

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ------------------------------------------------------------ PASTOR GONG, AND THE US-CHINA DIALOGUE

Pastor Gong Shengliang (50) and several other leaders of the South China Church (SCC) are presently suffering the appalling conditions of Chinese prison and labour camps. They have been falsely convicted and imprisoned, apparently to disable the leadership of this growing Protestant denomination. Angered by the leaking of information on torture and violence in detention, Chinese authorities have punished the SCC prisoners by denying their right to appeal. Pastor Gong, beaten and tortured many times, started a hunger strike on 14 November to protest the confiscation of his appeal papers. He is now too frail and weak even to stand. The US- China Human Rights Dialogue will resume on 16 December in Beijing. Pray that the US delegation will make an effective case for the absolute necessity of religious freedom and justice.

---------------------------------------------------- Previous RLPs may be viewed at http://www.evangelicalalliance.org.au/rlc/ If you downloaded this message from a website or it was forwarded to you, you may receive future editions by sending an empty e-mail to <>

Please send this RLP to others, with attribution to World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Religious Liberty Prayer List <> ----------------------------------------------------

The WEA Religious Liberty Commission sponsors this RL Prayer List to help individuals and groups pray specifically and regularly for religious liberty issues, and in particular to uphold the Church where it is suffering persecution.

RL Prayer is moderated by Ron Clough, a commissioner of the WEA RLC and convenor of the Australian EA RLC.

Elizabeth Kendal researched and authored this message.