* THE BATTLE FOR INDONESIA * INDIA: HINDU ANTI-CHRISTIAN POGROM SPREADS * NORTH KOREAN DICTATOR MAY BE GRAVELY ILL * FATHER'S DAY CARDS BANNED IN SCOTTISH SCHOOLS * IRAN PARLIAMENT VOTES IN FAVOUR OF PUNISHING APOSTASY WITH DEATH * ALLEGED KIDNAPPER GRANTED CUSTODY OF CHRISTIAN GIRL IN PAKISTAN ----------------------------------------------- THE BATTLE FOR INDONESIA The battle for Indonesia is heating up and the 2009 elections could prove decisive. To maintain power, President Yudhoyono is dependent on the support of Islamic parties with whom he has entered into alliances. The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS an Islamist party) has become powerful and influential through its grassroots popularity, achieved by strategy and sheer hard work. The president is dependent on Islamist support and the more he needs the Islamists, the more they demand of him. They have already forced the closure of numerous Christian churches and institutions. Meanwhile Indonesia's newly elected Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Mohammad Mahfud MD, called for the scrapping of Sharia-based bylaws because they discriminate against minority groups and thus run counter to the constitution and state ideology which among other things promotes secularism and equity. Mahfud told a gathering of top military officers, "Sharia bylaws are not constitutionally or legally correct because, territorially and ideologically, they threaten our national integrity." While pro-jihadist Islamic groups have been largely subdued in Indonesia, political Islam has been thriving. Many in the West however do not regard this as a challenge to Indonesian democracy. They fail to see that groups like the jihadist Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the political PKS differ only in methods, not in goals. The threat posed by political Islam is profound. While JI believes in bombs, PKS believes in protests and polls, yet both groups seek the creation of an Islamic Caliphate as their goal. JI might get all the headlines but the PKS has positioned itself in parliament. Sadanand Dhume is a Washington-based journalist writes "Today the odds favour an Indonesia that looks more like a South -east Asian Pakistan - culturally confused, economically stagnant, caught between a modern elite and medieval clerics, a recipient of foreign aid rather than foreign investment. Needless to say, the PKS is not the only hard-line Islamist group in Indonesia. But because it is the most powerful, its success or failure will be the most reliable bellwether of Islamic extremism in the country." The PKS has little chance of gaining a majority before 2014. But it does not need a majority to get hold of the reins. They only need to position themselves so that those in power are dependent on them. Dhume's article concludes: "The PKS faces a challenge. It needs to reach out to new supporters while maintaining both discipline and ideological coherence. This means devising ways to satisfy cadres without alienating less committed voters. It appears the Islamists have chosen the "threat" to Islam caused by the growth of Christianity as their cause. The President, to stay in power, has little option but to use the increasingly influential PKS as his powerbase. While the moderate Golkar and PDI-P are clearly the largest parties in the legislature their combined numbers only just matches that of the numerous smaller parties in the Islamic bloc. Should Golkar and PDI-P form an alliance and win the presidential elections, then, the Islamists could be reined in and marginalised. However if they lose to the Islamic bloc, then the Islamists will be ascendant. The 2009 are thus hugely significant in the battle for Indonesia. Source: by Elizabeth Kendal - World Evangelical Alliance ----------------------------------------------- INDIA: HINDU ANTI-CHRISTIAN POGROM SPREADS The violent Hindu pogrom in Orissa, India, continues to rage. The violence has spread to engulf nine districts indicating there is a high degree of VHP (World Hindu Council) co-ordination. The President of the Global Council of Indian Christians, Mr Sajan George says, 'Truckloads of militants from neighbouring states have entered the area to back up the VHP campaign. Armed with bombs, swords and guns these militants are pouncing on defenceless Christians. Recently a mob of around 2000 Hindus attacked a church service in Bhudainjal village, causing worshippers to flee. Some 3000 Christians have been forced to convert to Hinduism over recent days in order to save their lives. The police watch but do not intervene. One family were chased into the forest where they were ordered to convert or die. This is terrorism, not conversion. A further atrocity is that relief camps in Kandhamal are now being attacked. Hindu tva terrorists climbed onto the water tank at one relief camp and were about to empty a bag of poisonous chemicals into the drinking water when they were caught by the security guard. Another camp also reported their drinking water had been poisoned. Fortunately this was discovered before the water was dispensed. At another a mob of Hindu nationalists invaded the camp and stole the food supplies because they objected to Christians 'eating at government expense'. A large mob of local Hindus invaded the Mission Action Prayer Fellowship in a rural area of Davangere. They beat the pastor and believers and burnt the church's Bibles, furniture, musical instruments, pulpit and cross. They brought a media team and all the action was telecast live. Violence is now erupting in other states controlled by the Hindu nationalist Bharantiya Janata Party (BJP). A mob of Hindu nationalists have attacked nuns of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity and snatched the four orphaned babies they were transporting for adoption claiming the nuns were kidnapping the babies for forced conversion. In Madhya Pradesh, Hindu nationalists burnt down the 86-year-old St Bartholomew Anglican Church. Police are trying to frame the church's Christian watchman for the crime even though he was at home with his family at the time. PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR: * God's merciful intervention to protect the lives of his people, thanking him that multitudes were spared when attempts to poison relief camps' water supplies were foiled. * the Holy Spirit to bring peace, comfort and supernatural grace to the grieving loved ones and fellow believers of those Christians who have been killed and the 50,000 Christians displaced. * for the Church to emerge from this fire in solidarity, brotherly love and faith in Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit forges Christian unity across race, caste and denomination. * God to use the shame of this violence to trigger a national awakening causing Indians across the nation to reject Hindu nationalism, recognising its ugliness and despising its violence, and to provide the Church with an opportunity to share and explain the gospel in ways previously unattainable. Source: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission ----------------------------------------------- NORTH KOREAN DICTATOR MAY BE GRAVELY ILL Prayer is needed for North Korea amid reports its leader Kim Jong Il may have suffered a stroke, or some other serious health setback, after the 66-year-old dictator failed to appear at an important celebration of his country's anniversary. Jong has no heir apparent and the floundering regime, the world's worst abuser of human rights and religious liberty, could collapse with his death. There was no sign of Jong at a closely watched parade in Pyongyang on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008, marking the 60th anniversary of North Korea's founding. Incapacity of the man North Koreans call the "Dear Leader" would have serious implications for the international effort to get North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons. His last reported public appearance was in mid-August, which was when health rumours began circulating about Jong. The U.S., China, Japan and other nations have been negotiating with Jong's communist dictatorship about scrapping its nuclear weapons program in exchange for economic aid and broader ties. The impoverished country of 23 million people is suffering through their worst food shortage in a decade. There is no freedom of religion in North Korea and Christians are often tortured, imprisoned and murdered. Around 200,000 Christians are believed to be held in prison camps with no hope of release. For six straight years North Korea has been No. 1 on Open Doors' World Watch List of countries where Believers suffer the worst persecution. Please pray for: . The salvation of Kim Jong-Il and other North Korean leaders, and all prisoners and guards. . The safety and release of all imprisoned Christians and for all torture camps to be closed immediately. . Pray that all North Koreans will receive proper nourishment on a daily basis. . Pray that those who have violated Human Rights laws will be brought to justice. . Underground Believers to be protected and to keep their faith in Christ while under extreme scrutiny. . The North Korean government to give freedom to Christians to worship openly. . Food and medical supplies sent to North Korea to get through to those in need, including to Christians. . Pray that North Korean Christians will feel the presence of the Lord, and never lose courage in Him. Source: Windows International Network ----------------------------------------------- FATHER'S DAY CARDS BANNED IN SCOTTISH SCHOOLS Thousands of primary pupils were prevented from making Father's Day cards at school for fear of embarrassing classmates who live with single mothers and lesbians. The policy was adopted at schools "in the interests of sensitivity" over the growing number of lone-parent and same-sex households. It only emerged after a large number of fathers failed to receive their traditional cards. Parents condemned the policy as "absurd" and argued that it is marginalising fathers, but local authorities said teachers need to react to "the changing pattern of family life". An Office for National Statistics report in April found that one in four British children now lives with a lone parent - double the figure 20 years ago. Tina Woolnough, 45, whose son Felix attends Edinburgh's Blackhall primaryschool, and who is a member of the school's parent-teacher council, said: "This is something I know they do on a class-by-class basis. at my son Felix's school. "The teachers are aware of the family circumstances of the children in each class and if a child hasn't got a father living at home, the teacher will avoid getting the children to make a card." The making of Mother's Day cards and crafts, in the run-up to Mothering Sunday, remains generally permitted. But the Father's Day edict follows a series of other politically correct measures introduced in primary schools, including the removal of Christian references from festive greetings cards. Matt O'Connor, founder of campaign group Fathers For Justice, said: "I'm astonished at this. It totally undermines the role and significance of fathers whether they are still with the child's mother or not. "It also sends out a troubling message to young boys that fathers aren't important." Source: Telegraph.co.uk ----------------------------------------------- IRAN PARLIAMENT VOTES IN FAVOUR OF PUNISHING APOSTASY WITH DEATH The Iranian Parliament has voted in favour of a bill stipulating the death penalty for apostasy. The bill was approved by 196 votes for, seven against, and two abstentions. The approved bill will be sent back to the Legislative Commission to debate proposed amendments before it is brought before parliament for a further vote. News of the approval was published by official Iranian news agencies, including the IRINN (Islamic Republic of Iran News Network) and morning papers inside Iran such as Resalat. The news was also seen on Radio Farda's website. The progress of this bill through the Iranian Parliament is a cause of grave concern for increasing numbers of Iranians who have left Islam for another religion, and a significant backwards step for human rights in Iran. The draft bill will add a number of crimes to the list of those resulting in execution, among them; "establishing weblogs and sites promoting corruption, prostitution and apostasy". Last week, two Christians from Muslim backgrounds, Mahmoud Mohammad Matin-Azad and Arash Ahmad-Ali Basirat, were charged with apostasy and are awaiting the court's verdict. The men have been in detention since 15 May 2008. There is deep concern these men may face capital punishment if the proposed legislation on apostasy passes unchallenged through the final parliamentary processes and is enacted into law. Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide ----------------------------------------------- ALLEGED KIDNAPPER GRANTED CUSTODY OF CHRISTIAN GIRL IN PAKISTAN A Pakistani court has granted custody of a 13-year-old Christian girl to the man accused of abducting her. The Lahore High Court has awarded custody of Saba Masihto to her alleged kidnapper, and ordered him to pay a 100,000 Rupees guarantee as a surety bond for her. Saba and her nine year-old sister, Anila, were reportedly kidnapped by three Muslim men while they were walking to their uncle's house. It is alleged that they were forced to convert to Islam and that Saba was compelled to marry one of the men. The ruling follows hearings during which two medical reports of Saba were presented before the court to ascertain her age. The reports show her to be between 15 and 17 years old, whereas her baptism and school certificate disclose her date of birth as 2 February 1995, making Saba only 13 at the time of reported conversion and marriage. In relation to Anila, the court ruled that the girls' parents should retain custody of her. The accused claim the girls converted to Islam and that Saba then married one of them. The court's decision comes as religious minorities appeal to Pakistan's new President Asif Ali Zardari to protect human rights and religious freedom. Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha, President of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops' Conference, has written to the new President congratulating him, saying: "We earnestly hope that you will use your exalted office to bring unity, peace and development in our land. We especially express our fervent wish that the religious minorities, who are small in number, may enjoy their just rights as equal citizens." Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide http://www.ausprayernet.org.au/ September 2008
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