ChinaAid
January 19, 2010
ZHEJIANG–ChinaAid recently learned that Shao Wangui (house church leader and Chairman of the board of Wenzhou Ouhai Xinba Shoes Co. Ltd) was illegally detained again on Christmas Eve by local officials, and was finally released on January 6, 2010. Shao was first detained on November 23, 2009 and released on November 30th, following an attack in September that reduced the Xinba Factory to rubble.
Xinba Shoes Co. Ltd has a strong heritage of being run by a Christian family. The company was founded in 2007 to operate a shoes business. In the fall of 2009, Shao Wangui came into conflict with local villagers and authorities, because he refused to donate money to build a Buddhist temple.
On August 21, 2009, the company’s production manager Shao Xinzhong was severely injured and was sent to the hospital. On September 11th, at about 8:00 AM, the Xianyan County government dispatched 100 police and 30 removers to demolish the factory by force. The Shao brothers found no where to appeal to and were forced to protest in Tiananmen Square. Read about the attack on Xinba Shoes Factory in September, 2009.
After this event was reported, it stirred a general outcry among the people. However, the authorities refused to apologize. On Christmas Eve, December 24th, they secretly detained Shao Wangui at a hotel in Wenzhou City, Ouhai. Shao managed to call his family and told them he was not feeling well and needed medical aid. Later, he was transferred to another undisclosed location until January 6, 2010, when he was finally released. Shao Wangui’s younger brother and company partner has also suffer oppression from the local government and was forced to seek places to hide from officials.
ChinaAid and the churches in Wenzhou area call upon the Christians all over the world to pray for the safety issues of the Shao brothers. We urge believers to pray for the oppressing situation Christian businesses face as they operate in China.
China Aid Contacts
Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director
Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.chinaaid.org
