Confiscated church properties in Jiangsu Returned after International Pressure

China Aid Association
photo: pastor Yang Tianlu’s wife Li Haifang received official notice on April
21 accusing pastor Yang engaging of “organizing evil cult activities” in
Xinjiang. Pastor Yang is facing up to three years sentence.
(Midland, Texas — May 11, 2007) CAA has
learned that on May 11, the PSB in Kunshan,
Jiangsu Province returned all of
the confiscated items to the two house churches. The PSB officers told the two
church pastors Cui Chengnan and Liu Riguo that the increasing international
pressure after CAA’s report and the fear of negative impact of the foreign
investment in that area made them do so. The PSB officers apologized to the
church privately and even promised to reimburse the cost of the church pew and
offering box which were ruined by the PSB during the raid.
On May 9
the two pastors have filed an application for administrative reconsideration
and demand that the Kunshan Municipal People’s Government rule that the compulsory
administrative measure taken by the respondent (Kunshan Municipal Public
Security Bureau) is illegal and return all the items and the donated money
confiscated during its raid on the house church. After the return of the church
properties, the two pastors decided to withdraw their legal actions.
The two
house churches were raided separately by the Kunshan Municipal Public Security
Bureau on April 29, 2007.  The policemen
declared their meetings “illegal assemblies” and confiscated their
notebook computers, projectors, DVD players, stereo, microphones, Bibles and
other materials.  They also took away the
church offering boxes.
“This is
certainly a welcoming first step in the right direction,” said Bob Fu, “The
Chinese House Church is not seeking confrontation with their government. The action
that Jiangsu
authority has taken demonstrated that reasonable approach like this could be
found in its interaction with the house churches and we highly commend this
approach.”
Issued by China Aid Association, Inc. May 11, 2007