China Aid Association
(ZHEJIANG – August 2, 2009) ChinaAid recently received an update regarding Christian Huang Lemin of Baixiang Town Christian Church in Leqing, Wenzhou city, Zhejiang province who has been in prison since April 23, 2009. Huang’s case was transferred to the prosecutor’s office from the Leqing Public Security Bureau (PSB) on July 1, 2009. Recently, the prosecutors told Huang’s wife and other church members that if the case cannot settle outside the court, within one week Huang’s case will be transferred to the court, and Huang will be indicted.
Huang Lemin was imprisoned on April 23 on the charges of causing “intentional injury.” However, the Christians of Baixiang Town Christian Church say that Huang Lemin never attacked anyone, but in fact, was badly beaten by a group of individuals conspiring with authorities to take control of their church, which is legally registered with the government. The infiltrators have prevented Sunday gatherings, attacked believers, sabotaged the church’s audio equipment and destroyed the church’s electrical wiring.
On March 1, Huang Lemin was beaten by a group of the infiltrators when he went to repair the audio equipment that had been sabotaged. Christians took Huang Lemin to report the case at the local police station, but at the station he began to lose consciousness and become confused. Believers rushed him to Wenzhou Medical Institute, where a later it was found he had: a fracture in his nasal bone, a cerebral concussion and contusion of soft tissues all over his body.
On April 23, one of Huang’s attackers, Yang Huaxi, pressed charges against Huang Lemin for “intentional injury” and police arrested him. The Christians who witnessed the attack told police Huang Lemin was innocent, but the police sided with Yang.
After Huang Lemin was imprisoned, more than 1,000 believers in Baixiang Church signed a letter to the Municipal Bureau for Ethnic and Religious Affairs, the Public Security Bureau and other government departments urging them to stop the persecution. The Christians have also appealed to authorities to release Huang Lemin and to fulfill their legal obligation by assisting the church in restoring their Sunday worship services.
The church members of Baixiang Church have reported Huang Lemin’s case to Zhejiang Provincial Bureau for Ethnic and Religious Affairs, the Office of Letters and Calls, the Wenzhou United Front Work Department and other departments, requesting that officials conduct an in-depth investigation of the administrative conduct of the Leqing Bureau for Ethnic and Religious Affairs. Christians say that the Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and the Wenzhou United Front Work Department have given some attention to the case, but that due to the strong sense of local protection and loyalties among some of the Leqing authorities, work on the case has been proceeding very slowly.
The president of Wenzhou Chinese Christian Council and pastors in the administration team have become involved in the mediation efforts on this case. The Wenzhou Chinese Christian Council offered to be the guarantor for Huang Lemin, but the procuratorate refused.
The Domestic Security Protection Squad of Leqing Public Security Bureau and the prosecutors on the case insist that Huang Lemin should plead guilty and say that if he comes to an agreement with the client from the other party or if the disputes within the church are properly solved, they will consider releasing Huang or handle the matter with leniency.
Huang Lemin’s family has been willing to make concessions, and with the help of the Chinese Christian Council, they sought several times in order to reach an agreement of reconciliation with Huang’s accuser, Yang Huaxi. However, Huang Lemin’s family finds the conditions for the reconciliation proposed by the Yang unacceptable.
The believers in Baixiang Church and Huang Lemin’s family are very concerned, and find the injustice committed by some leaders in Leqing authorities hard to understand. Huang sent a written note to his wife recently saying he is thankful to the Lord and for the prayers around the world. He encouraged her and the church members to stand firm on the Rock of Jesus.
Contact law enforcement authorities in Zhejiang to petition for Huang Lemin’s immediate release:
Public Security Department of Zhejiang Province: +86-571-87286114 or +86-0571-81951080
Hangzhou Public Security Bureau +86-571-87076677 or +86-571-87067119
Wenzhou Public Security Bureau +86-577-88327366
Yueqing City Public Security Bureau +86-577-62535433
Contact the Chinese embassy for Huang Lemin’s immediate release:Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong
3505 International Place, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 495-2000
Fax: (202) 588-9760
NOTE: If you are a citizen of another country, please click here to find the contact information of the Chinese embassy in your own nation.http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zwjg/2490/
Read a thank you letter from Baixiang Town Christian Church.
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
