Registered Church Raided in Henan; Prominent Musician in Beijing under House Arrest over Christian Fears; Multiple Arrests of House Church Leaders Occurred in Xinjiang and Shanxi

China Aid Association
Photo: on March 8, two women protesters arrested in Tiananmen sqpare?AFP/Getty Images?
(March 10, 2006) CAA learned that a registered church in Henan province was raided and three church leaders were arrested. A prominent Chinese Christian musician has been under house arrest in Beijing. Multiple arrests of House Church leaders occurred in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Shanxi province.
According to an eyewitness report, at 11am on March 6th, 2006 (Beijing Time) in Qiaozhuang Village, Wangmingkou Town, Xiangcheng County, Henan Province, a registered Protestant church was raided by officers of the Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB). Three church leaders were taken into custody including Pastor Liu Tuanjie (34-years-old), Mr. Li Xueqin (52-years-old), and Ms. Ma (whose first name is not available). While Pastor Liu and Mr. Li are still in custody, Ms. Ma was released after her family paid a 3000 yuan ($400) fine.
Four PSB officers surrounded the church building while approximately 50 believers were receiving Bible training from Pastor Liu who is from Shangshui County, Henan Province. The PSB declared the gathering an “illegal evil cult” training though that church is certified by the government through the Three-Self Patriotic Movement. In China, unless there is explicit permission from a higher authority, even the government approved clergies are forbidden to minister in a different city other than his so-called “designated area.” In order to control the growth of religion, the Chinese government imposed a so-called “Three-Designate” policy (San Ding) which means only the government “designated” (certified) clergies are allowed to perform religious services in a “designated” location at a “designated” time.
CAA also learned that at 3 to 4 PM on February 13th, a simultaneous campaign against the House churches in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region was conducted in 11 counties. More than a dozen major church leaders were arrested. Most of them were released after being detained for a few days. Pastor Lou Yuanqi is still held at Huocheng County Detention Center. In Shanxi Province, two House Church leaders were taken into custody on March 6 from their homes by PSB officers from Baihe County, Shanxi Province. Both Pastor Ruan Yonggui and Pastor Liu Fukao belong to a well-known House Church group called China Gospel Fellowship.
“The attack on the registered church and arrest of her pastors certainly demonstrates the Chinese government’s double talk when it promises to protect the church in exchange for registration” said Bob Fu of CAA. “We urge the Chinese government to immediately release these innocent Christian leaders.”
Letters of protest and concern can be sent to the Chinese Embassy.
Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong,
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20008
TEL: 202-7456743                 
Fax:202- 588-0032 ; 202-7457473
Director of Religious Affairs: (202) 328-2512
Issued by China Aid Association, Inc. on March. 10, 2006