Zhejiang church receives demolition notice

(Fuyang, Zhejiang—July 11, 2014) Authorities in China’s coastal Zhejiang issued a demolition notice to a local church on June 30 and later verbally told the church’s leaders that they must demolish the house used for meetings by July 7.

The Dongzhou Neighborhood Office of the Fuyang Municipal People’s Government, the Fuyang Bureau of Law Enforcement for Comprehensive Administration and Urban Management, and the Fuyang Municipal Homeland Resources Bureau issued the notice as part of the province-wide Three Rectifications and One Demolition campaign, which has resulted in the persecution of more than 160 churches.

Zhao Zhihua, a member at the White Crane Church, tried to appeal to the government agencies involved, but received no help. After the appeal, the agencies issued the notice again.

The church was established in 1982, and the original meeting place was Fan Guansheng’s home in White Crane Village in Fuyang. Fan’s home was later demolished by the government. Since that time, believers have met at Zhao’s home in another village in Fuyang. Zhao’s home was approved and given the appropriate legal paperwork. A building in front of Zhao’s home, used as an annex, was also approved and had been remodeled in 2009,

The house church is a branch of a Hangzhou-based church that was founded by Watchman Nee.

Notice translation:

Appendix 1

Zhao Zhihua,

Your (your work unit’s) structure located at Jianhua village, Dongzhou (structure or other facilities) is an illegal structure. On June 30, 2014, we already issued a Notice of Demolition of an Illegal Structure within a Certain Date (Fu Dong Zhou (2014) Xian Chai No. 001). Your household (work unit) has failed to implement your obligation within the stipulated time. Now, it is decided that a forced demolition will be implemented on this structure (structure or other facilities) after July 7. Hopefully, your household (work unit) will cooperate well with us in this matter.

Should there be an objection to this decision, you may apply for a reconsideration within 60 days from the date of receiving this decision at the people’s government of the same level or at a superior agency in charge of this matter. You may also file a lawsuit at Fuyang Municipal People’s Court within three months. During the administrative reconsideration or the lawsuit, the enforcement of the decision shall not be stopped.

Dongzhou Neighborhood Office of Fuyang Municipal People’s Government
Bureau of Law Enforcement for Comprehensive Administration and Urban Management of Fuyang City
Fuyang Municipal Bureau for Homeland Resources

July 7, 2014

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