Post by Michael on Mar 25, 2004 4:22:27 GMT -5
Police in the Ho Chi Minh City recently attacked a pastor and several other Christians. On March 2, the Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang, an official in the Mennonite Church, evangelist Pham Ngoc Thach and other believers were assaulted by two undercover policemen who were spying on them at Quang's home, Compass Direct reported.
More police were then dispatched. Armed with guns and electric cattle prods, they surrounded Quang's home and ordered the 12 Christian workers to remain inside the house. Police then tried to incite neighbors to attack the believers. A church elder was taken to the police station. When three young evangelists went to inquire about him, they were beaten.
Authorities are reportedly retaliating for recent incidents where police have had to retreat from harassing Christians because of effective local and international advocacy, Compass reported.
Meanwhile, authorities in the Central Highlands Province of Kontum destroyed a Mennonite chapel in January and three weeks later tried to prevent a Canadian Mennonite pastor from visiting Christians in the area. Kontum officials have accused Chinh, a leading Mennonite pastor in the province, of being an "anti-government activist."
Elsewhere, about 50 policemen other officials raided the home of Bahnar church leader Brother Athe on Feb. 27 while he was working in his fields. Authorities reportedly left rooms used for worship in shambles, Compass reported.
More police were then dispatched. Armed with guns and electric cattle prods, they surrounded Quang's home and ordered the 12 Christian workers to remain inside the house. Police then tried to incite neighbors to attack the believers. A church elder was taken to the police station. When three young evangelists went to inquire about him, they were beaten.
Authorities are reportedly retaliating for recent incidents where police have had to retreat from harassing Christians because of effective local and international advocacy, Compass reported.
Meanwhile, authorities in the Central Highlands Province of Kontum destroyed a Mennonite chapel in January and three weeks later tried to prevent a Canadian Mennonite pastor from visiting Christians in the area. Kontum officials have accused Chinh, a leading Mennonite pastor in the province, of being an "anti-government activist."
Elsewhere, about 50 policemen other officials raided the home of Bahnar church leader Brother Athe on Feb. 27 while he was working in his fields. Authorities reportedly left rooms used for worship in shambles, Compass reported.