NEW LAW INCREASES PRESSURE ON RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN KAZAKHSTAN

CAMBODIAN OFFICIALS DEPORT MONTAGNARD REFUGEES BACK TO VIETNAM

GROWING VIOLENCE IN HAITI FAILS TO DETER CHRISTIAN OUTREACH

U.K. GOVERNMENT HIGHLIGHTS CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IN DEBATE

MAJOR RENOVATIONS BEGIN ON OPERATION MOBILIZATION’S NEWEST SHIP

NEW LAW INCREASES PRESSURE ON RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN KAZAKHSTAN

Religious minorities in the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan are facing increased pressure following the passage of a new law that “severely restricts religious freedom,” breaking the country’s international human rights commitment. “We’re very distressed that the new religion law has made registration of religious communities compulsory,” said human rights ombudsman Bolat Baikadamov. He added that the new national security amendments will violate religious freedom in the country. “We worked on this issue as an expert institution, and we sent our conclusions to parliament,” he stated at a press conference. “Unfortunately, the view prevailed that questions on missionaries and registration of religious organizations were themes that had to be covered in the draft law.” The Interfax news agency quoted Baikadamov as saying that he had received “a fairly large number of complaints” about the amendments. Among those religious minorities being pressured for refusing to register are Baptists and members of other Protestant groups as well as various non-Christian religions. (Forum 18 News Service)

CAMBODIAN OFFICIALS FORCIBLY DEPORT 100 MONTAGNARD REFUGEES

Numerous wire services have reported that Cambodian authorities forcibly deported approximately 100 Degar Montagnard Christians back to Vietnam. Cambodian troops and police officers equipped with electric batons entered a U.N. refugee camp in Phnom Penh the night of Tuesday, July 19, to detain unarmed Montagnard asylum seekers and send them back to Vietnam. Troops reportedly beat and knocked unconscious some of the Montagnard asylum seekers in an effort to force them onto buses and back into the hands of the Vietnamese authorities “where they will face even greater danger.” While hundreds of Montagnards, the indigenous people of Vietnam’s central highland, have fled Vietnam for Cambodia to escape ongoing persecution by the Vietnamese government, that option is no longer available. Cambodia has closed its northeastern border with Vietnam to halt the flow of Montagnard asylum seekers. Eyewitnesses said the refugees refused to follow orders from the Cambodian authorities. They opted instead to lie on the ground while praying — peacefully attempting to resist the forced deportation. (Assist News Service)

GROWING VIOLENCE IN HAITI FAILS TO DETER CHRISTIAN OUTREACH

The Philippines is sending peace-keeping troops to violence-wracked Haiti in preparation for elections later this year. Despite the deteriorating situation, Ann O’Dell of World Hope International says the ministry continues unhampered. “One of the things that’s happening is that because of the political unrest and the floods that came last fall, and now the hurricane threat, a lot of these things are being thwarted because we can’t get into the rural areas where we really want to go to help the people.” However, the Haitian staff members are committed to making a difference for Christ in their country no matter what instability comes. “Despite the fact that there’s a lot going on politically, and there’s a lot of danger, our staff is determined to continue to meet not only the physical needs but also the spiritual needs of people as they minister there,” O’Dell said. (Mission Network News)

U.K. GOVERNMENT HIGHLIGHTS CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IN DEBATE

Members of parliament (MPs) in the U.K.’s House of Commons recently highlighted the severe persecution of Christians in parts of Southeast Asia and China. Speaking during the debate on Wednesday, July 13, MP David Drew introduced the debate saying, “Whether we are a Christian or follower of another religion or none, we should never lose sight of what is happening to Christians in other parts of the world.” He noted many instances of persecution by the government of Vietnam. MP Stephen Crabb focused on religious persecution in China, noting that the “Chinese government seems to regard religion as a threat to their power. As a result, they place severe restrictions on religious activities and seek to control them.” Drew later described the session as a “very good, detailed debate. I am pleased by the content of the minister’s speech.” (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)