The Persecution & Prayer Alert The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada http://www.persecution.net Wednesday, June 18, 2003

A summary of news concerning the Persecuted Church and how you can respond. *********************************** Contents: 1. Church Leader Sentenced to Three Years (Indonesia) 2. Christian Families Forced to Move (Laos) 3. Five Christians Arrested (Myanmar) 4. Rebel Group Orders All Clergy Killed (Uganda) 5. Commons Goes Into Recess; C-250 Vote Delayed (Canada) 6. Communicating or Just Making Noise? (Editorial) 7. Question of the Week *********************************** 1. Church Leader Sentenced to Three Years (Indonesia)

The district court in Palu, Central Sulawesi, has convicted Rev. Rinaldy Damanik of illegal possession of arms and ammunition and sentenced him to three years in prison. He was found guilty of possessing seven unregistered rifles, four guns and 144 rounds of ammunition, found in his possession as he was helping to evacuate people terrorized in the Poso area on August 17, 2002. Damanik was a leader in the Malino peace agreement that formed a foundation for peace in the troubled Poso area of Indonesia. He claims that the police planted the weapons.

According to The Jakarta Post, Damanik’s lawyer is urging his client to appeal because of the lack of evidence. Indonesia’s foremost legal expert had testified during the trial that Damanik’s arrest had been “engineered” by the police and prosecutors to make him a scapegoat. The prosecution’s key witness, one of Damanik’s drivers, admitted that he had been beaten and forced to sign a statement without reading it. At the end of the trial, Judge Somanada stated that the prosecution had failed to present a cohesive case. Despite this, Damanik expected to be convicted. According to David Mundy from Jubilee Campaign USA, “In a culture infused with saving face, it is nearly impossible that Damanik could be completely acquitted.”

Continue to pray for Rev. Damanik as he remains in prison. Pray that truth will take precedence in this case. Pray that the peace for which Damanik struggled will continue. *********************************** 2. Christian Families Forced to Move (Laos)

Five Laotian men were ordered to leave their village and move their families to a different province because of their faith in Christ. According to a June 12 report from Christian Aid, the five men from Kang Village in Attapue province were summoned to a meeting on June 9 at the provincial department of religious affairs and accused of causing disorder and disharmony. Those present, including a judge, a member of the National House of Representatives and the police, gave them ten days to move their families to a different province at their own expense. They were also forced, under threat of imprisonment, to sign a document saying they were leaving of their own free will. After moving, they faxed a retraction, saying they had been threatened.

The five men were: Mr. Boukeo Mr. Khamsuak (also referred to as Suak) Mr. Tongsawat (also referred to as Sawat) Mr. Nuang Mr. Keopong

Please pray for these five families as they face the adjustments and struggles of a new home. Pray for Christians throughout Laos facing persecution for their faith in Christ. *********************************** 3. Five Christians Arrested (Myanmar)

Five Christians were arrested in Myanmar (Burma) last week including a pastor. They have been charged with selling children and given the choice between life in prison or the death sentence.

According to sources for The Voice of the Martyrs, the military had confiscated twenty-two orphanages for military use. Pastor Run Hesh Ling and Sa Tin Khup tried to prevent this from happening, which lead to the arrests. Arrested along with these men were Sa Tin Khup’s daughter, Cung Hlen, Mr. Thongte, and Mr. Lowib.

Please pray for strength and endurance for these believers. Torture by the Myanmar military is common. Pray that they will remain faithful. *********************************** 4. Rebel Group Orders All Clergy Killed (Uganda)

A rebel group, The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), led by a cultic spirit medium, has been terrorizing northern Uganda for sixteen years. Nearly one million Ugandans have been forced into refugee camps by the LRA rebels. While Christians have frequently been the targets of this group, the Catholic Church is now being specifically targeted for attack.

Despite threats from Joseph Kony, the leader of the LRA, church leaders have consistently been involved in peace talks between the LRA and the Ugandan government. According to the World Evangelical Alliance’s Religious Liberty Prayer List, several commanders deserted the LRA during recent meetings with church officials. Consequently, Kony declared war on the church. Since the defections, church missions have been burned, bombed, and desecrated on nine separate occasions. On June 14, the Ugandan Army intercepted a transmission in which Kony was ordering his soldiers: “Catholic missions must be destroyed, priests and missionaries killed in cold blood and nuns beaten black and blue.”

The LRA is fighting against the government to create a state based on the observance of Kony’s interpretation of biblical concepts. In a report to Zenit, Father Albanese described Kony as a “mad visionary” whose “creed is of a syncretist type, where there is a bit of everything: elements of Christianity, Islam and animism.” International observers report that at least 20,000 civilians and as many children have been kidnapped and enslaved and/or forced to join the LRA army.

Pray for God’s intervention in protecting Christian workers in northern Uganda. Pray that God will bind the demonic spirits controlling Kony, and end the LRA’s reign of terror. Pray that children kidnapped and forced to fight will be able to escape. *********************************** 5. Commons Goes Into Recess; C-250 Vote Delayed (Canada)

Supported by the Canadian Alliance opposition party, Canada’s Liberal government used an obscure parliamentary rule last Friday (June 13) to adjourn the House of Commons early for a three-month summer recess, thereby delaying an expected vote of Bill C-250 scheduled for today. This controversial bill proposes to add “sexual orientation” to the current list of identifiable groups (i.e. colour, race, religion and ethnic origin) in the “hate propaganda” sections of the Criminal Code of Canada. The Voice of the Martyrs is concerned that this bill is vague enough to allow for a case-to-case interpretation of what would constitute a hate crime against someone of a particular sexual orientation. Potentially, we belief, this bill could lead to the criminalization of the public reading of Scripture passages that speak out against homosexuality, sermons that decry sexual sin and any other printed literature against homosexuality.

It is believed that the government recessed the Commons early to delay a vote on this and other controversial legislation. Many believe that, had C-250 been voted on today, it would have passed. The move to recess early means that a vote on this faulty legislation will be delayed until at least next fall.

While The Voice of the Martyrs welcomes this development, we are concerned that the Liberal government fears opposing this bill (sponsored by openly homosexual NDP Member of Parliament Sven Robinson) because of public opinion concerns. We urge all Canadians, especially those with Liberal Members of Parliament to take the time this summer to write their MPs and The Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, regarding this bill. Contact information can be found through a link to the House of Commons directory at http://www.persecution.net/links.htm. To assist you in writing a well-reasoned, thoughtful letter, we encourage all Canadian Christians to go to http://www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/social/initiatives.asp and http://www.christianlegalfellowship.org/Articles/thebill.html for more information on this bill and some of the issues at stake. *********************************** 6. Communicating or Just Making Noise? Editorial by Glenn Penner (Communications Director)

We are often asked why we do not post form letters and petitions on our website that people can simply copy or sign. “It is too difficult and time-consuming to write my own letter,” some would argue. “Why not just give me something that I can sign?”

We understand the time constraints that we all live under today. And be assured that we do not avoid such petitions and form letters because it is too much work for us. That is not the reason. We do not typically post form letters and petitions online for one simple reason: we do not believe that they are as effective as personal letters from concerned individuals. We would be happy to post sample letters if they were only used as guides. Unfortunately, what typically happens is that people just “cut and paste” them into a document with little or no editing before sending them out. It does not take very long for government officials and members of parliament to realize this, when they start to receive a number of letters with identical wording.

On the other hand, just as useless (and more damaging) are personal letters that contain bombastic, poorly written attacks on the character, intelligence, and parentage of a government official or Member of Parliament. A couple of years ago I sat in the office of a federal deputy minister (who is an evangelical Christian) who regretfully informed the delegation that I was with that the nastiest, most hateful mail often came to his office from those claiming to be Christians. Do we really think that such messages will be taken seriously? It is not enough simply to make your voice heard! The purpose of communication is not just to make noise; it is to express thoughts in such a way as to be listened to.

So what is the solution? A commitment to take the time to write thoughtful, well-written, polite personal letters sent to the right person (the Prime Minister is NOT always the right person to write to, by the way) that ask for a response. We are called to be salt and light in our society; change agents. This cannot be done quickly with the click of a button and few keystrokes. One of the freedoms that we have in the western world is the right to access information and to express our opinion to those who can make a difference. And such communication does not go unnoticed in the halls of power. *********************************** 7. Question of the Week

Our question this week is: “How often have you written letters to government officials?” We would welcome your comments or questions concerning Glenn’s editorial.

To participate in our poll and discussion, go to http://www.persecution.net and click on “Discussion Forum.” If you have not registered on our forum in the past, click on “Register” and select a username and password. *********************************** The Persecution & Prayer Alert is a ministry of The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada. (Mailing address: P.O. Box 117, Port Credit, Mississauga, Ontario L5G 4L5) Tel. (905) 670.9721. Fax: (905) 670.7642 Website: http://www.persecution.net *********************************** Contact Person: Glenn Penner, Communications Director.

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