RELIGIOUS DISSIDENTS IN VIETNAM AMONG 8,000 PRISONERS GIVEN AMNESTY

VIETNAM’S TRIBAL CHRISTIANS CONTINUE TO FACE PERSECUTION

IRAQI CHRISTIANS OPTIMISTIC AFTER VOTING IN WEEKEND ELECTIONS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA HONORS MARTYRED MISSIONARY’S WIDOW

GERMAN MISSION URGES BELIEVERS TO ADDRESS VIOLATIONS IN NEPAL

MINISTRY OFFERS HOPE, HEALING TO ADDICTS OF ‘DEVIL’S DRUG’

Today’s News Stories:

RELIGIOUS DISSIDENTS IN VIETNAM AMONG 8,000 PRISONERS GIVEN AMNESTY Vietnam’s communist government announced Monday, Jan. 31, that it granted amnesty to more than 8,000 prisoners, including some well-known Christian and political dissidents, to celebrate Vietnam’s Lunar New Year that falls on Wednesday, Feb. 9, this year. The international human rights group Amnesty International said it welcomed reports that Roman Catholic priest Father Nguyen Van Ly, 58, and physician Dr. Nguyen Dan Que, 62, along with two other key prisoners of conscience were among those to be freed. Ly was originally sentenced to 15 years in prison for “abusing religious freedom” after urging the U.S. not to ratify its trade agreement with Vietnam unless Hanoi improved its record on religious freedom. His sentence was later reduced to 10 years. Que spent 20 of the last 26 years in prison for “criticizing the government’s human rights record.” Also granted their release were Buddhist monk Thich Thien Minh, 51, jailed for protesting the government’s takeover of the pagoda where he lived, and well-known dissident Nguyen Dinh Huy, 73, a former English and history professor who founded the Movement to Unite the People and Build Democracy. He was arrested in November 1993 along with 11 other members of the movement for planning an international conference on democracy and human rights in Ho Chi Minh City. Huy reportedly was sentenced to 15 years in prison. (BosNewsLife/Jubilee Campaign)

VIETNAM’S TRIBAL CHRISTIANS CONTINUE TO FACE PERSECUTION Reports continue to emerge from native missionaries in Vietnam regarding the government’s oppression of Christians, especially in tribal jungle areas. Intimidation, beatings and arrests also plague missionaries. “The authorities are always on my track,” wrote one tribal Christian who has been arrested twice and warned to stop “illegal evangelization.” Native gospel workers are regularly summoned to police offices to be interrogated. Those found guilty of spreading Christianity may be arrested and sentenced to years of hard labor or, in the case of one missionary, house imprisonment. Believers are often denied services that the communist government provides such as food rations, medicine and seeds for farming. They are not allowed to travel from village to village and must cautiously skirt authorities on missionary journeys. Recently 17 Christians from the Hmong tribe were arrested and tortured until they signed documents claiming they renounced their faith. Government officials also threaten to punish those who convert. As a result, missionaries say people are often afraid to make a decision for Christ. In some cases the persecution has backfired, only peaking people’s curiosity about Christianity. (Christian Aid Mission)

IRAQI CHRISTIANS OPTIMISTIC AFTER VOTING IN WEEKEND ELECTIONS Iraqi Christians who voted in historic elections on the weekend are hopeful that the future government will bring them increased security. The results will not be known for another 10 days. Jerry Dykstra of Open Doors Ministries explains why so many believers braved threats of insurgent violence to cast their ballots. “Christians need to be represented in the new government,” he said. “[The 275-member national assembly] will be drafting the country’s new constitution, and they will be electing a president and two vice presidents. It’s all so important, especially for Christians, to have a voice. They cannot be marginalized any further.” Regardless of the outcome, Dykstra says his ministry is committed to evangelism. “We are delivering Bibles and a lot of literature for use,” he said. “We’ve opened a Christian bookstore, so our ministry continues there.” (Mission Network News)

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA HONORS MARTYRED MISSIONARY’S WIDOW The government of India has conferred top civilian honors on two foreigners in its Republic Day honors list. Gladys Staines, the widow of a murdered Australian missionary, was given the Padma Shri Award for social work. Her husband, Graham, and their two sons were burned alive by a mob in India in 1999. The couple had worked to help leprosy patients in eastern India’s Orissa state. A total of 96 people were honored to mark India’s 56th annual Republic Day celebrations. Among the nationals honored were Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, India’s only medal winner in the 2004 Olympic Games, Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan and cricket player Anil Kumble. Staines, 54, said she was “absolutely overwhelmed and stunned by the news. I am feeling very humbled at the same time. It’s a rare honor and a humbling experience.” Staines stayed in India after the death of her husband and sons, Philip, 10, and Timothy, 8, to oversee the completion of a hospital for leprosy patients in Orissa. After 30 years in India, Staines left for Australia last July after inaugurating the hospital named after her husband. (WorldWide Religious News/BBC)

* “The Voice of the Great Southland,” the shortwave station operated by HCJB World Radio-Australia since January 2003, airs more than 108 hours of weekly Christian programming in 11 languages, including nine spoken in India (English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Nepali, Malayalam, Chattisgarhi, Hmar and Meeitei). Programs in these languages are produced at HCJB World Radio’s studio in New Delhi. Programs also air via FEBA Radio’s transmitters in three languages (Bhojpuri, Chattisgarhi and Mundari).

GERMAN MISSION URGES BELIEVERS TO ADDRESS VIOLATIONS IN NEPAL The international community must address the ongoing human rights violations in Nepal, reported the Protestant Gossner Mission in Germany. The ministry submitted a resolution signed by 600 friends and supporters to the human rights commission of the Bundestag in Berlin. The Gossner Mission is demanding the introduction of religious liberty in Nepal where Hinduism is the state religion. Approximately 90 percent of the 24.3 million inhabitants are Hindus, 5 percent are Buddhists, 3 percent are Muslims and 2 percent (about 500,000 people) are Christians. Believers in Nepal reportedly suffer from discrimination and persecution by police. Like all Nepalese inhabitants, they are also subjected to violence caused by civil strife between the government and Maoist rebels. Although Nepal has signed numerous international human rights agreements, violations such as torture, shootings, forced prostitution and the recruitment of child soldiers are still commonplace. The Gossner Mission traces its origins to the missionary ministry of German theologian Johannes Evangelista Gossner in India. The mission is a member of the Lutheran World Federation. (Assist News Service/IDEA)

MINISTRY OFFERS HOPE, HEALING TO ADDICTS OF ‘DEVIL’S DRUG’ A compassionate ministry is reaching addicts of methamphetamine, a drug that causes brain damage similar to the effects of a stroke, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease. “It is the devil’s greatest tool in the world of drugs,” said Paula Wood, a reformed methamphetamine addict and founder of Break Free Ministry. Also known as “speed,” “meth” or “chalk,” it is the most prevalent synthetic drug manufactured in the U.S. It has been dubbed the “devil’s drug” since the powerfully addictive stimulant affects the central nervous system, creating an intense high that can last as long as 24 hours. But the drug can also produce psychotic behavior, resulting in extreme violence. Break Free, founded in 2003, reaches out to meth addicts and their families. Eight of the 10 team members are former meth addicts. Wood said her team will go anywhere to spread the message that saved her life. “We tell them that there is hope,” she said. “The only hope is through Jesus Christ.” The team travels to the streets equipped with a custom-built cooker that feeds hundreds. “We pray with them, we clothe them, we cook for them and we love them,” Wood said. Since August 2003 Break Free has hosted four rallies and is working to establish a home for addicts because of the increasing need for in-house rehabilitation facilities specifically for meth addicts. (Religion Today/Charisma News Service) * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Web: http://www.hcjb.org http://www.beyondthecall.org * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Editor’s Note. Feel free to forward this to any interested friends. Our lists are distributed for information purposes and to encourage prayer. HCJB World Radio does not necessarily endorse or support the activities on which it reports.