A Christmas celebration in Xinjiang. (Photo courtesy of China Aid Association)
China (MNN) ― Chinese Christians continued to suffer persecution over the Christmas holiday, according to China Aid Association.
At about 3 o' clock in the afternoon on Christmas Eve, more than 40 police led by Deng Changda, Chief of Security Section of the County Public Security Bureau, illegally raided the construction sites of houses for four victims of May's earthquake in Sichuan province.
The names of the four victims are Deng Zonghua, Li Baohua, Huang Tinggui and Li Baotong, and they live in Jingjia village, Quchuan township, Beichuan county of Sichuan province.
The policemen arrived in about ten police vehicles, poorly dressed and reeking of alcohol. They viciously attacked the earthquake victims and Christian volunteers who were resting from their construction work. The only apparent justification for the attack was the ostensible need to fight illegal Christian gatherings.
The policemen insulted the people, swore at them, and beat them. They confiscated Bibles, hymnals, televisions, motorcycles, and many other items, refusing to present legal documents to justify their actions. Finally, they took away earthquake victim Li Zenggui and some of the Christian volunteers, including Cao Gang and Brother Yang.
The Sichuan earthquake hit Quchuan township hard. Because of its remote location, the township does not receive relief from the government or from outside relief organizations; their only assistance comes from Christians.
The onset of winter, bringing with it occasional snow and temperatures 4-5 degrees below zero Celsius, makes life extremely difficult for people who are still struggling along in crude shacks. If they cannot continue receiving relief from the Christians who have won their trust, it will be very difficult for them to survive the season.
The Christian volunteers in Quchuan are led by Brother Xing Guichang, who arrived to help only seven days after the earthquake. He was not at the construction site during the raid and therefore was not arrested. He is burdened by the unreasonable dilemma facing the earthquake victims, as the government does not help them but punishes them for helping themselves.
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