China cracks down on dissident religion as anniversary approaches

c. 1999 Religion News Service UNDATED _ Wearing sandals and khaki shorts with a frequently ringing cell phone in his pocket, Zhang Rongliang didn’t look like the founder of one of the world’s largest underground Christian networks, much less a threat to the Chinese communist government. But Zhang knew different when a little more than […]

c. 1999 Religion News Service

UNDATED _ Wearing sandals and khaki shorts with a frequently ringing cell phone in his pocket, Zhang Rongliang didn’t look like the founder of one of the world’s largest underground Christian networks, much less a threat to the Chinese communist government.

But Zhang knew different when a little more than a year ago he allowed himself to be interviewed by an American reporter.”If you don’t write, they’ll come to get us,”Zhang said then.”If you do write, they’ll come to get us. But the difference is that the people outside will know what’s happening to the church here.” The government has come to get Zhang, according to three human rights groups: Human Rights Watch-Asia, Freedom House and Human Rights in China. He was arrested last month, with 30 other Protestant leaders, in Henan province.


The arrests appear to be part of a crackdown on unauthorized religious expression that has targeted both underground Christians and the quasi-religious Falun Gong sect, banned in July, as the nation prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Communist Party on Friday.

In addition to the detention of the underground Christians, on Sept. 23, a Hong Kong-based human rights agency China has started proceedings against leaders of Falun Gong. A total of 50 core leaders are presently being held by the government. It is estimated the movement has 10 million followers.

The underground Catholic Church in China, with an estimated 8 million adherents, has also had trouble. Two Catholic priests and a bishop were arrested in early September, according to the Cardinal Kung Foundation.”The important thing to know is this crackdown is not just affecting the most outspoken activists who have been political dissidents,”said Judy Chen, a spokeswoman for Human Rights in China, a New York-based group.”These are people just going about their everyday lives who have found some spiritual guidance.” Said Nina Shea of the Washington-based Freedom House:”The Chinese are on a rampage to eliminate all groups it can’t control, particularly by the 50th anniversary.” The Chinese government’s news agency, Xinhua, reported a campaign against lawbreakers began July 1 and 100,000 people have been arrested to ensure”social stability and safety”during the anniversary celebrations.

Zhang, the leader in the khaki shorts, insisted last year that he should be seen as a friend, not a foe, of the government because”when one is redeemed and born again they do no harm to the society.” Zhang estimated his vast house-church network to be 10 million strong, though China religion watchers say it actually may be half that size.

The movement stresses adherence to the Bible and salvation through faith in Jesus. It doesn’t meet in church buildings but usually in homes, functioning like a spiritual chain letter, with one leader forming a group, which evangelizes other Chinese, who form more groups.

Zhang had been arrested three times previously, once serving seven years in a labor camp after being accused of fomenting counter-revolutionary activities under the guise of religion. To elude authorities, he travels the country by van and train, communicating with fellow Christian leaders through his cell phone.

Zhang said he had no political agenda but said his reading of Scripture forbids him from registering with a group of churches authorized by the government.


The U.S. State Department said it had no solid information of Zhang’s arrest. But on Sept. 13, Susan Shirk, a top State Department expert on China, spoke at a public forum and referred to a general crackdown against unregistered religious groups.”What do you mean by crackdown?”Chinese Ambassador Li Zhaoxing demanded to know.”What has made you think you have the right to interfere in China’s internal affairs?” In China, there were also denials of religious suppression.”Nobody has been arrested or detained because of religious beliefs,”Sun Yuxi, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, said at a weekly news briefing.”If religious believers are arrested, it is not because of their religious beliefs but because they have taken part in criminal activities.”DEA END OKEEFE

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