Ongoing persecution in China
From Assist News: Congressional Leaders Issue Letter to Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice Urging Advocacy for Zhang Family
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ANS) -- In response to the recent abuses committed by the Chinese Government against Zhang Mingxuan, the President of the 250,000-member Chinese House Church Alliance, two Congressional leaders have co-written a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.Bike Zhang's oldest son, Zhang Jian, after being beaten by China's PSB officials
The letter urges the Cabinet member to request urgent action from the Chinese Government to free Zhang Mingxuan from his detention and to rectify the personal damages inflicted upon his family.
According to China Aid Association (CAA), Congressman Frank R. Wolf (R-VA) and Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) in July of 2008, had the opportunity to personally meet with Zhang Mingxuan and his wife in Beijing, despite Chinese Government interference.
During the meeting Zhang was able to personally share with the Congressmen the daily struggles and abuses he and fellow Christians face on a daily basis from the Communist Party of China.
The letter also calls upon the American Government and the Bush Administration not to ignore the reprehensible acts of the Chinese Government. The letter encourages the administration to bring International attention to the situation by publicly calling on the Chinese Government to release Zhang Minguxuan and his family members.
Furthermore, the letter directly confronts the Chinese Government of its hypocritical stance on international affairs by stating: "If the 2008 Beijing Olympics have taught us anything, it is that the Chinese government will go to any length to secure their image as a peaceful and harmonious society when the world is watching."
Through advocating for Zhang and his family the current administration will have the chance to publicly condone the daily human rights violations perpetrated by the corrupt Communist Chinese Regime, and stand in unity with the persecuted citizens in China as both seek opportunities to advance freedom and democracy throughout the World.
The text of the letter from Congressmen Wolf and Smith to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is as follows:
"We write today to express our grave concern regarding the safety of Pastor Zhang Mingxuan and his family.We had the opportunity to meet Pastor Zhang and his wife, Xie Fenglan, during our trip to Beijing in July.
"We recently learned that Pastor Zhang was detained by state security officials in Kunming City, Yunnan province, on October 16and was scheduled to be transferred to the custody of security officials in Nanyang City, Henan province.
"Additionaly, Zhang Jian, Pastor Zhang's oldest son, was severely beaten while his mother watched when Public Security Bureau (PSB) raided their home in Beijing. Zhang's younger brother was also beaten by PSB
officials when he rushed to the aid of his injured brother. When Zhang Jian's mother called the ambulance, the receptionist told her that she had been given orders by government officials not to dispatch any emergency personnel to the Zhang's home.
"After a prolonged period, a friend of the family was able to drive Zhang Jian to the hospital to receive treatment. He was so badly beaten that the doctors believe he may never regain sight in his right eye. Zhang Jian
recently was told by government officials that despite his condition, if he did not leave Beijing he would be arrested and detained for assaulting the officers who raided his home and beat him unconscious.
"Subsequently, Pastor Zhang's wife was detained on October 19 by Chinese authorities and her whereabouts are currently unknown.
"The United States cannot continue to implicitly condone the reprehensible and unjust actions of the Chinese government by remaining silent and turning a blind eye. If the 2008 Beijing Olympics have taught us anything, it is that the Chinese government will go to any length to secure their image as a peaceful and harmonious society when the world is watching.
"We urge you to seize this opportunity to once again turn the attention of the world to China by publicly calling on the government to release Pastor Zhang and his family. These are decent good-hearted individuals.
"Do not let the opportunity slip by to stand in solidarity with the Chinese people by advocating for justice for the Zhang family. Should the administration fail to act on this case, it will serve as a symbol of the broken promises President Bush made to promote freedom and democracy throughout the world.
"While addressing the British Parliament on the issue of slavery William Wilberforce stated, 'Having heard all this you may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you did not know.'
"Please do not look the other way."
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ANS) -- In response to the recent abuses committed by the Chinese Government against Zhang Mingxuan, the President of the 250,000-member Chinese House Church Alliance, two Congressional leaders have co-written a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.Bike Zhang's oldest son, Zhang Jian, after being beaten by China's PSB officials
The letter urges the Cabinet member to request urgent action from the Chinese Government to free Zhang Mingxuan from his detention and to rectify the personal damages inflicted upon his family.
According to China Aid Association (CAA), Congressman Frank R. Wolf (R-VA) and Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) in July of 2008, had the opportunity to personally meet with Zhang Mingxuan and his wife in Beijing, despite Chinese Government interference.
During the meeting Zhang was able to personally share with the Congressmen the daily struggles and abuses he and fellow Christians face on a daily basis from the Communist Party of China.
The letter also calls upon the American Government and the Bush Administration not to ignore the reprehensible acts of the Chinese Government. The letter encourages the administration to bring International attention to the situation by publicly calling on the Chinese Government to release Zhang Minguxuan and his family members.
Furthermore, the letter directly confronts the Chinese Government of its hypocritical stance on international affairs by stating: "If the 2008 Beijing Olympics have taught us anything, it is that the Chinese government will go to any length to secure their image as a peaceful and harmonious society when the world is watching."
Through advocating for Zhang and his family the current administration will have the chance to publicly condone the daily human rights violations perpetrated by the corrupt Communist Chinese Regime, and stand in unity with the persecuted citizens in China as both seek opportunities to advance freedom and democracy throughout the World.
The text of the letter from Congressmen Wolf and Smith to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is as follows:
"We write today to express our grave concern regarding the safety of Pastor Zhang Mingxuan and his family.We had the opportunity to meet Pastor Zhang and his wife, Xie Fenglan, during our trip to Beijing in July.
"We recently learned that Pastor Zhang was detained by state security officials in Kunming City, Yunnan province, on October 16and was scheduled to be transferred to the custody of security officials in Nanyang City, Henan province.
"Additionaly, Zhang Jian, Pastor Zhang's oldest son, was severely beaten while his mother watched when Public Security Bureau (PSB) raided their home in Beijing. Zhang's younger brother was also beaten by PSB
officials when he rushed to the aid of his injured brother. When Zhang Jian's mother called the ambulance, the receptionist told her that she had been given orders by government officials not to dispatch any emergency personnel to the Zhang's home.
"After a prolonged period, a friend of the family was able to drive Zhang Jian to the hospital to receive treatment. He was so badly beaten that the doctors believe he may never regain sight in his right eye. Zhang Jian
recently was told by government officials that despite his condition, if he did not leave Beijing he would be arrested and detained for assaulting the officers who raided his home and beat him unconscious.
"Subsequently, Pastor Zhang's wife was detained on October 19 by Chinese authorities and her whereabouts are currently unknown.
"The United States cannot continue to implicitly condone the reprehensible and unjust actions of the Chinese government by remaining silent and turning a blind eye. If the 2008 Beijing Olympics have taught us anything, it is that the Chinese government will go to any length to secure their image as a peaceful and harmonious society when the world is watching.
"We urge you to seize this opportunity to once again turn the attention of the world to China by publicly calling on the government to release Pastor Zhang and his family. These are decent good-hearted individuals.
"Do not let the opportunity slip by to stand in solidarity with the Chinese people by advocating for justice for the Zhang family. Should the administration fail to act on this case, it will serve as a symbol of the broken promises President Bush made to promote freedom and democracy throughout the world.
"While addressing the British Parliament on the issue of slavery William Wilberforce stated, 'Having heard all this you may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you did not know.'
"Please do not look the other way."
posted by Nigel Paul at 3:41 PM
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