Beijing Authorities Arrest Dozens of Christians

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Chinese authorities have arrested dozens of Christians who were planning a public prayer session in Beijing on Sunday. The arrests come as authorities intensify their crackdown on all kinds of dissent nationwide.

Christians planning to have an open-air service in Beijing on Sunday arrived to find the area barricaded by police. The police then took them away in buses.

The members of the Shouwang Church, a protestant group with about 1000 members, say they had attempted to have an out-door service because authorities had forced them out of their rented premises.

They are among more than 40 million protestant Christians in China. Many of them choose so-called underground churches over the official churches that are controlled by the Chinese regime.

But that choice comes at a price, with authorities regularly shutting down their activities and arresting their members.

Shouwang pastor Yuan Ling told the Associated Press by telephone that he and at least six other members were put under house arrest the night before the meeting.

Witness estimates of those arrested range from dozens to several hundred.

President of the U.S.-based China Aid Association, Bob Fu says human rights abuses against Christians in China have intensified this year.

[Bob Fu, President of the China Aid Association]:
"We have seen the government use very harsh tactics against believers including extra-legal procedures, like forced disappearance, kidnapping some of the most prominent Christian human rights activists."

The arrests come as the ruling Chinese Communist Party carries out a widespread campaign against dissent. It's apparently in response to calls for Middle East-style protests. Police have arrested dozens of lawyers, writers and activists including renowned contemporary artist Ai Weiwei.
Ben Yang