Expose Disputes over government surveillance devices in house churches have escalated since early March in China’s coastal Zhejiang as officials cut power and water supplies to several churches and the homes of church leadership. Recently, authorities declared that all government-run Three Self churches in the Wenzhou area were required to install cameras in their buildings. Many of the churches refused, fearing censorship would follow the monitoring. After demolitions and hospitalizations, the government began shutting off water and electricity to churches that resisted. Gesan Village Church received a notice of false fire hazards on May 24, followed by cuts to power and water to their building. Though they purchased a diesel generator to try to continue holding services, they were forced to relent three days later. “The church is giving up resistance, but have not installed the cameras yet,” one member said. “At the very least, they won’t open the door and invite government workers in.” Shayuan Church was also cut off, and their amenities weren’t restored until a week after they installed cameras. Tuanqian Village Church was similarly targeted on June 4, the last church in the area to hold out. They were also forced to install the cameras after authorities cut off power and water at church leaders’ houses. Nanle County Church pastor Zhang Shaojie has been in Xinxiang Prison of Henan Province for almost four years, serving a 12-year sentence. Recently, his daughter Esther Zhang, discovered he has been tortured in prison. Zhang Shaojie led a group of Christians to petition in Beijing in 2013 during a dispute with the local government. The trip angered officials, who conspired to have him detained on November 16, 2013, and charged with “swindling” and “assembling a crowd to disrupt the public order” on July 4, 2014. Recently, Zhang Shaojie began an appeal process, which brought the wrath of his prison upon him. Esther said the prison tortures her father in order to force him to plead guilty. “He’s unable to see the sun during the day,” Esther said. “He’s deprived of sleep for 24 hours at a time. The prison gives him only one steamed bun a day and intentionally starves him. According to people who have been released from that prison, my father is barely alive, suffering both mentally and physically.” Zhang Shaojie’s sister, Zhang Cuijuan, said that when she visited her brother he was in poor condition. “His eyes burned from sleep deprivation. He said that he is forbidden to sleep during his ‘strict supervision.’ He was depressed, and I had no way to help him. The prison guard held the phone throughout our entire conversation and we were forbidden to talk about his case.” Zhang Shaojie is a member of ChinaAid’s campaign for prisoners of conscience, the China 18. His case has been adopted by Congressman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) Esther Zhang hopes that her testimony will raise awareness about her father’s condition and pressure China to release him. |
|
|
|
