Leaked Documents Reveal "New Offensive" Against Chinese Christians

Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) has reported on a copy of some recently received documents produced by the Chinese government. In the documents it says: "We have dealt with the Falun-gong. We have arrested and put their leaders on the run. Now we must resolutely and strongly deal with the unregistered house churches. They are too numerous -- too many. We must deal with them strongly."

Document also indicate that the most severe pressure on Christians will take place from April to August 2005.

The statements in this document have been confirmed by recent police incursions where up to 100 house-churches in China have been raided over the final weeks of May, according to reports from the China Aid Association (CAA) and Voice of the Martyrs (VOM).

On 22nd May 2005 during Sunday worship time, police and Public Security Bureau officers raided 60 house-churches and another 40 churches were raided in the following days.

More than 600 house-church members and leaders were arrested. Most of them were released within 48 hours, however, approximately 100 leaders are still being held in detention centres.

China's new religious law came into effect on 1st March and it was believed it will ease the restrictions on unregistered churches, however, the reality is that police raids on house churches have been clearly revealed.

China is ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) which has tried to control various influences and streams that may cause the fall of the totalitarian regime.

One of the tools used by CCP is the system of "re-education through labour" where hundreds of people are detain in work camps. These tactics are used against those who seemed to be 'problematic', including political and religious dissidents. Many of these detainees are locked up on false criminal or social security charges, or even locked up without any charges or hearings being brought.

According to VOM the raided churches are not part of the same group, and are not affiliated with any of China's major church networks. They are independent churches with members, who decided not to register their Christian activities with the Communist government.