Tag: Communism

Vietnam Catholic blogger ‘will continue his struggle’ after expulsion to France

June 27, 2017 Vietnam Catholics, Communism, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Vietnam has now expelled to France the Catholic activist Peter Pham Minh Hoang, citing his violation of laws and that he had “undermined national security,” reports UCANews. Hoang, who arrived in Paris on 25 June after being arrested and detained two days earlier, wasn’t allowed to say goodbye to his . . . Read More

Vietnamese pastor punished for ‘reports’ to US diplomats; Catholic blogger to be expelled to France

June 15, 2017 Vietnam Cambodia, Central Highlands, Communism, Ho Chi Minh City, Montagnards, Nguyen Cong Chinh, Thailand, USA

Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh was released early in a deal that saw him leave the country. (Photo: USCIRF)

A pastor imprisoned in south-east Vietnam is being further punished for telling a visiting U.S. diplomatic delegation about abuses he has suffered. Nguyen Cong Chinh, serving an 11-year sentence for “undermining national solidarity” by religious activities with ethnic groups in the Central Highlands, met US consular officials in Ho Chi . . . Read More

Why the Uyghurs are under pressure in Xinjiang

June 15, 2017 China Communism, Syria, Terrorism, Turkey, Uyghurs, Xinjiang

As in July 2009 the Chinese government again shows its muscles in Xinjiang province, north-west China, during an anti-terror mass rally in February, this time in the southern city of Hotan. Tensions have flared up regularly in this area where the Uyghur people struggle for self-determination.

Both Muslims and Christians in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in north-west China find themselves under increased pressure from the Chinese authorities. An anti-terror mass rally in the southern city of Hotan in February, an increase in surveillance measures in public places, and the introduction of new anti-terror policies, are all . . . Read More

Vietnam’s bishops say new religion law ‘not considered a human right’

June 8, 2017 Vietnam Catholics, Communism, Hanoi, Nguyen Cong Chinh, Religious freedom

Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Chi Linh (UCAN)

Senior Catholics in Vietnam have issued a statement to high-ranking communist officials criticising the country’s new religion law, due to come into effect in January 2018, reports UCANews. The Law on Belief and Religion – the first ever law on religions since Vietnam was re-unified under communist rule in 1975 . . . Read More

Can you be a Chinese Christian, and a member of the Communist Party?

March 23, 2017 China China, Communism

In a popular internet forum, a young Chinese Christian recently asked if being a Christian and joining the Communist Party can go together, China Source reported on 14 March 2017. One answer came from a surprising source: The Central Committee of the Communist Youth League (CCCYL). It started with a . . . Read More

Chinese Communist Party using CCTV to ‘maintain social order’ at churches

March 23, 2017 China China, Communism, Crosses, Peter Shao Zhumin, Xi Jinping, Zhejiang

Cross on Dongguang Church in Shenyang, north-eastern China

The Chinese government is forcing churches in Zhejiang province to install CCTV reports UCA News. The Communist Party in the heavily Christian province on China’s east coast wants Catholic and Protestant churches to install CCTV cameras inside and outside their buildings, in a bid to control the number of Christians . . . Read More

New arrest of Vietnamese Christian rights activist

February 8, 2017 Vietnam Communism, Nguyen Van Oai, Religion Law, Vietnam

Vietnamese Christian rights activist Nguyen Van Oai was arrested last month for “resisting officials on duty” and violating his probation. Police arrested Van Oai on 19 January and accused him of breaking his probation terms when he left his locality for a fishing trip, according to the website of the . . . Read More

US missionary receives award for ‘changing hearts’ among Colombia’s FARC

January 24, 2017 Colombia Arauca, Communism, FARC, Juan Manuel Santos, Latin America, Missionaries, Russ Stendal

Russell Stendal, right, meets with FARC negotiators Yuri Camargo, left; and Noel Pérez, center, in Cuba in Early 2015.

Russ Stendal.World Watch Monitor An American missionary has received an award for his decades of work ministering to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or the FARC, whose 50-year fight against the government had been the world’s longest continuous war when it ended in a peace agreement last August. . . . Read More

Christianity once considered a ‘disease’, but now ‘tolerated’ in Cuba

October 26, 2016 Cuba Censorship, Churches, Communism, Fidel Castro, Havana, Raúl Castro

The ruins of a church in the town of Trinidad, in the central Cuban province of Sancti Spíritus.Cristian Viarisio / Flickr / CC Christians in Cuba used to face constant pressure from the authorities for being thought “anti-revolutionaries”. It was said that being Christian was a “disease”. They were . . . Read More

Why the Cuban Church is still under pressure

October 26, 2016 Cuba Communism, Fidel Castro, Raúl Castro

Cuba is one of the few remaining communist governments in the world. Ten years ago, the country’s ageing leader, Fidel Castro, was replaced by his brother, Raúl, but the government stayed essentially the same and desired changes did not take place, although there have been relaxed controls over some . . . Read More

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