*Tato a další zprávy jsou (pouze v aktuální den) v originální anglické verzi zde.

Missionaries are concerned that their radio programs are being jammed, says Melinda Cheng of Far East Broadcasting Co. The ministry’s broadcast manager in the Philippines, from where programs are broadcast to Vietnam via shortwave, recently sent a report pointing out the problem. “His report said there is some apparent intentional interference (jamming) for about 10 percent of our programs,” she said. “Most of the programs that they’re jamming are those in minority languages spoken in Vietnam and in Laos.” The interference appears to be intentional as it continues even when the station changes frequencies. She said the government may be targeting FEBC because of the “large response to our radio programs, especially in the tribal languages. We also know the Vietnamese government is not comfortable with our programs, and we’re pretty sure that the government is behind the jamming.” (Mission Network News)

REBELS IN BURUNDI THREATEN ARCHBISHOP AFTER SLAYING OF AMBASSADOR

Anti-government rebels in Burundi have ordered Roman Catholic Archbishop Simon Ntamwana to leave the country within 30 days or risk the consequences. The death threat came days after Ntamwana accused the Forces for National Liberation (FNL) of assassinating Vatican Ambassador Michael Courtney, 58, in a Dec. 29 ambush 30 miles south of the capital, Bujumbura. Courtney was on his way back from a funeral in his clearly marked diplomatic vehicle. The FNL has denied responsibility in the murder. Spokesman Pasteur Habimana said his movement has nothing against the Catholic Church. “We are only against Ntamwana as an individual, for having accused us without any proof.” Gabriel Baregensabe, general secretary of Burundi’s Catholic Bishops’ Conference, responded by saying, “We think it is a serious threat, but the archbishop cannot leave the country.” Ntamwana’s predecessor, Archbishop Joachim Ruhuna of Gitega, was killed in 1996 under circumstances similar to the ambush which claimed Courtney’s life. A well-known peacemaker in the civil conflict between ethnic Hutus and Tutsis in Burundi, he was buried in his native Ireland on Jan. 3. (Compass)

ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE ESCALATES IN NORTHERN INDIA

Just a month after the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in the northern Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, acts of violence against Christians have begun to escalate. Hindus are attacking churches in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh states of India, and much of the violence is going unchecked, according to reports. “A number of churches have been burned,” a Christian leader in India said. “Radical Hindus went into churches and even pulled Christians out of their homes, beating them. When they started beating the Christians and Catholics, some of those who were attacked began to retaliate.”

The leader told of one case in Jhabu, Madhya Pradesh, Wednesday, Jan. 14, where Hindu radicals raped and murdered a 9-year-old girl named Sujata whose mother worked as a street fruit vendor. The girl was allegedly lured to a mission school compound and killed there. The day after the girl’s body was found, a mob gathered outside the school grounds demanding the arrest of mission school staff. Police later arrested Manoj Jadhav who reportedly confessed to the crime of raping and killing Sujata before dumping her body at the mission compound. However, Khumsing Maharaj, local leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council), claimed that Jadhav was not responsible for the crime and threatened to take drastic steps if the “real culprits” were not caught. Kailash Vijayvargiya, a local government minister, believes the violent clashes in Jhabua were the result of a “well-planned” conspiracy against the school. He has called for a judicial inquiry into the incident.

Three days later Hindu extremists from the neighboring state of Gujarat entered a church in the predominantly Christian village of Amjut. Eyewitnesses said the fanatics distributed anti-Christian materials, barged into classrooms and tore down posters of Jesus. Local villagers then started pelting stones at the Hindu extremists, forcing them to flee. This prompted Hindu extremists from a nearby town to gather truckloads of armed supporters to join the melee, leading to attacks on Christian homes in the area.

In Madhya Pradesh state, several Pentecostal and Roman Catholic churches have been burned, and many congregations were not able to meet for worship last Sunday because of the violence. At least two people have been killed in the conflicts. Meanwhile, the government appears to be siding with the anti-Christian fanatics. The All India Christian Council has dispatched a fact-finding team to the area to investigate. (Assist News Service/Missions Insider/Compass)

SOCIAL WORKER WARNED TO STOP EVANGELIZING INDIA’S CHILD PROSTITUTES

The Times of India reported Jan. 6 that a Christian social worker named Anson Thomas is facing opposition from authorities in his campaign to rescue young children from a life of prostitution. The article stated that police seem to be turning a blind eye to the growing problem of young children that are being used as sex trade workers and now authorities are claiming that Thomas has taken advantage of his position as a social worker to evangelize these young children. The newspaper claimed that the brothel owners had convinced police to serve Thomas notice to stop “indulging in unlawful acts which would lead to religious and social trouble.” Police deny these allegations, saying they were merely warning him. Deputy Police Commissioner Naval Bajaj said, “I have full respect for Mr. Thomas’s work, and we have followed up on information that he has given us, but there is no need for him to distribute cassettes and Bibles to the sex workers.” Those involved in trying to rescue these children from a life of prostitution recount many reports of police taking bribes, including the testimony from one 13-year-old girl who was allegedly told by police that the brothel was the safest place for her. There are sufficient laws in India against child prostitution, but Balkrishna Acharya of the Rescue Foundation (which is involved in rescuing minors from these brothels) said, “I can’t think of one place which has been closed by the police.” (Voice of the Martyrs)

GOAT TRAINING CLASSES IN INDIA OPEN DOORS TO EVANGELISM

Ramabai Mukit Mission has been able to plan, organize and conduct seven days of “goat training” for village dwellers in India. Goats provide income for villagers, but many need more information on how to raise and market the animals. Local leaders from Supa village opened the council hall for classes of practical training. After the training program was inaugurated, a Mukti evangelist read from the Bible while another prayed for the program and those involved. The training covered topics such as goat management, goat varieties, diseases, rearing techniques and marketing. Reports indicate that attendees were grateful for the instructions and are open to the gospel. For many it was their first exposure to the Bible and a Christian message. (Mission Network News)

* “The Voice of the Great Southland,” the shortwave station operated by HCJB World Radio-Australia, airs more than 44 hours of weekly English programming across India. Two half-hour programs in Urdu, airing Monday through Saturday, went on the air in July 2003, and a daily 15-minute program in Hindi began in January. A studio with programming and a follow-up center has been established in New Delhi. In partnership with FEBA Radio, HCJB World Radio also airs weekly Christian programs to eastern India via shortwave in three languages: Bhojpuri, Chattisgarhi and Mundari.

THOUSANDS OF NEPALESE ENROLL IN COURSE TO REACH HINDUS FOR CHRIST

A ministry that operates chiefly among ethnic Nepalese reports continued success in evangelism and leadership training through December. A report received last week indicated that the ministry, headed by a former Hindu priest, saw 12 new believers baptized in western Nepal in November, and another eight converts baptized in a newly planted church in the central part of the country in December. Meetings across northern India and in Mumbai (Bombay) brought the gospel to hundreds of ethnic Nepalese. In addition, 68 men and women attended an eight-day discipleship training course in central Nepal in December. Participants must complete a Bible correspondence course and show exceptional promise of wanting to become effective witnesses in their communities. To date, more than 290,000 Nepalese have enrolled in the basic course designed to introduce Nepalese of Hindu background to Christ. (Missions Insider)

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