China - 60 years of persecution and enmity (OneNewsNow.com)

China - 60 years of persecution and enmity

Allie Martin and Chad Groening - OneNewsNow - 10/1/2009 4:00:00 AM

As China celebrates 60 years of communist rule, house church leaders in that country are facing an increase in persecution.

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the communist takeover of China. While the country has planned a number of events and activities, officers with the Public Security Bureau are cracking down on some Christian house church leaders.

Last week, nine house church leaders were kidnapped by PSB officers. The church leaders, who have not been heard from since, were heading to Beijing to petition the central government for justice concerning an attack earlier in the month on a house church in Fushan City.

cross in cuffs persecution Annee Kahler, media coordinator with ChinaAid, says although government leaders will be celebrating communist rule, they are trying to silence the voices of countless Christians.

"I'm sure [during the celebration] you will see all the bells and whistles come out," she says. "They're pulling out all the stops for this national day of celebration. But just keep in mind that the images of the celebration and the parties and everything cannot forever hide all the injustices and abuse in China."

Kahler says the international community must continue protesting the brutal treatment of Christians and the suppression of religious freedom in China.

70 million died in takeover
Meanwhile, a pastor, radio commentator, and former presidential candidate says Americans need to remember the number 70-million as China celebrates 60 years of communist rule.

The celebration is mainly a chance to showcase the country's might with a massive military parade. The scale of the celebration reflects strong nationalistic feelings among many Chinese, who feel proud of the country's achievements since the communists led by Mao Tse Tung took control in 1949. The festivities rivaled last year's Olympic opening ceremony.

Chuck Baldwin, the Constitution Party's candidate for president last year, has written several columns on the 60th anniversary of the communist regime. He thinks it is important to remember the number of Chinese citizens who perished during the brutal communist takeover of China. (Listen to audio report)

Chuck Baldwin "Seventy-million Chinese people -- that's how many Mao Tse Tung and his communist revolutionaries killed in that revolution," he reminds.

Baldwin notes that the regime has been an enemy of the United States since its inception, but feels it is unfortunate that too many Americans do not seem to care about that fact.

"When you look at the potential harm that we, the United States, have allowed China to do to us, [it] portends I think great harm to our country," Baldwin cautions. "And until we have a Congress [and] a White House in Washington, DC, that are willing to stand up to this regime and not coddle them, I just have some real bad feelings about the future."

At least one Democratic lawmaker -- Congressman Anthony Weiner of New York -- criticized those in charge of the Empire State Building for the recent decision to light the famous landmark red and yellow to honor the communist regime's 60th anniversary.