Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA

RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE

Research Response Number: CHN34439 Country: Date: 9 March 2009

Keywords: China – CHN34439 – Shouters –

This response was prepared by the Research & Information Services Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. This research response may not, under any circumstance, be cited in a decision or any other document. Anyone wishing to use this information may only cite the primary source material contained herein.

Questions 1. Please update the treatment of Shouters in Fuqing and Fujian and the PRC. 2. Deleted.

RESPONSE

1. Please update the treatment of Shouters in Fuqing and Fujian and the PRC.

The most recent information obtained by the Research & Information Service on the treatment of Shouters in Fuqing and Fujian was received on 9 February 2009 from an Elder of the Local Church in Melbourne. He provided updated advice on the situation of the Local Church in Fuqing City and Fujian in Research Response CHN34321:

1. How are house or local churches currently viewed in China now?

As we understand it, the local churches in China are viewed differently in each province. Certain provinces allow the local churches to register with the authorities and once they have done so, they are allowed to worship. However, in other provinces, including Fujian province, the local churches are regarded as illegal gatherings, however as we understand from some members who come from this province, there is not much arrests as before. There is now more dialogue between members of the local church and the authorities.

3. What is the situation around Shandong Town, Fuqing city in particular?

The same situation applies, as far as we understand from speaking to members who come from Fuqing city, that while the authorities do not recongise the local churches, there is not much arrests as before (Elder of the Local Church in Melbourne 2009, Email to RRT

1 Research & Information ‘Re: Request for information from the Refugee Review Tribunal, Sydney’, 9 February – Attachment 1).

In Research Response CHN34321 the same Elder also confirmed previous 2006 advice provided to the Tribunal on Shouters (RRT Research & Information 2009, Research Response CHN34321, 9 February – Attachment 2).

For previous information on the situation and treatment of Shouters in Fujian, Fuqing City, and China, please see:

• RRT Research & Information 2008, Research Response CHN33444, 4 July (Q1-2 Fujian Province and includes DFAT advice)

• RRT Research & Information 2008, Research Response CHN33062, 31 March (Q2– Treatment in Fujian; Q3 – Comparison of treatment in Fujian vs rest of China)

A November 2008 report by the Country Research Section of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), China’s Protestants and Catholics, provides a good overview of the situation and treatment of the Local Church in China (see Section 5.6.1 – 5.6.3, pp. 19 – 24). In the Section on Fujian (Section 6.6, pp.39 – 41), no new information on the Shouters to that contained in the above research responses is given (DIAC Country Research Section 2008, China’s Protestants and Catholics, November – Attachment 3).

The China Aid Association (CAA) has provided information on the arrest and detention of “Shouters” in Chinese provinces other than Fujian since the July 2008 Research Response CHN33444. The CAA website provides four reports, published in December 2008 – January 2009 on raids on house churches linked, or accused of being linked, with the Local Church/Shouters in and Provinces, and . These reports are provided in full in question one of Research Response CHN34440 (RRT Research & Information 2009, Research Response CHN34440, 4 March – Attachment 4).

2. Deleted.

List of Sources Consulted

Internet Sources:

Topic Specific Links The Local Church website http://australia-brisbane.local-church.org/ Search Engines Google search engine http://www.google.com.au/

Databases:

FACTIVA (news database) BACIS (DIAC Country Information database) REFINFO (IRBDC (Canada) Country Information database) ISYS (RRT Research & Information database, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, US Department of State Reports) RRT Library Catalogue

2 List of Attachments

1. Elder of the Local Church in Melbourne 2009, Email to RRT Research & Information ‘Re: Request for information from the Refugee Review Tribunal, Sydney’, 9 February.

2. RRT Research & Information 2009, Research Response CHN34321, 9 February.

3. DIAC Country Research Section 2008, China’s Protestants and Catholics, November. (‘CIS Resources, Issues Briefs’ CHN251108)

4. RRT Research & Information 2009, Research Response CHN34440, 4 March.

5. Deleted.

6. Deleted.

7. Deleted.

8. Deleted.

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