The Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh stated "Christianity is part of our national heritage" in a meeting with Dr Samuel Kobia, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches.

He noted that Christianity in India has a longer history than in many Western countries and made reference to the Indian constitution which states that India “guarantees freedom to practice and propagate one’s faith”. These statements are a strong rebuttal of the views of Hindu nationalist groups who describe Christianity as a foreign religion in order to justify recent attacks on Christians in India.

Manmohan Singh assured Samuel Kobia that his government will take measures to restore the confidence of the Christian community. He has also promised to extend financial assistance from the federal government to rebuild destroyed and damaged churches, and to support Christian families that have lost everything in the violence.

Hindu fundamentalists have attacked more than 5,000 Christian houses, 142 churches and dozens of Christian institutions in recent months.Many places in India are still dangerous for Christians. Reports indicate this is being accentuated by multitudes of houses flying *VHP flags whereas Christian homes have none.  * VHP = Hindu World Council

Refugee camp conditions for thousands include epidemics of malaria and other water borne diseases. For those forced to go home, there is the danger of living in a house without a VHP flag, in the midst of houses flying them.Many of the 50,000 internally displaced persons, refugees in their own homeland cannot return home for fear of being forced at gunpoint, by VHP youths or the Bajrang Dal, to become Hindus.  Those who have reconverted to Hinduism under this pressure have been forced to burn Bibles and prayer books, and have their heads shaved and to drink cow urine (for Hindu purification).

In Madivala, Karnakata on November 16 police arrested a  pastor, charging him with “hurting religious sentiments” after a mob of about 25 Hindu extremists stormed  his house church service, struck him and cursed the congregation. He has internal injuries and a seriously damaged eardrum.          

Pastor and two other Christians released but village officials still hostile to Christians

Lao officials have released Pastor Sompong Supatto and two other believers - Boot Chanthaleuxay and Khamvan Chanthaleuxay, after several weeks of detention, but restrictions on Christian worship in the village are still in force.

The three prisoners from Boukham village were released on October 16 against the wishes of the village chief, who had threatened to hand Supatto a life sentence at a maximum-security prison. Village officials remain hostile to the presence of Christians, according to Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom.

Authorities had temporarily arrested Supatto and four other believers on July 20 for “believing and worshiping God.”

When they continued to gather for worship, police arrested Supatto and two members of the Chanthaleuxay family on August 3, detaining them in handcuffs and wooden foot-stocks in a police detention cell.

W e give thanks to God for many answered prayers

Over 1,000 students were forced from the Arastamar Evangelical School of Theology (SETIA) in East Jakarta on July 26 and 27. Muslims in the area felt “disturbed” by the presence of the Christian college.

Pastor Zhu Baoguoin  sentenced to one year of “re-education through labor”

On October 12, five church leaders were detained from a church gathering of about 20 people at Dushu village,  Nanyang city, Henan province.

Pastor Zhu received 15 days of administrative detention. The other four leaders were sentenced to five days.

Released on October 30, two days later he was sentenced to one year of re-education through labour - charged with being a member of “an evil cult” - and immediately sent to a labour camp.

His family say Pastor Zhu suffers from heart disease.