Father Thomas Zhao KeXun, 75, administrator of the Diocese of Xuanhua, in Hebei province, was released June 1, according to the Cardinal Kung Foundation. KeXun was arrested on March 30 (click here for details). At the time, no reason was given for his arrest.
On May 28, two deadly blasts in a market in Tentena on the island of Selawesi, Indonesia killed at least twenty-one people and injured many others (click here for details). According to an Associated Press report from June 4, police have arrested seventeen suspects, including the two responsible for the actual bombing. Those arrested include the head of a local prison, three prisoners and an Islamic junior high school master.
On June 6, a court hearing was held for two men accused of assaulting and attempting to rape four female pastoral workers from the Assembly of God Church in Kotadeniyawa. The two are also charged with damaging the church premises. Though the lady pastor faced particularly tough questioning in the hearing, she was able to maintain her composure and not be intimidated. The next hearing is scheduled for September.
The two men on trial were among thirty who attacked the women in September 2003. The four victims were falsely accused of being prostitutes and were later charged with breach of peace.
