The Australian government must press China for the release of Australian Christian businessman Daniel Ng and wife Eliza, says the China Aid Association. China Aid is a Christian human rights and advocacy organization based in Midland,Texas.
In a January 14, 2008, press release, China Aid says that Daniel and Eliza Ng, naturalized Australian citizens, were detained under house arrest by the Chinese government in October 2007 and charged with “illegal religious activities.” Ng’s company, Enoch Biological Science and Technology, was closed down after the arrest. The Chinese government refuses to allow the Ngs to leaveChina, and it does not acknowledge their Australian citizenship.
China Aid reports that Daniel Ng contacted the Australian Consulate in GuangzhouProvince, but Australian officials have replied that they are “unable to intervene in business disputes.” China Aid continues, “Whether out of fear over losing future business ventures inChina, or outright apathetic attitude towards religious persecution, the Australian Government has essentially turned its back on two of its own citizens.”
Now, the Ngs’ children, Joshua and Esther, have written an open letter to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, asking for his assistance for the release of their parents. China Aid hopes that this letter will convince Australian officials to intervene, and pressure the Chinese Government to allow the Ngs to return safely toAustralia.
IRD’s Religious Liberty Program will contact our church partners inAustraliaand ask them to add their voices to those of Joshua and Esther Ng.
This is regrettable evidence that although church leaders who visit the People’s Republic of China may see encouraging signs of freedom of worship in some areas and at some times, such violations of human rights and religious freedom as those experienced by Daniel and Eliza Ng are still common occurrences inChina.
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