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Josephine Ma

Police have been accused of ransacking a house church run by a Christian preacher in Guangzhou.

 Li Dexian said more than 20 uniformed officers went to the church yesterday in Yongming village, part of the suburb of Huadu.

 They were accompanied by four workers who tore down a shelter outside the church, he said.

 'It looks like the aftermath of an earthquake,' said Mr Li.

 'They crushed the fans and all the tiles on the roof. They said the shelter was illegally built. But we had the permission from the landowner.'  The main church building was spared in the raid after the owner of the building threatened to fight the workers if they entered.

 Mr Li built the shelter to accommodate his growing congregation.

 Every Tuesday, he holds two services for about 500 Christians each time.

 Mr Li, 48, has faced frequent harassment from the police. Last December, he was detained for 15 days for 'illegal preaching'.

 In previous raids, police often confiscated appliances like generators but did not damage the church buildings, he said.

 He described yesterday's raid as the worst so far.

 'They said we are illegal but they acted like bandits,' said Mr Li.

 He said police would probably seal off roads near the church today to prevent his congregation from meeting.

 But he would go ahead with planned services even though he had heard rumours that police would detain him again.

 Mainland law only allows Christians to worship in official churches.

 Mr Li's house church is not registered with the Government.

 He said he was used to harassment, with officials often trying to disturb his services by broadcasting loud music outside the church.

 In July last year, the authorities threatened to send Mr Li to a labour camp to 're-educate' him and 'stop the proliferation of illegal religious activities in Huadu'.

 Mr Li said he was prepared to face detention again.

 Police can send anyone to labour camp for up to three years without trial.

 Mr Li's house church has drawn increasing numbers of Christian worshippers in recent years.

 There is another major house church in Guangzhou, run by veteran leader Samuel Lamb Xiangao.



Police 'ransack Guangzhou church'