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http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1164.html
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Wed May 18 2005 03:38:03 GMT-0700.
Malaysia
May 17, 2005
Public Announcement updates and reiterates the Department of State's ongoing concern about the safety of American citizens, especially those contemplating travel along the east coast of the Malaysian state of Sabah and overland travel into southern Thailand. This supersedes the November 8, 2004 Public Announcement and expires on November 12, 2005.
There are indications of continued planning of kidnappings, including of foreigners, in eastern Sabah's coastal areas. Several kidnappings and piracy incidents have occurred in this area, most recently in March 2005. The terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), based in the southern Philippines, has been responsible for some of these incidents; other incidents have been attributed to unidentified criminals. Because of this, American citizens should exercise caution when visiting the coastal areas of eastern Sabah. While there has been increased security presence, there are extensive open waters between the Sabah mainland and Island. Emergency assistance may not always be available.
The United States Government has designated Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. JI is an extremist group linked to al-Qaeda and other regional terrorist groups, such as the ASG, and has cells operating throughout Southeast Asia. Extremist groups in the region have demonstrated the capability to carry out transnational attacks in locations where Westerners congregate. Terrorist groups do not distinguish between official and civilian targets.
Americans who travel overland from Malaysia to Thailand should be aware of the Department of State's safety and security advice for Thailand, which can be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1040.html
Americans planning to travel to Malaysia are encouraged to register and update their contact information at https://travelregistration.state.gov. U.S. citizens should consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for Malaysia and the Department of State's most recent Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, both available at http://travel.state.gov. Americans planning to travel to eastern Sabah should also contact the U.S. Embassy before departure by telephone at (60-3) 2168-5000, or by e-mail at klconsular@state.gov. Up-to-date information on security conditions may be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and, from overseas, 202 501-4444.
PERSECUTION.ORG
http://www.persecution.org
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http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s05050065.htm
ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com
Monday, May 16, 2005
HIDDEN FACES OF THE PERSECUTED
Open Doors Impacts Suffering Women Worldwide
For Immediate Release
OPEN DOORS USA
Jerry Dykstra, Media Relations Coordinator
Phone: 616-915-4117
E-mail: JerryD@odusa.org
SANTA ANA, CA (ANS) -- When you think of those being persecuted for their faith, who comes to mind? Quite possibly you think of pastors in prison. Evangelists tortured. Bold leaders who are beaten for their faith.
But there’s something missing in this picture. All the faces possibly belong to men. If so, that image is incomplete.
The reality is that well over half of those with limited or no religious freedom today are made up of wives, mothers and daughters. But their faces are often unseen, their voices rarely heard.
Yet these women are also arrested, imprisoned and tortured. Many, whose husbands have been locked up or martyred, are left behind to raise fatherless children in cultures that despise them. Some are illiterate, unskilled and unable to find work.
The plight of women is especially difficult in the Muslim World. Women who become Christians are abandoned by their families and may even be murdered by male relatives.
In Africa, women may be raped, mutilated and sold as slaves. In the State of the World’s Mothers 2005 report, Africa was listed as the worst continent to be a mother or child.
In China, the wives of evangelists often struggle alone while their husbands are away for months at a time. Or in jail.
Also, according to a recent report, three times more women were killed on average in some tsunami-devastated countries than men and the scarcity of females has led to reports of forced marriages and rape. In 2005, ministering to these persecuted women is one of the four key goals of The Lighthouse Project – Open Doors’ bold initiative for its 50th anniversary year.
Open Doors – an international ministry which supports and strengthens Christians persecuted for their faith – seeks to provide literacy classes for women, open new safe houses to provide refuge, equip women who are leaders and much more.
Another way of helping suffering women is by equipping them with vocational skills. Through indigenous crafts, they can earn a living and keep their families together. For example, some persecuted women in Vietnam have learned to make purses. Open Doors USA recently purchased those purses and the entire shipment was quickly sold here. Open Doors also helps by teaching sewing and tailoring skills so the women can support themselves.
“An alarming percentage of women are abused, belittled and allowed no voice in their home and communities merely because of their gender and their faith,” says Dr. Carl Moeller, president/CEO of Open Doors USA. “Yet these women are not without hope. Joining hands together we can help change their lives through teaching vocational skills, counseling and educating families and supplying them with resources to overcome oppressive cultural influences. The Lighthouse Project is an exciting initiative that will strengthen persecuted women and equip them for greater ministry.”
Open Doors USA also partners with women’s church groups in the United States to support their sisters in Christ through various projects. One group of women from Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA) encouraged persecuted women during a trip to Chiapas, Mexico this spring and another group from the church will visit later this month.
An estimated 200 million Christians worldwide suffer interrogation, arrest and even death for their faith in Christ, with another 200 to 400 million facing discrimination and alienation. Open Doors, celebrating 50 years of service to the Persecuted Christians in 2005, serves and strengthens the those suffering in the world's most difficult areas through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and assistance, community development, prayer and presence ministry and advocacy on behalf of suffering believers. To partner with Open Doors, call toll free at 888-5-BIBLE-5 (524-2535) or go to our USA web site at www.odusa.org. To request a complimentary six-month subscription to our monthly newsletter Frontline Faith, call 888-5-BIBLE-5 or register on-line.
(For more information of to set up an interview, contact Jerry Dykstra at 616-915-4117).
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