Persecuted Christians 'terrorists'? Group claims Patriot Act provision misinterpreted

A human rights group claims resettlement of persecuted Christians from Burma is in jeopardy because many can be mislabeled as terrorists under a Department of Homeland Security interpretation of the Patriot Act.

Thousands of ethnic Karen refugees who fled from the brutal military dictatorship to crowded camps along the Burma-Thailand border now have the opportunity to resettle in the United States, reports Christian Freedom International. Some have been in the camps for more than 25 years.

This year, the State Department has agreed to bring more than 9,000 Karen to the U.S., but many could be turned away because they are regarded as supporters of terrorism.

A relatively new provision in the Patriot Act says Homeland Security can reject refugees and asylum seekers if they provided "material support" to anyone engaged in an armed struggle, such as the fighters of the Karen National Union, which represents the enthic group.

The KNU says it has engaged in an armed struggle for survival against Burma's dictatorships for more than 50 years.

Christian Freedom Intrenational also reports more than 100 Christians from the Chin minority currently detained at immigration depots in Malaysia are being denied entry to the U.S. under the same Patriot Act provision.

The Department of Homeland Security says anyone who provides food, medicine, clothing or shelter to a participant in an armed struggle should be denied entry to the United States.

excerpts....

Christian Freedom International argues that when drafting the Patriot Act, Congress never intended Homeland Security to "deny protection to refugees forced to defend themselves or who stand up to brutal tyrannical regimes."

Karen refugee Ehe Blu Say, 15, says he and his mother fled to Mae La Refugee Camp in Thailand when he was 5 years old.

"We moved to the camp because of the fighting," he said, according to Christian Freedom International. "The [military dictatorship] was going to kill us because my father was KNU soldier, so we had to flee to the camp. My father disappeared when I was young. I don't know where he is."

The refugee said he and his mother began the process last month of preparation to emigrate to the U.S. or another country.

"My mother wants us to go," he said. "It is the opportunity of our lives."

CFI argues Congress gave the executive branch discretionary authority to determine that the "material support" prohibition should not apply in some cases.

"In other words, the intent of Congress was never for Department of Homeland Security to treat the actions of a George Washington or Paul Revere the same as an Osama bin Laden or Ayman al-Zawahiri, even though they all engaged in armed activities."

CFI President Jim Jacobson pointed out American missionaries brought the Christian Gospel to the Karen nearly 200 years ago.

"They fought courageously alongside us in World War II and share our faith, values and love for freedom and democracy," Jacobson said. "They deserve our help."

Again....

excerpts....

A relatively new provision in the Patriot Act says Homeland Security can reject refugees and asylum seekers if they provided "material support" to anyone engaged in an armed struggle, such as the fighters of the Karen National Union, which represents the enthic group.

Christian Freedom Intrenational also reports more than 100 Christians from the Chin minority currently detained at immigration depots in Malaysia are being denied entry to the U.S. under the same Patriot Act provision.

The Department of Homeland Security says anyone who provides food, medicine, clothing or shelter to a participant in an armed struggle should be denied entry to the United States.!!!!

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Think about the implications of this!

Posted yesterday...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1580626/posts

Resettlement of Persecuted Christian Refugees to America in Jeopardy
Christian Freedom International ^ | February 15, 2006 | Christian Freedom International

Posted on 02/17/2006 12:45:54 PM CST by Jeremiah2911

MAE SOT, THAILAND --- Ehe Blu Say, 15, was born in Ta Kra, Burma. He is Karen, a persecuted, mainly Christian ethnic minority in Burma. He and his mother fled to Mae La Refugee Camp in Thailand when he was five. “We moved to the camp because of the fighting. The SPDC was going to kill us because my father was KNU soldier so we had to flee to the camp,” said Ehe Blu Say. “My father disappeared when I was young. I don’t know where he is.”

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