The Guardian of Liberty - Nemzetőr, 1982 (5. évfolyam, 4-6. szám)

1982-07-01 / 4. szám

RELIGION YOUNG BELIEVERS VICTIMISED A document protesting against the com­munist authorities’ persecution of religious believers in Lithuania, particularly young Catholics, had been signed by 18,344 people from many parts of this small constituent republic of the USSR. The declaration, addressed to the leader of the Lithuanian Communist Party, P. P. Grishkyavichyus, has been reproduced in a recent issue of the Chronicle of the Lithuanian Catholic Church. The document commented: „These are only a few examples (of the victimisation of young believers) ... When we see such things occurring, a question arises: where do we live? We are assured that we are citizens of the most demo­cratic country, but we only see democracy on paper. MIRROR AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED In AUSTRALIA: ACN, Box 11 PO, EAST­WOOD N.S.W. 2122 In GREAT BRITAIN: ACN, UK, T-5 North Street, CHICHESTER West Sussex PO 19 1LB In IRELAND: ACN, The Norbertine Fa­thers, Kilnacrott, BAILYJAMESDUFF, Co. Cavan ind: ACN, Northern Ireland Sub-Centre, PO Box No 76, BELFAST BT13 2DX In the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: ACN, PO Box 1000, EL TORO, CA 92630 „Why do the authorities not like well-balanced young people? Why does the faith of the young offend them? On the basis of what laws do young people not have the right to excursions, to leisure, or to deepen their beliefs? „Can the representatives of the Soviet regime really not see the moral poverty of the young filling the prisons, corrective labour colonies and VD clinics, since all their (the communist authori­ties’) forces are bent towards persecuting believing youth? The thought occurs that administrative measures are being deliberately used to help, albeit unsuccessfully, in the cause of making the people atheist. ,.We are demanding, on a legal basis, that an elementary human right be ensured — that of living according to one’s conscience and one’s beliefs.“ The Chronicle of the Lithuanian Catholic Church indicated that the KGB had intensified its harassment of young Catholics. The Soviet secret police paid particular attention to the historic shrine of Siluva, which has attracted increasingly many young pilgrims in recent years. In September, the KGB arrested and inter­rogated many young people in Siluva, including four Estonians. One of them, Runno Vissak, was later expelled from Tartu University. Another attempt to isolate Siluva was made between October 23 and 25 when all buses to the town were cancelled, road blocks were set up, and police cars patrolled the approach roads. Some pilgrims tried to reach the shrine by roundabout routes, across fields and through forests. Most were intercepted, questioned and forced to turn back. Ona Vitkauskaite, who had recently been releas­ed from a penal labour camp in Panevezys, told those who stopped her that during her 30 months’ imprisonment she had repeatedly been assured that there was no religious persecution in Lithu­ania. Yet what was she seeing now, she asked, if not just such persecution? Lieutenant Algis Gylys of the KGB expressed this view of religious festivals when interrogating Mindaugas Judeikis, a schoolboy from Veisiejai, on October 21 r „The processions to Siluva have become purely political and anti-Soviet. This will not be allowed to continue. We will have to imprison all priests, to bring back Stalin’s times.“ The Chronicle reported that police, including KGB men, forcibly dispersed young people who took part in a religious retreat in the village of Mindunai in August, 1981. Several students from Vilnius were among those subsequently victimised. Alfonsas Vinclovas and Audrone Ginkute were expelled from Vilnius University. Their partici­pation in the retreat was described by the uni­versity administration as „conduct incompttible with the name of a Soviet student.“ 12 LETTERS MENTIONING GOD ARE CONFISCATED The authorities at a women’s penal labour camp near Ussurysk in the Soviet Far East have told the parents of a Baptist prisoner, 23-year-old Galina Vilchinskaya, that letters addressed to her will be confiscated if they mention God. Camp Commandant Yakushevich and the camp’s KGB chief, Malassay, gave this infor­mation when questioned by the parents about why their daughter had not been receiving mail. A description of the camp by Galina’s mother, Mrs. Zinaida Vilchinskaya, was recently passed out of the Soviet Union. It said: „The prisoners are given a bowl of water each week, which is supposed to be sufficient to wash themselves, their clothing and the bedclothes as well. „This is, of course, impossible and within the prison community dirt leads to a continuous in­crease of fleas, lice and bedbugs. When the women wake up in the mornings their faces and bodies are completely bitten. They have got so used to it that they hardly notice it...“ „The food is very bad also. In the morning they receive two spoonfuls of porridge made from oats or maize, a piece of bread, a glass of tea a spoon­ful of sugar. At noon they receive broth, with no solids in it, and a piece of bread. In the evening they again receive porridge, bread, and boiled water without sugar . . .“ „On this diet the prisoners have to do ten hours’ hard labour each day.“ „Galina’s health is somewhat better now. After hei situation became known and people prayed, appeals reached the Soviet Government and a doctor from the prison hospital in Vladivostbk came to the camp and examined her. She was then immediately taken to hospital.“ „Without these prayers and appeals we know she would not have got there. She was in hospital for three weeks, and for two weeks had a special diet. However, some things are beyond cure, like the seven teeth she lost through scurvy. The swelling in her gums has almost disappeared and her stomach is also better now.“ The letter added: „...we rejoice that our daughter is still cheerful and continues to speak about the Lord to her fellow prisoners. When the opportunity arises she witnesses about her faith to her superiors also. To suppress her influence, the camp authorities move her round constantly from one section to another.“ Galina is serving a sentence of three years’ camp imprisonment for giving Bible lessons to children. Her parents spent about 1,000 roubles — the equivalent of several months’ pay — on fares and other travelling expenses when visiting her. The journey from their home in the Ukraine was about 5,000 kilometres long. It was arduous, particularly the last stretch of about 50 kilometres from the town to Ussurysk to the camp. The road there is so bad that it is used only by lorries. THE GUARDIAN OF LIBERTY (NEMZETŐR) ~ I 'II' . Itllll ifinél II l<l Edited by the Editorial Board Verleger, Herausgeber und Eigentümer TIBOR KECSKÊSI TOLLAS Journalist, Schriftsteller, München Ferchenbachstraße 88, D-8000 München 50 GERMAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC Verantwortlicher Redakteur (Editor): MIKLÓS VARY Ferchenbachstraße 88, D-8000 München 50 Druck (print): DANUBI A DRUCKEREI GMBH Ferchenbachstraße 88, D-8000 München 50 AFRICA REPRESENTATIVES & SALE CAMEROON: L. T. JOHNSON, Divisional Inspectorate of Education, NKAMBE, North West Province, United Rép. of CAMEROON. EAST AFRICA: (2.— Sh, by air) (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania): General-Representa*ive: International African Literary Agents. P.O. Box 46055 NAIROBI, Kenya; NIGERIA (2.— Sh): Yemi OYENEYE, P. M. B. 101, Agege, Lagos. SIERA LEONE: (10 Le. c.; annual: 60) 1. Alusine B. Kargbo, c/o 2 Alusine St., Newsite Kissy, Freetown; SOMALIA: (2.— Sh., by air) MAURITIUS NALANDA Co. Ltd., 30, Bourbon Str., Port-Louis. GREAT BRITAIN -NEMZETŐR“, B. C. M., London S.W. 7. U. S. A. Béla H. BÁCSKAI, P.O. Box 102, Audubon/Pa. 19407. AUSTRALIA István SERFÖZÖ, 67 Winston Drv. Doncaster, Vic. 3108. PRICES: Surface mail: 1 copy AFRICA 1.80 Sh (100 CFA), Britain 60 P, Australia, USA, Canada: $ 2.— Germany: DM 4.— Annual subscription: AFRICA Sh 10 (500 CFA), Britain 3.—£, Germany/Europe: DM 20.-(or equivalent) Australia USA, Canada: $ 10.— For air mail add 25 °/o For students 50 °/o discount Our BANK ACCOUNT: No. 2605756 Commerzbank AG. Munich, German Federal Republic, JULY-AUGUST, 1982

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