GOTX RAIDS UNREGISTERED CHRISTIAN MEETING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000517

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR TX
SUBJECT: GOTX RAIDS UNREGISTERED CHRISTIAN MEETING

REF: DRL E-MAIL TO POST; ASHGABAT OI MAY 12

ASHGABAT 00000517 001.2 OF 002


UNREGISTERED RELIGIOUS MEETING RAIDED
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1. (SBU) POLOFF WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM REPORTS ABOUT
GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES BREAKING UP A NON-REGISTERED
CHRISTIAN GROUP MEETING AT A PRIVATE RESIDENCE IN ASHGABAT
ON MAY 3 DURING A MAY 16 MEETING WITH U.S. CITIZEN AND
DIRECTOR OF THE LOCAL EXPORT/IMPORT COMPANY ENGEDI PAUL KIM.
ACCORDING TO KIM, A MEMBER OF THE CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY
NETWORK ASSOCIATION, MORE THAN 15 OFFICIALS REPRESENTING SIX
DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE POLICE, THE
NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTRY, THE COUNCIL FOR RELIGIOUS
AFFAIRS (CRA),CITY MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES, AND THE STATE
SERVICE FOR REGISTRATION OF FOREIGNERS BROKE UP A WORSHIP
SERVICE MEETING OF 13 MOSTLY ETHNIC TURKMEN MEMBERS OF THE
UNREGISTERED NONDENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN GROUP SOYGI.
PHILIP JANG, A KOREAN CITIZEN WORKING FOR ENGEDI, WAS
HOSTING THE MEETING. (NOTE: ACCORDING TO KIM, THERE ARE
FIVE CHRISTIAN KOREAN FAMILIES WORKING FOR ENGEDI. END
NOTE.) FOR TWO-AND-HALF HOURS, GOTX OFFICIALS INTERROGATED
THE MEMBERS, WROTE A REPORT ON THE UNREGISTERED RELIGIOUS
MEETING, AND REQUESTED MEMBERS RE-ENACT THE MEETING'S
ACTIVITIES WHILE POLICE VIDEOTAPED THEM. THE OFFICIALS
CONFISCATED BIBLES AND DISCIPLESHIP MATERIALS IN TURKMEN,
VIDEOTAPES, JANG'S PERSONAL PHOTO ALBUM, LAPTOP COMPUTER AND
PASSPORT. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SAID THEY WOULD PASS
JANG'S PASSPORT TO THE STATE SERVICE FOR THE REGISTRATION OF
FOREIGNERS WHO WOULD THEN RETURN IT.

LOCAL MEMBERS' FOLLOW-UP INTERROGATIONS
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2. (SBU) DURING THE DAYS FOLLOWING THE RAID, THE MINISTRY
OF NATIONAL SECURITY CALLED LOCAL CHURCH MEMBERS TO AN
ASHGABAT DISTRICT OFFICE AND INTERROGATED THEM ABOUT THE
CHRISTIAN FAITH EVANGELISTS AND THE SOURCE OF THEIR FUNDING.
THE OFFICERS ATTEMPTED TO INTIMIDATE THE BELIEVERS AND
DISCREDIT JANG AND OTHER KOREANS AFFILIATED WITH THE CHURCH
SAYING THE FOREIGNER EVANGELISTS HAD COVERT PLANS IN REGARD
TO THEIR RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY. ON MAY 15, CRA OFFICIALS TRIED
TO CONVINCE ETHNIC TURKMEN MEMBER SHOHLE TO RECONVERT TO
ISLAM.

POSSIBILITY OF DEPORTATION
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3. (SBU) JANG IS FACING DEPORTATION THREATS FOR HOSTING AN
UNREGISTERED RELIGIOUS MEETING. ON MAY 15, THE STATE
SERVICE FOR THE REGISTRATION OF FOREIGNERS CALLED THE ENGEDI
COMPANY AND REQUESTED A LETTER CALLING FOR JANG'S VOLUNTARY
DEPARTURE FROM TURKMENISTAN. KIM AND JANG ARE CURRENTLY
CONSIDERING OPTIONS INCLUDING "STANDING FIRM UNTIL HE IS
DEPORTED." WITH HIS VISA EXPIRING ON JUNE 10, KIM IS ALSO
CONCERNED IT WILL NOT BE RENEWED BECAUSE HIS "CONNECTION
WITH THE SOYGI CHURCH IS OBVIOUSLY KNOWN TO THE GOVERNMENT."

KIM'S BUSINESS
--------------


4. (SBU) KIM IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE
ENGEDI COMPANY. THE COMPANY IS PRIMARILY ENGAGED IN
INTERNATIONAL TRADE, AND KIM HAS INVESTED AROUND USD 200,000
IN ITS REAL ESTATE PROPERTY. HE FEARS THE GOTX MIGHT WANT
TO CONFISCATE THE FIRM AND ITS PROPERTY; KIM WILL BE
APPLYING FOR U.S. BUSINESS ADVOCACY ASSISTANCE.

CHURCH REGISTRATION PLANS
--------------


5. (SBU) THE EXISTENCE OF THE CHURCH GROUP HAS BECOME
PUBLIC, AND KIM SAYS THEY ARE LOOKING INTO REGISTRATION,
"EVEN IF WE [FOREIGNERS] GET DEPORTED, LOCAL CHURCH MEMBERS
WILL PURSUE THE REGISTRATION."

COMMENT
--------------


6. (SBU) TO POLECONOFF'S SURPRISE, PAUL KIM SOUNDED
IGNORANT OF REGISTRATION DETAILS AND NOT TOO OPTIMISTIC
ABOUT ITS ADVANTAGES. OBVIOUSLY, THE GROUP DID NOT WANT TO

ASHGABAT 00000517 002.2 OF 002


EXPOSE ITSELF TO THE GOTX. POLOFF WELCOMED THE GROUP'S
DECISION TO PURSUE REGISTRATION. END COMMENT.

BRUSH