Sudan: Thousands flee burning and looting by North Sudan forces
Thousands of civilians have been displaced following the occupation of Abyei Town by the Sudan Armed Forces at the weekend. Christian Solidarity International reported that 20,000 desperate civilians fled across the river Kiir and are sheltering under trees from the rain. The UN Mission in Sudan reports burning and looting by northern forces in Abyei Town and members of the UN Security Council have demanded that North Sudan withdraws its 5000-strong force from the area. Oil-rich Abyei is a disputed region with northern Sudan and newly-formed South Sudan both staking a claim for an area inhabited permanently by nine Ngok Dinka chiefdoms. Abyei is a key part of the comprehensive peace agreement that ended a civil war that ravaged the country since 1983.
Pray: for God to remove the spiritual atmosphere of war and destruction that remains over the area. (Ps.37:16,17)
More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11050147.htm
Nortth Korea: Food shortage?
A US/South Korean fact-finding team will visit North Korea on Tuesday to conduct an eight day investigation into people starving in remote regions. They hope to assess the amount of food necessary to relieve thousands of people. A South Korean spokesman said, ‘Transparency of the North’s distribution of food must be guaranteed before any food is sent’. Pyongyang’s past reluctance to disclose their food distribution process to outsiders sparked suspicions that most of the aid is used to feed its army and political elite. It is suspected Kim Jong-ll is stockpiling rice to release on the 100th anniversary of its founder Kim Il-sung next year. - See: For scandalous information from a Christian missionary detained in North Korea for two months please read this weeks Insight report. Pray:for all that is hidden to be revealed. For God to rule over and throughout all negotiations and investigations (Pr,16:4,5) Info: http://www.prayer-alert.net/info/NorthKoreaSuffering1.pdf
Mega Mosque’ allowed to defy planning rules
Cross community campaigners for social cohesion in Newham have condemned the decision of a government planning inspector to allow Islamic group, Tablighi Jamaat, permission to breach planning laws. In a ruling, the inspector authorised the radical group to continue using the current temporary mosque on the site of their proposed Olympic mega-mosque at West Ham. Local opposition association Newham Concern say the decision will provide succour to Islamic radicals. ‘For years Tablighi Jamaat have deliberately flouted building regulations and planning laws’, said Alan Craig, Newham Concern’s campaign director and former leader of the Opposition on Newham Council for the Christian Peoples Alliance party: ‘After much delay and procrastination Newham Council at last took the right action and told them to move off site. But the Planning Inspector has overturned this and apparently decided that illegality pays. They can now stay on site with temporary planning permission for a further two years.’ (See Prayer Alert 06-2011)
Pray: that this decision will be over-ruled. (Pr.29:26)
More: http://www.cpaparty.org.uk/?page=news&id=383
Religious hate crimes on the rise in Scotland
The number of religious hate crimes in Scotland has risen by nearly 10% in a year, according to new figures. The Crown Office report came as First Minister Alex Salmond warned the ‘parasite of sectarianism’ would not be tolerated in Scotland. Last year's figure is the highest since 2006-7. Meanwhile, the number of charges of race crime fell by almost 4% to 4,165 in 2010/2011. More than nine out of 10 of the cases in 2010-11 led to court proceedings. Speaking at Holyrood following his re-election as first minister, Mr Salmond said modern Scotland was ‘built on equality’. Solicitor General Frank Mulholland QC said there was no place in modern Scotland for crimes motivated by race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity. He said: ‘The high prosecution rate demonstrates that offending motivated by prejudice will not be tolerated, and that perpetrators will be dealt with robustly by Scotland's prosecutors'. Pray: for a growing tolerance and neighbourliness to allow people of different creeds, denominations and beliefs to live harmoniously together. (Lev.19:18)
