Thursday, April 12, 2012

Cuba Reluctant To Detain Suspects In Attack On Pastor, Christians say

Cuba Reluctant To Detain Suspects In Attack On Pastor, Christians say
Thursday, April 12, 2012 (3:42 am)

HAVANA, CUBA (Worthy News)– Over two months after a Cuban pastor was
beaten and left unconscious in eastern Cuba, officials have still no
suspects in the case, Christian rights activists told Worthy News
Wednesday, April 10.

Pastor Reutilio Columbie ccontinues to suffer from dizziness, intense
nausea and vomiting after he was left for dead in early February, said
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a major advocacy group.

The 41 year-old pastor of the Shalom Christian Center, a Pentecostal
church in Moa was reportedly attacked by unknown assailants in the early
hours of the morning on February 6 and left unconscious on the street.

The pastor was on his way to file a complaint with regional authorities
about what the "arbitrary confiscation of the church vehicle" by
authorities in late 2011, Christians said. The only thing taken from him
was the document proving Columbie's legal ownership of the vehicle,
according to rights activists.

In a statement distributed by CSW, Pastor Columbie said last week that
the attack has left him "incapacitated, with memory and speech
difficulties, near constant dizziness and nausea."

NO PREACHING

As a result, he is unable to preach at his church and finds it
impossible to travel outside of Moa, CSW explained. "He has been advised
to seek a consultation with a neurologist in [the capital] Havana but is
physically unable to make the 923 kilometer (574 miles) journey."

Pastor Columbie said that while he received support support from the
community, local authorities "remained intransigent on both the
investigation into the attack and the confiscation of the church vehicle."

He claims that his purchase and ownership of the vehicle was legal, but
is worried that with the disappearance of the key document this would
now be virtually impossible to prove.

Local Christians have expressed doubts about the impartiality of the
investigation into the attack as authorities may have to identify fellow
officials.

"THOROUGH INVESTIGATION"

CSW's Advocacy Director Andrew Johnston told Worthy News that his group
"continues to call for a thorough investigation into the attack on
Pastor Columbie and the return of the church's vehicle."

He said that if local authorities "are unwilling or unable to fulfill
their obligations, the regional or central government must ensure that
those who attacked Pastor Columbie are brought to justice."

Christian rights activists have also urged authorities to address the
"larger legal situation which helped lead" to "this crime" against
Pastor Columbie.

CSW said it wants to see the removal of authority "over all religious
activities and property from the Office of Religious Affairs of the
Communist Party. Religious activities and property should be regulated
through the regular channels with proper recourse for appeal."

http://www.worthynews.com/11396-cuba-reluctant-to-detain-suspects-in-attack-on-pastor-christians-say

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