Cuba Pentecostal Pastor Injured in Violent Attack, Christians Say

Cuba Pentecostal Pastor Injured in Violent Attack, Christians Say
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 (3:55 am)

HAVANA, CUBA (Worthy News)– A Pentecostal pastor in Cuba was recovering
of brain damage Tuesday, March 13, after he was assaulted while trying
to challenge the confiscation of a church truck by Communist
authorities, Christians said.

Pastor Reutilio Columbie of the Shalom Christian Centre congregation in
the eastern city of Moa was reportedly attacked February 6 while
traveling to the capital of Holguin Province to file a complaint against
the confiscation of the vehicle.

He was found unconscious after leaving his home in a nearby street
several hours hours later and taken to hospital, Christians said.

The pastor said in published remarks that he does not remember "anything
about the attack," but the only thing missing from his possession were
the papers related to the vehicle.

He suffered severe inflammation of the brain as a result of the attack.

ARBITRARY CONFISCATION

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a rights group investigating the
case, told BosNewsLife that "It is believed that the assault was the
result of the pastor's decision to challenge the arbitrary confiscation
of a church vehicle by the authorities."

He had bought the truck five years ago and modified it to transport
members of his Mao-based Pentecostal church, Christians said.

However in December 2011 it was confiscated by authorities "without
warning or explanation and apparently returned to the original owner,"
who has family ties to an official of the Central Committee of the Cuban
Communist Party, CSW added.

The Central Committee is the same entity which holds authority over all
religious matters, including registration of church property and
vehicles, through the Office of Religious Affairs.

FORMAL COMPLAINT

"When the pastor protested the confiscation of the church vehicle and
began the process of lodging a formal complaint to prove ownership, the
family began to receive anonymous phone calls telling them to stop or he
would pay the consequences," CSW explained.

The group said it has demanded an investigation into the eventual
February 6 assault. Law enforcement officials have reportedly said
however that too much time has elapsed to make such an investigation
possible.

Pastor Reutilio, 41, "is now recuperating at home with his wife Maida
Perez and their three children, but still struggles with speech and
memory," CSW added. His daughter reportedly said that he is also
"frequently nauseous and dizzy".

CSW's Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said that Cuba lacks legislation to
protect religious freedom and guarantee church property. "This, combined
with the fact that all religious matters are dealt with by the Office
for Religious Affairs of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist
Party (CCP), rather than regular judicial channels, leaves religious
groups and leaders vulnerable to abuse and with no means to appeal
decisions," he told BosNewsLife.

There has been pressure on Cuba's Communist government to establish a
legal framework, independent of the CCP, to regulate religious affairs.

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