wfn.org | TCN: Support for preservation of Lo-Sheng Sanatorium continues as MRT construction moves forward

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>      Taiwan Church News

>2997 Edition

>August 3~9, 2009

Support for preservation of Lo-Sheng Sanatorium continues as MRT  construction moves forward

>Reported by Chiou Kuo-rong

>Written by Lydia Ma

“Abba Father, You are the God who cries with us and we ask  You to watch over

those who cannot speak for themselves,” said PCT Higher  Education Work

Committee co-worker Pastor Chen Si-hau as he led members from  Lo-Sheng

Fellowship in prayer in front of the Department of Health.

Chen emphasized to the group that God would always side with  widows,

orphans, and the oppressed and he prayed for strength as the  fellowship tried to

follow God’s leading. He also asked for God to soften the  hearts of public

officials so that they would do the right thing. After prayers,  about 30 Christians

began their protest in front of the Department of Health.

Two Christian residents from Lo-Sheng who suffer from leprosy also  joined

students on that sunny and hot day and they sang and prayed  together before

urging the government to reconsider its ways during the protest.

According to reports, in order to finish MRT (metro rapid transit)  construction in

Taipei area, Taipei’s Department of Rapid Transit System  declared that all

residents of Lo-Sheng Sanatorium should move out of their homes  and relocate

for the time being and promised to preserve Lo-Sheng as it had  become a

>government approved historical site.

However, residents of Lo-Sheng are protesting now because the city  government

has gone forward with its MRT construction project around Lo-Sheng  but has not

done anything to preserve the living quarters of Lo-Sheng  residents as it had

>promised.

According to Lo-Sheng Fellowship, residents have repeatedly  requested that the

city government repair some areas in Lo-Sheng but their requests  have been

virtually ignored or glossed over because the city government  doesn’t care about

>the interests of these residents.

Furthermore, misleading reports and paperwork were filed for the  media to make

it seem as though things were being done and historical buildings  were being

preserved. In reality, the living quarters of Lo-Sheng residents  are being

destroyed little by little as MRT construction progresses.

The Department of Health did not issue any statements in the  aftermath of the

>protest.

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