Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mgweed.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!harpo!ihnp4!mgnetp!mgweed!scc From: scc@mgweed.UUCP (Steve Collins) Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Re: A M.P. Courier's Dramatic Story of Soviet Arrest Message-ID: <9144@mgweed.UUCP> Date: Tue, 15-May-84 13:28:06 EDT Article-I.D.: mgweed.9144 Posted: Tue May 15 13:28:06 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 17-May-84 03:24:16 EDT References: <9050@mgweed.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Consumer Products - Montgomery Illinois Lines: 55 PART 3 OF 4 PART ARTICLE SOVIET PRISION - A REALITY OF LIFE As the others returned, the discussions went on. They said that Christians in Russia aren't persecuted at all. I shot back that there are at least 250 or more known cases where Christians in the USSR were in prison for their beliefs, and I knew personally of two cases - Ivan Fedotov and Galina Vilchinskaya! They were shocked! "What do you know about Galina Vilchinskaya?!" I said I knew the whole story about her imprisonment for giving Christian instruction to children, her three-year internment in a horrible concentration camp, her release, and how the KGB set her up on false drug charges so they could rearrest her. I told them it was common knowledge in the west and had appeared in numerous newspapers. (If there's one thing that makes Soviet officials uneasy, it's negative publicity in the west). Later on, we were taken to hotel in the city to spend the night. For the two rooms in this mediocre hotel for two nights, we had to pay $250.00! Not only that, but the bugging devices (which were built into the radio) crackled like Rice Krispies! We, of course, didn't talk about things but spent the night in silent prayer. The next day was a fresh round of the same old interrogation. I had heard that my two companions had also been threateded with prison. I was finally informed that if I didn't speak up, my friends would also get the same 8 to 10 year sentence that I would. My only concern was that they be allowed to go free. I just sat there dumbly. They said, "Don't you even care that your friends will go to prison for what you did?" I shook my head. They exclaimed, "Because of you totally innocent people are going to suffer for years, and you don't even bat an eye!" Then I shouted back, "Since when do you lock up innocent people?" It was then time for another break! "AN ORCHESTRA WITHOUT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS" Afterwards, they asked me why I hadn't brought my personal Bible along on this trip. I answered that although it's not forbidden for a tourist to bring his or her Bible along, it is a good way to be followed everywhere you go. The KGB man said, "We've always had the impression that the Christians always keep their Bibles with them. The Christians here in the Soviet Union can hardly be separated from their Bibles. Why, a Christian without his Bible is like a musician without his musical instrument, and a group of Christians without Bibles is like an Orchestra without musical instruments." Thrilled, I shouted, "That's exactly why I came here with Bibles! There's an entire orchestra out there without musical instruments!!" I didn't need to see the sour expression on his face to tell me it was time for another break! As evening came, I was taken and informed that out vehicle was to be confiscated. They also informed me it would be sold on the open market to any interested Soviet citizen for 5,000 rubles, and the money would go into the state treasury. (A Laugh)! We spent our second expensive night in the same hotel not knowing what the next day might bring. My friend tried to call his embassy in Moscow but was informed by the operator that "nobody answers."