E/CN.4/1989/44 paqe 36 "Paragraph 41. Most often, it is the practical manifestations of reliqion or belief that are penalized. One example that may be mentioned is the allegation that Christians belonqing to the Church of the New Testament were arrested in Sinqapore for preaching the qospel ... "Paragraph 44. Other complaints concern infringements of the freedom to disseminate reliqious publications - for instance, the complaint concerning the arrest of Christians of the Church of the New Testament in Singapore for distributing liturgical literature ... "Paragraphs 41 and 44 of the report convey the impression that members of the New Testament Church were arrested by the Singapore Government on grounds of their religious beliefs and practices. •l "The allegation that Singapore persecutes Christians is definitely not true. Christians worship freely in their churches and are also permitted to hold mass rallies in public places. In 1985 and 1986, 19 mass rallies were organized in Singapore by various Christians groups. Among the Christian religious dignitaries who have visited Singapore in recent years are Pope John Paul, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Robert Runcie, and Mother Teresa. "Singapore is not clamping down on the NTC or any religious group. As a matter of fact, there is a lawfully established New Testament Church in Singapore which has not been involved in the demonstrations. Neither that Church nor any other Christian group in Sinqapore has protested about the lack of religious freedom. "However, Singapore will not allow anyone or any group to undermine law and order by using religion as a cover for illegal demonstrations in Singapore. it ... "... A qroup of people, mainly foreiqners who claim to be members of the New Testament Church (NTC), have been staging illegal activities in Singapore. They are distinct from the registered New Testament Church in Singapore which has dissociated itself from the so-called followers of the NTC. "Followers of this cult group have been involved in several illegal demonstrations in Singapore. The illegal demonstrations of this qroup stemmed from an incident on 9 October 1986 where they held a demonstration outside a restaurant where the Taiwanese Deputy Trade Commissioner based in Singapore was having a function. Most of the demonstrators were foreigners. Six of them were arrested for holding an illegal demonstration.