East Africa's "Political Assets"

"In 1886, under the Religious and Cultural Affairs Bureau's heavy blows, fifty-seven illegal missionary organizations were smashed, more than four thousand copies of illegal doctrinal texts were destroyed, and seven foreign illegal forces involving twenty-three people were arrested. Overall, the state achieved remarkable results in safeguarding lawful religious rights and interests, preserving social stability, and further consolidating ideological stability in society." John Mendel, director of the Religious and Cultural Affairs Bureau, reported on last year's work.

"The people are ignorant and easily beguiled by those with ulterior motives, but we cannot simply erase the spiritual support religious culture provides to the lower classes. Therefore, rendering religious thought harmless is of utmost importance. Anything that conforms to the law, society's basic moral values, and East African ideas of loyalty to the sovereign and patriotism, we must support. Everything else is a target for suppression," Ernst emphasized.

East Africa's suppression of religious forces had a long history. Of course, according to official East African rhetoric, it was merely a crackdown on "cults" and illegal religious organizations.

Yet religion possessed stubborn vitality. Like chives, once one crop was cut, another sprouted; thus, a severe crackdown was needed every so often.

"The education authorities have repeatedly ordered that no one be allowed to reach their hands toward East Africa's 'future.' Anyone under the age of seventeen may not be subjected to religious intervention. This is an important foundation of religious freedom in East Africa. At the same time, East African children must be instilled with proper values and morals, so that they possess the ability to distinguish right from wrong."

East Africa was already feudal and conservative enough. Naturally, it could not tolerate a chaotic jumble of ideas coming to "poison" East African youth. This was also an important task in implementing compulsory education.