Laos--Christian Persecution in Laos

Asia: Laos Country Report Last Updated: May 2003 Code: A-2, 3 (Click here for a code description.)
	(Click here for a list of ICC articles on Laos.) List of Articles Last Updated: June 15, 2003

  Laos is a small, landlocked Asian country seen as the least developed country in the continent. Reasons are debatable, however the general international community blames the strict Stalinist regime for its third-world status: “Laos is a one party, authoritarian state, which has suppressed the human rights of its citizens and foreigners alike. The inability of the government of Laos to rule effectively, in combination with a culture that resists change, has contributed to serious underdevelopment, making Laos one of the poorest and least educated societies in the world.” (USCOIRF 2003 country report) The Lao majority are indigenous subsistence rice farmers and bartering is still a common practice of commerce within the country. However, the country also depends on forestry. It is also the third largest illicit opium producer in the world, in addition to involvement in the production of other drugs including cannabis, according to the CIA 2003 country reports.

  Historically, Laos has yet to experience life as a free country. When the tribes finally were able to unite under a common king in the 14^th century, there was little internal stability and by the 17^th century the country fragmented only to war against each other. Weakening each other from the internal wars, what is modern Laos was susceptible to outside invasion, which occurred in the 18^th century by Siam. Again, instability erupted and Laos became a fighting ground between Siam and Vietnam, only to be taken over by the French as part of Indochina in the 19^th century. During WWII it again became the war zone between the Allied and Axis powers crippling the already weak state. “By the time a ceasefire was negotiated in 1973, Laos had the dubious distinction of being the most bombed country in the history of warfare” (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/south_east_asia/laos/history.htm). In 1975, the Royalists fled the country while the communist regime was installed. It has been a communist state since then.

“Article 8. The state pursues the policy of promoting unity and equality among all ethnic groups. All ethnic groups have the rights to protect, preserve, and promote the fine customs and cultures of their own tribes and of the nation. All acts of creating division and discrimination among ethnic groups are prohibited. The state implements every measure to gradually develop and upgrade the levels of socio-economy of all ethnic groups. Article 9. The state respects and protects all lawful activities of the Buddhists and of other religious followers mobilizes and encourages the Buddhist monks and novices as well as the priests of other religions to participate in the activities which are beneficial to the country and people. All acts of creating division of religions and classes of people are prohibited. Article 22. Lao citizens irrespective of their sex, social status, education, faith and ethnic groups are all equal before the law.”

Under the stated articles of the Lao Constitution, persecution is technically banned. However, persecution against religious minorities, especially that of the Protestant Christians, is government organized. The wording in the Constitution against religious persecution is vague enough to allow the government to declare Protestant Christianity its foremost enemy. Christianity is viewed as a threat to the unity of the country, one of the central pillars of the state. The refusal to join in state organized “religious events” or Buddhist ceremonies is seen as disturbing the unity and highly punishable. According to the US Commission of International Religious Freedom, “the government of Laos has engaged in particularly severe violations of religious freedom as defined in the IRFA of 1998” (2003 country reports). The Commission has also recommended Laos be designated as a “country of particular concern” (CPC) for the past four years in a row (2003 country reports).

Recent Actions:

Sept '03
LAOS: ELIMINATING CHRISTIANITY
Elizabeth Kendall (WEA)

The WEA RLC encourages you to politely express your concern to the International Red Cross
and appeal to them to promote the protection and human rights of the Hmong. The contact address is below.

• April 29, 2003 - Three Christian families were evicted from the parsonage of the Kengkok Church in Savannakhet province. Authorities earlier confiscated the church building and converted it into a pre-school. (Christian Aid)
     
• Ongoing – Government officials are calling Christians the number one enemy of the state. Many Christians have been commanded to sign documents, recanting their faith. If they refuse to sign these documents they may be forced out of their villages, thus losing their land and homes. Believers from the Hmong ethnic group have specifically been targeted as "subversive elements."
      
• April 3, 2003 - Police arrested Mr. Ton and Mr. Seurn, the two leaders of the Nong-ing Church (see March 30, 2003 below). They also tore down the church with their hands.
      
• March 30, 2003 - Authorities interrupted a worship service of the Nong-ing Church in Savannakhet province. They ordered the Christians to stop worshipping and propagating religion. Miraculously, they were persuaded to allow the service to continue.
     
• March 2003 - Mr. Koy, a Christian from the Bru ethnic group, was arrested for leading a Bru worship service along the Laos-Vietnam border. Fourteen leaders and their wives were expelled from their village and are seeking refuge elsewhere. The church was also forced to close its doors.
     
• March 2003 - A church in the Chonburi district of Savannakhet province was forced to close its doors was forced to close. Believers began worshipping outside of the church building but authorities put a stop to this also.
     
• March 2003 - A church building in Kengkok, Savannakhet province, was confiscated by the government and turned into a government building.
    
• January 15, 2003 - Police arrested five women for holding a Christmas service in Kengkok, Champon District. They were released the next day. However, six other Christians were arrested on the same charge and have not yet been released. They are being held in the Jampon District Prison. (Christian Aid)
     
• January 10, 2003 - Six Christians from Pongseema village were arrested and fined the equivalent of $12 each for participating in a Christmas service at their church. They were then released. (Christian Aid)
     
• December 27, 2002 - Nine Christians from the villages of Dongpoon, Dongpyvan, Gengveng and Nadeng were arrested and held for nine days. (Christian Aid)
     
• December 27, 2002 - Seventeen Christian women (15 from Khamsaan Church and 2 from Savannakhet Church) were arrested in Dongpoong where they had traveled to celebrate Christmas with other believers. They were released the following day. (Christian Aid)
  
• November 6, 2001 – An unknown gunman murdered 42-year-old Pastor Thongla (see July 7, 2001) and seriously injured his 14-year-old son as they harvested a rice field in the Xaiyabury Province. (JC)
         
• October 6, 2001 – Lao authorities confiscated The Saybangnoun Church, after Christians refused to surrender the facility.  The church is located in Songkorn district, Savannakhet province.  (IN)
              
• September 5, 2001 – 80 families were forced to renounce their faith and sign an official form in the Vientiane province, Khone Kean village, Hine Heup district.  Their church building was impounded and closed.
              
• August 30, 2001 – 7 school teachers and 2 officials, all Christians, have been “asked” to change their faith if they hope to maintain their jobs in the Savannakhet province.
           
• August 25, 2001 – Mr. Souay, a Christian charged with “propagation of the gospel and belief in a Foreign religion, the enemy of the Party” was arrested at the village of Phonethong, in the Champhone district, Savannakhet Province.
          
• August 24, 2001 – In the Houaphanh province, Sam Neua district, all believers were asked to leave the province and country, unless they renounced their faith.
           
• August 24, 2001 – 7 Christians were arrested in the Savannakhet province.
           
• July 7, 2001 – An unknown gunman attempted the murder of LEC-trained, 42-year-old Pastor Thongla and his 14-year-old son while they drove from their rice field to the main town in the Xaiyabury Province.  Pastor Thongla runs an underground movement in Laos and was detained in 1994, 1995, and 1999 for evangelization and discipleship in the Xaiyabury Province. (JC)
         
• July 3, 2001 – The 8 Christians arrested in Savannakhet province (see May 31, 2001 below) were released after agreeing, under intense pressure, to abandon their religion. Several of the men were too weak to walk after their harsh prison treatment. All are remorseful over the agreement they made and presumably intend to continue their Christian activities.
          
• May 31, 2001 – Eight Christians, including 7 church leaders, were arrested in Songkhone district of Savannakhet province as part of a secret campaign to close down Christian churches throughout the country. The 8 have been charged with "anti-government activities." Churches in their district were given until June 1 to close down by order of the local authorities. Some believers were held at gun point and told to sign forms renouncing their faith.
        
• September 2000 – It was reported by the Lao Human Rights Council that the government of Laos imprisoned at least 71 Christians during the year 2000 and closed down approximately 36 Christian churches.
        
• May 22, 2000 – Six Christians were released from prison.
           
• March 11 – April 10, 2000 – At least 12 Christians in Luang Prabang were detained until they agreed to sign a statement, recanting their faith. They were told that Christianity is a lying religion which uses deception to divide the country.
       
• November 1999 – Three church leaders were sentenced to five years in jail in Mano Prison, Luang Prabang. They were charged with "gathering together to create social turmoil."
     
• June 7, 1999 — After being held for 17 months, the last eight prisoners arrested in January 1998 for holding a weeklong Bible study were released.
           
• April 28, 1998 - Six Khmu Christians were arrested while participating in Christian meetings in the village of Nam Tuam, Luang Prabang Province. In prison, they were not supplied with food and had to depend on their families to bring them this.
             
• January 30, 1998 - A Bible study was raided by police and 13 persons were arrested. They are currently being detained at the Thatdam jail in Vientiane with two being held in solitary confinement under harsh conditions. The government stated that the people were in violation of Article 66 of the criminal code of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The article states that "an individual who organizes or participates in a meeting that creates social unrest will be sentenced to one to five years imprisonment."

Prisoners:  
The following list of confirmed prisoners was compiled by World Evangelical Fellowship in March 2001.

• Pray for the Christians of Laos that they may continue to be protected from harm and that the Christian message may be heard and received by all.
          
• Write a respectful letter to one or more of the government officials listed below. Express your continuing concern for the safety and well being of the Christian community in Laos. Request information about what steps the government is taking to ensure their protection and freedom to practice their faith as laid out in the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights documents.
           
• Contact the elected national officials (Senators, Congressman etc.) for your area as well as the U.S. State Department and express concern for the well being of the Christians in Laos asking them to make an inquiry into their status.
         
• Please keep us informed of any replies or results you may receive! Contact ICC by email at icc@persecution.org.

POSTED:  May 8, 2003

• he Persecution and Immigration Dilemma