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Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom |
Breaking News and Reports:: |
Elderly Couple Kicked Out of Their Home and Village Due to Their Embracing the Christian Faith Approximately on January 23, 3012, the chief of Chumpoy village (Mr. Sompeng), Sanamsai district, Attapeu province, issued a written eviction order to Mr. Sakien, age 52, and his wife, Dong, because they sought prayers for physical healing and then embraced the Christian faith. Read Full Article Lao Police Arrested and Detained Christian Pastors for Spreading Christian Religion Through Movie CDs The Phin district police of Savannakhet province of Laos arrested and detained three Christian pastors for disseminating Christian religion. The incident took place approximately 5:00 p.m. on February 5, 2013, when three Christian pastors took a copy of a movie CD about the End Times to a local shop for making copies. Read Full Article Lao Authorities Threatened to Destroy Homes of Christians in Vongseekaew Village of Savannakhet Approximately on October 4-5, 2012, the village elders of Vongseekaew village in Phin district of Savannakhet province attempted to subject approximately 50 Christians (13 families) to undergo traditional animistic rituals of making oath and drinking “sacred water” that had gone through ritual incantation by a spirit medium. Read Full Article Local Authorities in Phin District of Savannakhet Force 31 Christian Families to Perform Spirit Occult Ritual All together, about 31 Christian families (approx. 155 individuals) were asked to perform spirit occult rituals of taking oath, publically declaring that they would adhere to the traditional religion (spirit cult). Read Full Article Lao Authorities Resort to the Use of Local Spirit-Cult Custom to Force Christians to Recant of Their Faith The Savannkhet provincial authorities found that the ground for the arrest of the three Lao pastors by the Phin district police authorities was not justified. Read Full Article Lao Authorities Intensify Campaign Against Christians in Savannakhet On September 11, 2012, approximately 5:00 PM, the Savannakhet’s Phin district police arrested (1) Bounlert, pastor of Alowmai church and the leader of the Phin district Christian group, (2) Adang, pastor of Kengsainoy, and (3) Onkaew, pastor of Kapang church. Read Full Article Lao Authorities Arrested Lao Christian Leader for Embracing Christian Faith By August 10, 2012, the Napong village authorities evicted Mr. Bountheung from his village. He was given only given a week to sell his house and property or the authorities would confiscate them. On August 19, 2012, Mr. Bountheung was arrested and taken to prison. Read Full Article Lao Christians in Nahoukou Village in Savannahet Province Face Expulsion Threats The Nahoukou village authorities publically condemned Lao Christians in the village meeting for embracing the Christian faith, which is considered a "foreign religion," and ordered all five families of Lao Christians to recant of their Christian faith or face eviction from the village. Read Full Article Lao Authorities Arrest Thai and Lao Citizens in Luang Namtha Approximately on June 16, 2012, the Long district police arrested two Thai citizens Jonasa Wiwatdamrong, age 54, and his brother Phanthakorn, age 40, along with two unnamed Lao citizens. Read Full Article Members of Lao Security Forces Discharged for Accepting Christian Faith Approximately 3:00 PM on June 14, 2012, the Phin district military command discharged Khamsorm and Tonglai from active duty in the village security forces and took away their firearms that came with their position. Their dismissal from security service came as a consequence of their decision to accept the Christian faith. Read Full Article
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