|
|
A typical Lao village
|
Evicted Christians in Laos visited by officials, after CSW takes action
Almost 50 Christian villagers in the South-East Asian country of Laos were forced from their village at gunpoint on 10 January, after 100 officials raided a worship service. They were forced to make temporary shelters in a field miles from home, and have very little food. Their personal belongings were confiscated, and they are under increasing pressure to renounce their faith. Two months on, they still can’t return to their village.
After CSW raised their case with high-level contacts, including at the UN, provincial authorities visited Katin Village to inspect the destroyed homes of the evicted Christians. They then visited the villagers in their temporary shelters, to find out what happened. This is a hopeful sign, as it shows that the government is taking this incident seriously. It’s possible that the villagers may soon be allowed to return home.
What you need to know about religious freedom in Laos
- Although Laos has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which enshrines the right to religious freedom, in reality the law fails to guarantee religious liberty.
- Religious minorities have very limited legal protection, and government officials at district level often act arbitrarily – as in this case.
- In Laos, as in other countries in the region, Protestantism is often viewed as an American religion, leaving Christians open to charges of disloyalty to Laos.
- The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Asma Jahangir, visited Laos in November 2009, making specific recommendations for Laos to protect religious minorities. |
|
|
|
Please pray...
- For physical and spiritual strength for the villagers who have been away from home with little food for over a month;
- For the district level officials to allow the group to return home;
- That the villagers would have their confiscated property returned intact;
- That the officials who have acted in this way will be brought to justice;
- That full freedom of religion would be applied to Laos after the recommendations made by the recent UN visit.
Why not add a prayer to our Prayer Wall to show your solidarity with Christians in Laos?
>>> Visit the prayer wall |
|
Want to receive urgent action requests straight to your inbox?
Sign up today to receive CSW's weekly Relay e-newsletter and quarterly Response magazine.
>>> Sign up today | |
