Laos: Christians threatened with eviction orders

Christian converts in Savannakhet Province in Laos are facing eviction from their village if they refuse to renounce their Christian beliefs, according to reports from the human rights organisation Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF).

At a village meeting on 21 September, the Huay Village authorities in Atsaphangthong District ruled that the converts to Protestant Christianity must recant or face expulsion. The authorities accused the Christians of conducting corporate worship in their homes. The Christian villagers have rejected the order, claiming that their right to freedom of religion or belief is guaranteed under Laos’ constitution.

Last month, a group of fifty Christian converts in Borikan (sometimes known as Bolikanh) District, Bolikhamsai Province were given a similar ultimatum. HRWLRF reports that the Nongdaeng Village authorities summoned representatives of the eleven families to an official meeting on 30 August, where the authorities ordered them to reconvert to their “traditional” (animist) religion. The village authorities accused the families of believing in the religion of a “foreign Western power” destructive to the Lao nation.

Information received by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) indicates that this is a common charge levelled at Christian converts. The Christians were given three days to abide by the order but they refused, insisting that Laos’ constitution protects their right to freedom of religion or belief.

CSW Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, “Sadly, the forced eviction of Christians in Laos is not a new problem. However, these cases suggest that Christians in the country are increasingly aware of their rights under the constitution, and are beginning to evoke these rights in clashes with the authorities. As a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Laos has an obligation to protect the right to freedom of religion or belief. We call on the government to uphold this right and protect religious minorities from violations by both state and non-state actors”.

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 / +44 (0) 78 2332 9663, email kiri@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.