Faith
Under Fire....
Laos Detains Christians Over Worship Service
Sunday, March 25, 2012 (8:49 pm)
By BosNewsLife Asia Service
Laos Christians face increased persecution, new reports suggest.
VIENTIANE, LAOS (BosNewsLife)-- Lao authorities have detained five
Christians who attended a Christian worship service Sunday, March
25, in southern Laos amid a crackdown on Christianity in the
region, representatives told BosNewsLife.
They are held on charges of "leading religious movements without
official approval,” said the Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious
Freedom (HRWLRF), which is in close contact with the growing house
church movement in the area.
HRWLRF told BosNewsLife that the Christians were detained Sunday
afternoon local time during the church service in Boukham village,
located in Ad-Sapangthong district of Savannakhet Province.
The Christians were two men, identified as Phosee and Viengsai,
both from nearby Phosai village, and three women, Alee from Phosai
village, Poon from Pone village, and Narm from Natoo village. In
Laos locals often use only one name.
OTHERS "AT RISK"
Other Christian worship attendees are "also at risk" to be
detained on charges of violating religious regulations, the group
said.
The five were reportedly moved to the same detention facility that
Boukham village authorities used to detain church leaders earlier
this year.
At least seven Christian leaders were detained and tortured for
nearly a month in the same region before being released, though
concerns have remained about "the confiscation" of church
buildings said HRWLRF Director Sirikoon Prasertsee at the time.
HRWLRF said it has urged the Lao government "to respect the
freedom to manifest one’s religion or belief in worship as
guaranteed by the Lao constitution
and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as
ratified by the Lao government."
NO REACTION
There was no immediate reaction from Lao officials.
Analysts say Christianity in Laos is generally perceived as a
Western ideology that challenges the ruling Communist
establishment.
There about 200,000 devoted Christians in the Communist-run Asian
nation, where most of the 6.4 million people are Buddhists,
according to Christian estimates.