Savannakhet Provincial Authorities Unlawfully Seized a Building of 50 Years Old Church Nadaeng Village, Saybuli District, Savannakhet Province, LAOS Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF) Advocacy Alert No. 1/2012 January 13, 2012
On December 4, 2011, Saybuli’s district head of the religious affairs (Mr. Bountha) and district head of police (Major Noukan), along with two other district officials, joined Nadaeng village chief (Mr. Boula) in order to conduct a special training in Nadaeng village with regard to the promotion of national policies. Villagers and officials participated.
During the training session, Bountha cautioned participants to be careful of deceptive tactics of the enemy (imperialistic Americans) who uses Christian religion to oppose the present Lao political system. Then, Bountha ordered Christians to cease using their church building for all religious activities. The order was effective on December 5 (2011). However, Nadaeng Christians disregarded the order and have continued using the building for religious activities.
On December 27-28, 2011, Nadaeng Christians successfully held Christmas gathering in the church building without any disruption from Lao authorities. However, on January 7, 2012, Saybuli district authorities summoned Nadaeng Christian leaders Mr. Khamseng and Mr. Viensai for a meeting at the district headquarters. The Lao officials present during the meeting consisted of the deputy head of religious affairs Mr. Sornpun, Lieutenant Colonel Puvieng (member of Savannakhet provincial religious affairs), Sayburi district chief Mr. Yernma, Saybuli district head of the religious affairs Bountha, district head of police Major Noukan, and a district deputy police chief. Along with Lao officials, the head of LEC Savannakhet branch (Mr. Petro) and his deputy (Mr. Sengdoung) were present during the meeting.
In the meeting, Lao officials above ordered the confiscation of Nadaeng church building and placed it under the control of Nadaeng village government. Since then, no Christians have not been allowed to enter the church building to conduct any religious activity.
Savannakhet provincial authorities stated that they recognize only seven churches in seven locations throughout Savannakhet province: Tungsamakee, Posai Tai, Dongpoong, Kengkok, Songkorn, Nakham, and Saynoun. Since Nadaeng church was not recognized by the authorities, all its religious activities are considered illegal and all of its possessions, including church building, are deemed belonging to the state.
Presently there thirty churches with church buildings throughout Savannakhet province and only seven of these are recognized by authorities, the remaining are considered illegal. Now that two of them (Nadaeng church building and Dongpaiwan church building) have been confiscated, the remaining twenty-three church building are at risk of also being confiscated by Lao authorities at any time. Nadaeng church was started in 1959 and it has continued functioning ever since. Nadaeng church has gone through several repressions at the hands of Lao authorities. However, almost 19 years ago, on March 11, 1993, the Saybuli district chief granted approved the building the present Nadaeng church which is now confiscated. Christians are not been able to enter and worship God in their church building since government’s takeover on January 7, 2012.
Although religious freedom and religious assembly to practice one’s religion are guaranteed by the Lao constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as ratified by the Lao government, Savannakhet provincial authorities have refused to recognize the existence of Christians and churches in Savannakhet province other than seven. Furthermore, by confiscating Nadaeng church building which was officially approved in 1993, Savannakhet provincial officials and Saybuli district officials both have unlawfully possessing another’s property, which is criminally punishable.
The HRWLRF urges the Lao government to respect the Lao constitutionas well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as ratified by the Lao government and recognize Nadaeng church and their right to exist as well as to grant freedom to believe in any religion and assemble in order to practice their religious beliefs. Furthermore, the HRWLRF encourages the Lao government to return Nadaeng church building to Christians so that they can enjoy religious freedom as guaranteed to them
Savannakhet Provincial Police Authorities Release Seven Christians in Boukham Village Boukham village, Ad-Sapangthong district, Savannakhet province Released: January 12, 2012
Almost one month after their arrest and detention in Boukham village, the seven Christian leaders were released unconditionally around 8:00 PM on January 12, 2012. Their release came three days after family members of Christian detainees filed legal complaints against Boukham village authorities with Ad-Sapangthong district office and also after mounting pressures on the Lao government from international community due to advocacy. (See information on their arrest and detention, http://www.hrwlrf.net/files/Download/AdvocacyNo13-2011.pdf | http://www.hrwlrf.net/files/Download/AdvocacyNo10-2011.pdf)
Lao authorities have released Christian leaders, but confiscate churches, rights activists report.
Seven Christian leaders who were detained and tortured for nearly a month in southern Laos have been released, but concerns remain about "the confiscation" of church buildings, an official assisting them told BosNewsLife Friday, January 13.
"Almost one month after their arrest and detention in Boukham village [in the] Ad-Sapathong district [of] Savannakhet province, the seven Christian leaders were released unconditionally", said Sirikoon Prasertsee, director of Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF).
He told BosNewsLife that the release was "unconditionally" amid "prayers and advocacy efforts."
Prasertsee, who has close knowledge about the situation, said earlier that the village authorities claimed that the detained Christians "violated the village’s 'hiit'," the local traditional customs and spirit beliefs," because of their Christian faith practices.
He said they were allegedly being restrained in wooden stocks, commonly used in Lao prisons and detention centers, sometimes combined with exposure to red fire ants, as a form of torture.
HIGH FINES
The official explained that authorities used this method to pressure them to admit to the charges and to pay fines of several times the average monthly wage of rougly $40.
Pastors Sompong and Ma of the Boukham church were fined some $250 in local currency, and forced to handover one cow, a value of $200, the group said.
Pastors Wanta and Oun of the nearby Liansai church, were fined $125 and 1 cow. The same sentences were given to Pastors Kaithong and Kai of the Saisomboon church and Pastor Puphet of the Donpalai church. In Laos people often use only one name.
There were no indications that the fines were paid. However Prasertsee told BosNewsLife that the "Lao district and village authorities" torturing tactics have been severely affecting the health of at least three church leaders in Boukham village.
While pleased they were released, Prasertsee said his group remains concerned about "the confiscation of church buildings" elsewhere in the troubled Savannakhet province.
The HRWLRF said in a statement to BosNewsLife that in one of the latest known incidents, provincial authorities in Nadaeng village of the province's Saybuli District "unlawfully" seized the building of a more than 50-year-old church there.
GOVERNMENT "TAKE-OVER"
"Lao officials ordered the confiscation of the Nadaeng Church building and placed it under the control of the Nadaeng village government".
The HRWLRF said that since January 7 "no Christians have been allowed to enter the church building to conduct any religious activity."
Rights investigators linked the decision to a "successful Christmas gathering" which was held in the church by Christians ignoring a government order not to hold such meetings.
Last month, security and other officials reportedly told villagers "to be careful of deceptive tactics of the enemy [such as] imperialistic Americans who use Christian religion to oppose the present Lao political system."
The closure of the church came as a major setback for the Nadaeng Church which held services in its current building since 1959.
MORE CONFISCATIONS?
Rights investigators said another church was earlier also confiscated and that they fear more raids in the near future. "Now that two of them, the Nadaeng Church building and the Dongpaiwan Church building have been confiscated" a further 23 church buildings "are at risk", HRWLRF. Only 7 of the 30 known churches in thr province have been recognized, according to Christian rights investigators.
Analysts say Christianity is generally perceived as a Western ideology that challenges Communism.
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 rights investigators.
Lao authorities have been difficult to reach for comment. Authorities have in the past however denied human rights abuses against minorities.
Laos is viewed as one of the world's few remaining communist states and one of east Asia's poorest nations.
