Laos - Fears for Christian families in communist roundup - investigation finds severe persecution |
| Mar 14 2008 |
| Postings >> Laos |
Release International is deeply concerned for the safety of 15 Christian families who have been rounded up and arrested in the communist nation of Laos. A Release investigation team has just returned from Laos and found evidence of the severe persecution of Christians.
The authorities have refused to disclose the whereabouts of 58 Christians – including women and children – seized in the latest crackdown on the Church.
The Lao authorities launched raids on two villages in Bokeo district. They arrested Christian families from the ethnic Hmong people who have fled persecution in Vietnam. It’s feared they may be deported back to Vietnam where they are likely to face brutal treatment.
Last month the Lao authorities sentenced nine Hmong church leaders to 15 years in jail – because their Christian ministries had grown ‘beyond acceptable levels for the communist officials,’ according to news agency Compass Direct.
The clampdown went ahead even though their church is part of the government registered and officially-recognised Lao Evangelical Church.
Release International, which serves the persecuted Church in 30 nations, has just returned from Laos. They found evidence of severe repression against Christians, who are regarded with deep suspicion by the authorities.
‘We spoke to pastors who had been jailed simply for sharing their faith,’ says Release spokesman Andrew Boyd. ‘They described being brutally tortured and pressurised to renounce their religion. When they refused they were chained with their feet in stocks in stinking cells without any sanitation. Yet many shared their faith with the other prisoners and led them to Christ.’
The Hmong are singled out for suspicion by the authorities for a variety of reasons. They sided with the Americans in the Vietnam War, and the communist authorities still regard Christians as foreign-funded conspirators working to undermine the communist revolution.
Added to that the Hmong are accused of backing a separatist movement – which those who fled to Laos to escape persecution deny. The Vietnamese authorities killed13 Hmong Christians in a crackdown against suspected rebels last July.
The authorities have so far refused to disclose where they have taken the 58 Christian Hmong they have rounded up. Observers believe they will probably be deported back to Vietnam, where many will face long and harsh prison terms.
Release International has been supporting Christians in Vietnam and Laos. A video report on the plight of Christians in Vietnam is on the latest edition of World Update on the Persecuted Church, Release’s award-winning webcast, which is available for download from the website www.releaseinternational.org
ENDS
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
For a country profile on Laos, please go to: www.releaseinternational.org/pages/country-profiles/laos.php
Through its international network of missions Release International works to support persecuted Christians in some 30 nations. Release is supporting Christians imprisoned for their faith and their families. It supports church workers, pastors and their families, and provides training, Bibles, Christian literature and broadcasts.
Release International is a member of the UK organisations Global Connections, the Evangelical Alliance and the Micah Network.
For further information, please contact Andrew Boyd on 01730 301905 or 07986 712 813, or contact Release International on 01689 823491 or by email at info@releaseinternational.org
