Christians Ordered to Renounce Their Faith in Laos
Christian Freedom International Urges the Vientiane Government to Stop Forcing Christians to Reject their Faith
VIENTIANE, LAOS --- Approximately 35 Christian families in the village of Nam Thuam, Nambak District, Luang Prabang Province, Laos, have been ordered to renounce their Christian faith by district government officials.
Background
Laos, a country slightly larger than Utah, is one of the few remaining official Communist states.
The world's third-largest illicit opium producer, Laos is a country with primitive infrastructure; it has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP.
It is also a country where Christians face severe persecution.
Christians Ordered to Renounce Faith
In March, 2004, Nambak District officials ordered Christians in the village of Nam Thuam to reject their faith or face consequences. Upon refusing, district officials sent government agents to Nam Thuam to live in the homes of Christians until they forsake their faith.
Some 35 agents are currently in Nam Thuam--one agent per Christian household--living with Christian families. The Christian households must pay for all expenses of each agent until they renounce their faith.
"There are government agents living with Christian families right now," said Bounpheng, 38, a Christian leader from Luang Prabang Province.
"Christians are getting tired." Bounpheng told Christian Freedom International, "The Christians have to pay for all the expenses of the agent living with them like food, clothing, drinks, whatever they want. The agents say 'We will stay with you until you renounce your faith.' No one has renounced their faith; the government agents still stay with the Christians. The agents will not allow the Christians to worship together. The Christians are getting tired. You cannot pray or read the Bible in front of other people, just secretly."
According to Bounpheng and other Laotian Christians, the agents will stay in the homes of Christians until they renounce their faith or move away from the village. "They don't want any Christians in the village," said Bounpheng.
There are approximately 35 Christian families in a village of approximately 300 families. There is no church in Nam Thuam, just house churches.
Renounce Faith or Face Arrest
In the village of Thong Sa Vang, Phinh District, Savannakhet Province, all Christians have been asked to renounce their faith or face arrest.
Christian Freedom International interviewed Bounnhane, 68, a Christian leader from Thong Sa Vang who fled to Vientiane because he refused to give up his Christian faith.
"If I return to Thong Sa Vang I will be killed or arrested I cannot go back. I will not renounce my faith," said Bounnhane. My family said "don't come back, you will be killed."
Bibles have been confiscated in Thong Sa Vang. "Police take everything from Christians. The Bible is called an illegal document," said Bounnhane.
Trumped Up Charges
Bounnhane has been arrested two times for his faith on trumped up charges and served several years in prison.
Bounnhane was accused of working with Western workers to overthrow the government and attending "secret meetings." In reality he attended Sunday worship services with Westerners in attendance. Bounnhane said, "When I was arrested the authorities asked me, 'Were there any police at your meetings?' No. 'It was an illegal secret meeting then.'"
Outside Pressure Works
In Savannakhet Province some 20 churches are routinely forced to close their doors and are confiscated by the government.
"Whenever the U.S. government or outside pressure comes the churches are reopened, but as soon as the pressure stops the churches are forced to close again," said Bounnhane.
In 1998 Nan District government asked villagers in Pha Tong Lom to stop being Christians. "All of us Christians were asked to attend a seminar in a Buddhist temple, said Bounpheng. "We were told that the government is for development, not your religion.
Bounpheng said, "We were told, 'your religion has passed away like the old government. Your old government didn't do anything. Do you want to go back to that?'"
According Bounpheng, "After a week-long seminar they gave everyone in the village a paper to sign to renounce our faith, but no one would sign. Then they forced each person to sign by pointing a loaded gun at us."
Bounpheng said, "Even though we sign the paper, we continue to worship and still believe in Jesus. We renounce from being a Christian but we still believe in Jesus."
This angered authorities so they confiscated Bibles, shut down churches, and arrested Bounpheng. However, outside demands made a major difference. According to Bounpheng, "In 2002 we are free to worship again. The prime minister announced this because he got a lot of pressure from other countries, like the United States. Since 2002 there is still some persecution in my village, but not like before."
Christians Sentenced to Forced Labor
Christians in Laos are routinely arrested and placed in forced labor camps to work in rice fields. Sometimes all Christians in a village are arrested at the same time and are forced to work in the rice fields for four to five months without pay.
"They have so many ways to accuse you if you are a Christian. They will plant a gun in your house and say you are trying to overthrow the government. They are very clever," said. Bounnhane, "I have to always protect myself to make sure nothing is planted in my house."
Christians Suffer Disproportionately
The Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR) has an estimated population of only 5.2 million. Approximately 65 percent of the population follows Theravada Buddhism. Followers of animism, the second largest religion, are estimated at 30 percent of the population.
Christians constitute barely 2 percent of the population, but Christianity is growing rapidly throughout the country and the government is concerned.
Christian Freedom International Demands
Christian Freedom International is demanding that the Vientiane government order Nambak District officials to leave the homes of Christian families in the village of Nam Thuam.
Christian Freedom International urges the U.S. government and others to speak up for Christians in Laos and to urge the Vientiane government to put an end to the forced renunciations of Christians, confiscations of churches and Christian homes, and Christian literature including Bibles.
Christian Freedom International urges the immediate release of all prisoners of religious conscience, including Bounchanh and Nhot, Oudonxy Province, who have been in prison for more than 15 years for their Christian activities.
www.christianfreedom.org
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