FIVE FAMILIES ORDERED EVICTED FROM LAO VILLAGE

Another five Lao families have been ordered to leave their home village just because they are Christians.

The heads of the five families are Mr. Boukeo and Mr. Khamsuak (sometime referred to as Suak), both leaders in the local church, and three other Christians, Mr. Tongsawat (sometime referred to as Sawat), Mr. Nuang, and Mr. Keopong. All are residents of Kan Village, Sanamchai district, Attapue province.

According to news received today by Christian Aid, these five were summoned to a meeting at the provincial department of religious affairs on June 9. The following individuals were present at the meeting:

1. Mr. Sitat Intivong, the head of Attapue province’s department of religious affairs, who acted as the chairman 2. Mr. Lid, a member of the National House of Representatives, District 7 3. The Honorable Judge Langsee, Attapue’s provincial judge 4. Mr. Keovongvieng, provincial police 5. Mr. Tongpan, the head of Sanamchai district’s department of religious affairs, representing Sanamchai district authorities.

The five Christians were accused of causing disorder and disharmony. The meeting moved unanimously that these five Christians, including their wives and children, should be evicted from Kang Village and that they should move to another province at their own expense.

Christian Aid was told that all five of them were forced to sign a document stating that they were leaving Kang Village with their wives and children of their own free will. They were told if they did not sign that document, they would be arrested and put in prison. The men signed the document, and then went to the city of Pakse, Champasak province, where they wrote a retraction stating that they had been threatened and forced to sign the previous document against their will. They then faxed the retraction to their national church leader in Vientiane.

Attapue officials gave them 10 days to get them and their wives and children out of Kang Village. If they did not leave in that length of time, the authorities said they would not be responsible for their lives, should any harm or imprisonment come to them.

Please pray for these five pressured families and for Khamphon Kounthapanya, the chairman of the Lao Evangelical Church in Vientiane. Please pray also that this information will be brought to the attention of the U.N., human rights advocates, and others who might be able to bring pressure to bear upon Lao authorities.

“Please feel free to do anything within your power to help,” the voice from Laos said.

You may wish to contact your U.S. Senator or Congressman about this matter.

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