By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
VIENTIANE (Worthy News) - Authorities in southern Laos have told dozens of Christian converts to leave their homes because their faith goes against “the dominant village religious belief in animism or traditional spirits cults,” Christians told Worthy News Thursday.
Their troubles began Wednesday when Sa Mouay district authorities reportedly “forced” eight Lao Christian families comprising about 60 people from their village homes.
The Christians were later told they had 30 days to find new homes, confirmed Sirikoon Prasertsee, director of the Human Rights Watcher for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLR).
In rural, impoverished Laos, they now have to find “materials to build temporary shelters outside their villages,” added Prasertsee, who closely follows the situation.
“We really can't predict what the Sa Mouay district officials will do with the 60 Lao Christians if the temporary shelters are not completed within 30 days,” he told Worthy News.
Footage sent to Worthy News showed the Christians sitting and standing in a jungle area as they searched for materials. There were no indications Thursday that they would be able to stay in their village homes.
“The officials maintain that Lao people who changed or adopted the Christian religion or belief must be removed from their right to their homes and properties. The Christians are forced to give up their right to live in their village and be expelled,” Prasertsee added.
COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT
It was unclear when and if the central Communist government of Laos would intervene. “They are obligated to protect the Lao Christian believers from acts of aggression from other villagers due to the Lao Christians’ decision to replace their former religion with the Christian faith,” HRWLR said.
Prasertsee told Worthy News that the Laos constitution and international agreements the country signed recognize the right and freedom of all Lao citizens “to believe or not to believe in religions.”
However, the Christians in Sa Mouay are the latest known believers being targeted in the Communist-run Asian nation with a Buddhist majority.
On Sunday, October 1, the deputy chief of Khampou village” in Savannakhet Province “ordered” Sard Onmeunsee, a Christian woman leading the village church, and 17 other believers to end their activities, Christians told Worthy News earlier this week.
Across the country, there are reports that people from the Buddhist-animist community who become Christians face pressure and violence, according to the advocacy group Open Doors. “Their families and local authorities often target them,” Christians observed.
“The community often gets stirred up against them until the new believers are expelled from their home village,” Open Doors said.
The group ranks Laos number 31 on its annual World Watch List of 50 nations, where it says Christians face most persecution for their faith.