1) The release of the 20 prisoners whom were arrested by the district police (including Pastor Wanna and his two children, ages 4 and 8). Mr Wanna was taken from his home in Nakoon Village on the 4th and 5th of January 2011 and were taken to Khammaouan Provincial Prison. Authorities charged them with conducting a secret meeting without Government approval during their Christians worshiping at a Laos village pastor’s house. Source: Charisma News Online and posted by Faith News Staff – Church of God.
2) The compensation of 15 Christians , comprising of seven families that were expelled by the Local officials from their homes in Katin, Ta-Oyl District.Their rice fields were destroyed in an attempt to starve the Christians out of the area. Southeast Asian Director Stephen Van Valkenburg of Christian Aid Mission has sought the confirmation from indigenous leaders that government officials were
renewing their persecution of Laotian Christians over the Christmas holidays.
3/ The release of the 9 prisoners whom were arrested by the Lao PDR Government on the 2nd of November 2009 for lodging a petition in relation to their land rights.
Human Rights Laos – International continues to request President H.E. Mr Choumaly Sayasone of Lao People’s Democratic Republic to implement the holding of multi-party elections to be monitored by the international community and to seek National Reconciliation on the 30th of April 2011.
Best Regards,
Bounkhong Arounsavat
President of Human Rights Laos – International
Canberra, 28 January 2011.