On 2 December, Lao National Day, authorities came to a village in Luang Prabang, called all Christians for a meeting and told them to leave the village.
The seven Christian families were asked for their family documents (land title, family book and village identification cards), and asked to leave, as ‘they may further create problems in the community due to their Christian beliefs’.
Pleading for documents
The Christians pleaded with the authorities not to take their family documents from them and not to make them leave their village since they have nowhere to go, but the authorities wouldn't change their decision. The police told them to move out, mocking them saying: ‘If you have nowhere to go, go out and live with Christ!’
An Open Doors worker who visited Luang Prabang said: ‘The police also told these families to deny Jesus and stop believing in him, since they don’t like Christ to be these families’ God. They hate Jesus and they don’t want Jesus’ name to be known in the village.’
Ordered to deny Christ
In another village, the Governor of one district sent out an order that two Hmong men in their twenties, Min Ko* and Tshaiv*, should report to his office, where they were ordered by the Governor to deny Christ as their God.
Prior to them being summoned by the authorities to the Governor’s office, Min Ko and Tshaiv had also had possessions taken away from them because of their faith in Christ. One day, during the harvest season, the government authorities came to their rice fields and took sacks of rice from them upon hearing that they were believers. The authorities then warned them to deny Christ, but they didn’t waiver in their faith. Instead, they continued to worship the Lord.
Earlier in December, Tshaiv was beaten by his own family because he wanted to celebrate Christmas with believers in his home church. His father would not allow him to go and tied him up instead. With Tshaiv’s hands tied behind his back, his father called his neighbours and cousins to beat him, and they threw punches at him as violently as they could.
Though persecuted by their families and communities, Min Ko and Tshaiv have remained steadfast in their Christian faith.
The village chief, district police and other people in authority then came to see Min Ko and Tshaiv in their respective houses, asking them if they have land titles, family books and identification cards. They showed the documents thinking that the authorities would only take a look at them; instead the authorities took everything with them. The documents were kept by the authorities. Min Ko went to a church leader from another district to borrow money for petrol to refill his motorbike as he was travelling to seek help and advice from the registered church in Laos.
