A new decree issued by the Laos Government last year is leaving Christians and churches vulnerable to prosecution, it was reported in July.
The vaguely-worded law requires ‘associations’ – a term which covers groups from clubs to non-profits – to meet stringent registration criteria.
Associations are also prohibited from a number of activities. They are not allowed ‘to support or carry out activities that threaten national security, social order … national, local and ethnic traditions’ and are also banned from anything which will ‘divide national, [or] local solidarity’.
Christians in the country’s rural areas are particularly subject to persecution by local authorities.
Ill-defined
The vagueness of the wording means that the authorities are free to define what constitutes threatening ‘social order’ or other alleged breaches and thus use the law against whomsoever they choose. Based on past practice, this is likely to be Christians and churches. The decree effectively places the state as the final arbiter of permissible religious activities, which are already tightly regulated.
Although all religious organisations are required to register by the atheistic Communist government, local officials are typically suspicious of Christians, while allowing Buddhists comparative religious freedom. In December, five Christians were arrested in Phin District.
