Missions

Imprisoned Lao Christians released but persecution continues

By: Edmond Chua, Christian Post
Posted:
Wednesday, 19 November 2008, 19:04 (MYT)
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Sources have confirmed the release on Sunday of three believers detained in stocks in a Lao village but add that restrictions on Christian worship in the village are still in force.

According to Compass Direct News, local authorities have released Pastor Sompong Supatto, 32, and two other believers, Boot Chanthaleuxay, 18, and Khamvan Chanthaleuxay, also 18, from Boukham village in Savannakhet province, after more than three months of captivity against the wishes of the village chief, who had threatened to impose on Supatto a life sentence at a maximum-security prison. Their release has been credited to international advocacy efforts.

However, village officials remain hostile to Christians, reported the Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF).

The persecution started on July 20 when authorities stormed the house church to which they belong, arrested Supatto and four other believers and ordered the 63 Christians present to stop their worship activity or face arrest and imprisonment for “believing and worshipping God”. These believers were also targetted because their church was not officially registered. Many Christians prefer not to register because it comes with strict limitations on church activities.

The five were briefly detained and warned to stop holding worship meetings. But when the house church continued to meet, the police arrested Supatto and two members of the Chanthaleuxay family on August 3, detaining them in handcuffs and wooden foot-stocks in the nearby Ad-Sapangthong district police detention cell. They said initially that they would not release them until they have renounced their faith, stated HRWLRF.

Compass reports that on August 25 the village chief had encouraged family members to apply for bail for the two teenagers but added that Supatto did not qualify for bail, because his punishment for leading the Boukham church was “life in prison”. Days afterward, he again pressured family members to sign the documents renouncing their faith to secure the teenagers’ release, but they declined.

Then, in September, he called a special community meeting to resolve the “problem” of eight resident Christian families who refused to give up their faith. Meetings were usually attended by all adults in the village, but in this case, the Christians were excluded from it. The meeting concluded with a call to expel all 55 Christians from the village, but no expulsion has been reported thus far.

After the prisoners’ release, the Boukham Christians began travelling to other house churches in the district for worship, but expressed their hope to resume services in their own community if the state restrictions could be lifted.

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