Lao Christians Forced From Their Homes

[MORTARDUDE]

Lao Christians Forced From Their Homes
May 27, 2003




VOM News, Vientiane--Despite claims that persecution is unauthorized, Lao authorities recently ordered Christian families in the Attapue Province to leave their homes and cut them off from food and water supplies.


Twelve Christian families in Donphai village of the Attapue Province were given an ultimatum by village and provincial authorities to leave their homes by April 1 or be burned out. Local ministries are providing food and transportation for these believers, but they remain in need of prayer.
In the village of Kang, the police chief was joined by district and village officials in ordering Christians to leave their homes by April 28. The believers had already been cut off from food and water, forcing them to make a 4-hour roundtrip journey to the nearest city for supplies. They are also consistently denied basic medical and emergency services in their village. When these Christians had not left their homes by April 30, unknown people posted mocking, threatening leaflets on the doors of their houses.

Sadly this type of persecution is nothing new for Christians in Kang village.They have been imprisoned, had their animals poisoned, had rocks thrown at their houses and have been the victims of shootings. All four church leaders in this village have been imprisoned at one point or another. According to an Agence France-Presse story dated April 27, Lao authorities similarly evicted three other Christian families from their homes in Maung Phine District of Savannakhet Province. The story cited U.S. State Department reports of Christians in the northern city of Luang Prabang and elsewhere facing similar threats.

The story quoted seven members of the U.S. Congress as saying Laos "continues to be one of the world?s most reprehensible abusers of human rights?with a repertoire that includes torture, harsh restrictions on the press and free speech, and imprisonment of people for their religious beliefs." Please pray that the Laotian Christians will hold strong in the face of this persecution, and that God will provide all their needs. Also pray that the Laotian government will follow through on promises to investigate these acts of cruelty.