Christian family attacked, forcibly displaced ‘for faith’ in Laos

In rural areas of Laos, Christians are routinely victimized by different villagers for his or her religion, Christians say

A Christian household in southern Laos have been attacked and forcibly displaced from their house by Buddhist villagers allegedly offended over what they known as the observe of a “international faith.”

Members of the family and native sources stated 12 family members in Dong Savanh village in Savannakhet province had been pushed out of their house following an assault on Feb. 9, Radio Free Asia reported on Feb. 23.

The assault left their house burned to the bottom, forcing members of the family to flee the village and shelter with family.

Seng Aloun, a widow and head of the household, stated the assault was the most recent in a collection of assaults on the household in current instances.

She stated that when her husband died final December, the villagers refused to permit his burial within the village cemetery.

“My husband died on Dec. 4 final 12 months, and we took his physique to the village cemetery two days later, however the villagers wouldn’t permit us to bury him there. They struck his coffin with picket sticks and hit my members of the family too,” she advised RFA.

Village residents and native authorities don’t like us as a result of we imagine in Jesus Christ. They don’t need us right here. They are saying they don’t like the faith of a international nation

“Later, we buried my husband’s physique on Dec. 7 in our personal rice subject. However the villagers then burned down my house on Feb. 9 and seized our rice subject the subsequent day. They only wish to eliminate us.”

Seng Aloun recalled that the household had been evicted from the village as soon as earlier than in 2017. “Village residents and native authorities don’t like us as a result of we imagine in Jesus Christ. They don’t need us right here. They are saying they don’t like the faith of a international nation.”

Police from Phalanxay district of Savannakhet visited the members of the family to inquire concerning the burning of their house and seizure of their rice subject. Seng stated police advised her to take away her social media posts and movies describing the most recent assault and the sooner assault on her husband’s funeral.

A authorities official stated authorities have been investigating the case however disregarded a non secular motive behind the violence.

“Our preliminary info is that it is a private battle, not a non secular one,” the official stated. “We are actually searching for the individual or individuals who burned the household’s house, even when they’re authorities within the village. Whoever did the burning shall be punished in accordance with the regulation.” 

In the meantime, different Christians in Savannakhet voiced concern over the remedy of Seng Aroun and her household, noting that the Dong Savanh village chief had joined within the Dec. 6 assault on her husband’s funeral, leaving two members of the family injured.

One Christian stated native authorities ought to assist the household to get again their land in order that they will work on it. Nonetheless, that is unlikely. “They actually don’t like us,” the Christian stated.

“For instance, if we go to village authorities and ask them to signal a doc, they flip their again on us and gained’t do it. The police at all times facet with village authorities and different villagers too, so now we have nowhere else to show for assist,” he stated.

Nonetheless, many Buddhists, particularly in rural areas, view Christianity as an alien religion. Christians are routinely victimized, harassed and expelled by different villagers

Laos, a tiny Buddhist-majority communist nation in Southeast Asia with estimated inhabitants of seven million, has a nationwide regulation that enables freedom of faith.

Nonetheless, many Buddhists, particularly in rural areas, view Christianity as an alien religion. Christians are routinely victimized, harassed and expelled by different villagers.

In October 2020, authorities in Ta Oy district in Saravan province in southern Laos evicted seven Christians and destroyed their houses for allegedly refusing to resign their religion.

In March that 12 months, Christian chief and pastor Sithon Thippavong at Chonnabouly district in Savannakhet province was arrested for refusing to signal a doc renouncing his Christian religion. He was launched after spending one 12 months in jail on prices of “disrupting unity” and “creating dysfunction.”

In 2018, authorities in Phin district of Savannakhet province detained 4 Christians and three Christian leaders for seven days for allegedly celebrating Christmas with out permission.

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