ICC Note: As one of the five remaining Communist nations on earth, Laos continues to not only impose legal restrictions on the freedom of worship but allows local village leaders to expel or harass Christian villagers with little fear of government repercussions. New believers in Laos are some of the most common victims. On numerous occasions in recent years new believers and their families have been forced to leave their homes and barred from ever returning after accepting Christ.
6/24/2013 Laos (CSW) – Christian families in north-central Laos have been asked to leave their homes and resettle elsewhere because they have turned to Christ.
In one area the village chief in Keang Khean told all Christians to leave immediately. Tensions in the village in the Chomphet district of Luang Prabang province are said to be running high.
In another development, the government has given three families in Sanam village official notice to leave the area after two years of persecution. The 18 members of the Ser, Taam and Thong families have had their papers confiscated since last year.
Meanwhile, the South Korean embassy in Laos is sheltering about 20 North Korean defectors, including recent arrivals. On June 4, 18 of them were moved from a safe house to the embassy for their protection. According to a diplomatic source, the defectors include children, people with physical disabilities and cancer patients. Most are in relatively good health.
The South Korean Saenuiri Party lawmaker Kim Jae-won said the defectors “ have been resting since they were moved to the embassy compound and look forward to going to South Korea as soon as possible.”
However, their wish is not likely to be realized anytime soon. North Korean defectors, even under the protection of the South Korean embassy, have to be interviewed by Lao authorities, get travel permits and pay illegal entry fines of $300 in order to leave the country.
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