Laos officials arrested two Christians from Thailand and three from Laos in Luang Namtha province on June 16. They were apprehended at a private home in Long District. This is according to Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF).
They also arrested a pastor in Luang Namtha and dismissed two civil servants in Savannakhet for converting to Christianity, HRWLRF reports. The five Christians arrested on the 16th in Luang Namtha have been accused of "spreading the Christian faith without the approval of the authorities." "It's very ironic, as it's highly unlikely that officials in Laos would ever approve of someone trying to spread the Christian faith," says a source who wishes to remain anonymous.
Thai brothers Jonasa and Phanthakorn Wiwatdamrong, as well as two local residents, one named Chalar, the other as yet unidentified, were taken directly to Luang Namtha Provincial Prison. The normal procedure is to hold detainees in the local jail for 36 hours during the initial investigation, after which they are transferred to the provincial jail, according to HRWLRF.
In another case, two members of the security force in Alowmai village, named Khamsorn and Tonglai, were released on June 14 after being arrested for converting to Christianity.
Source: Compass Direct News
