Civic space in Laos is rated ‘closed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor. The fundamental freedoms of association, expression and peaceful assembly remain severely restricted while impunity persists in cases of enforced disappearance, attacks and extrajudicial killings of human rights defenders and activists.
On 5th April 2024, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Lao Movement for Human Rights (LMHR) submitted their joint follow-up report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee (CCPR) to detail the government’s failure to take any steps towards the implementation of key recommendations made by the CCPR on enforced disappearances and participation in public affairs and the right to vote. The CCPR made such recommendations after the review of Laos’ initial report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in July 2018.
Amnesty International released its Annual Report on 24th April 2024 where it highlighted that human rights defenders in Laos were under heightened attack both at home and abroad and faced arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and killings. The government also intensified its efforts to crack down on online criticism.
In recent months, the authorities arrested a social media critic for exposing bribery, there was a crackdown on land rights protesters, while a makeshift Christian church was attacked.
Expression
Social media critic exposing bribery arrested
In March 2024, a man (pictured above) identified only as Bee from Khonkeo village in Bokeo was arrested after posting a critical video on Facebook highlighting bribery practices committed by officers at the Houeixam checkpoint in Boun Tai district of Phongsaly province near the Chinese border.
According to Radio Free Asia (RFA), Bee was not officially charged, but was ‘re-educated’ following his arrest. The police reportedly orchestrated an apology video where Bee apologised for his original video which he said contained ‘twisted content’ and ‘propaganda’. However, the audio was seemingly laid over the video suggesting that Bee was not the one making the apology.
As previously documented, individuals have been imprisoned for the exercise of their right to freedom of opinion and expression. They include Houayheuang Xayabouly (aka Mouay), who has been detained since September 2019 and is serving a five-year prison sentence after she used Facebook to criticise the Lao government for instances of corruption to the mishandling of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam collapse in Attapeu Province.
Report highlights laws and regulations used to silence online expression
👾⚠️ #StopDigitalDictatorship Event recap on March12 at @SEAJunction, “Dawn of Digital Dictatorship: Weaponizing the Law Against Online Speech in Southeast Asia”. Our awesome panel of experts covered everything from censorship to privacy issues, and our amazing moderator… pic.twitter.com/SxwEd2BwGv
— Manushya Foundation (@ManushyaFdn) March 22, 2024
On 12th March 2024, the World Day Against Cyber Censorship, the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship launched its flagship report, “Dawn of Digital Dictatorship: Weaponizing the Law Against Online Speech in Southeast Asia”, on the ominous rise of digital authoritarianism in the region.
The report highlighted laws and regulations in Laos that are used to silence online expression. The Lao Penal Code provides vague and broadly formulated offences of defamation, libel and insult. Articles 205 and 206 of the 2017 Penal Code (Articles 94 and 95 of the 2005 Penal Code) provide broad definitions of defamation. The 2015 Law on Prevention and Combating Cyber Crime further affords the government power to silence online criticisms by criminalising vaguely defined web content, while Article 117 of the Penal Code (Article 65 of the 2005 Penal Code), criminalises “propaganda against the state.”
In addition, Decree No. 327 on Internet-Based Information Control/Management, which entered into force in 2014, contains a number of provisions that unduly restrict the right to freedom of expression by imposing harsh penalties for online criticism and the circulation of “false information online.”
According to the report, there have been numerous cases of individuals being arbitrarily arrested, detained and interrogated for reporting alleged wrongdoings by officials. However, due to repression of domestic media and the regime’s opaque nature, coverage of such cases in the country is limited.
Peaceful Assembly
Crackdown on peaceful land rights protestors
On 23rd January 2024, twenty residents of Xang village in Laos’ northern Xieng Khouang province were involved in a multi-day protest against the state-sponsored seizure of the village’s historical and cultural land for the Phengxay Import-Export Company. Four male residents were arrested during the protest and later two women who were part of the village’s Women’s Union were also arrested when they visited the arrested men.
The villagers had previously leased their land to Phengxay Import-Export Company which utilised the land for a wood processing factory under a fifteen-year lease from 2008-2023. When the villagers requested that the land be returned in late 2023, they learned that the district authorities had issued a land title for the company. The villagers deemed the title to be illegal and alleged that the company had bribed the authorities for its issuance.
As previously documented, land grabs and the appropriation of public property to turn over to foreign and domestic companies are common in Laos, and villagers affected by them often refuse to speak out publicly for fear of retribution.
Association
Ongoing assault on religious freedom
Despite the government’s recognition of four religions, including Christianity, attacks against Christian places of worship continue with impunity.
On 4th February 2024, a makeshift Christian church in Kaleum Vangke village in Savannakhet province’s Xonboury district was attacked by village authorities including the village chief, village security guards and other senior village residents. Despite the house church being affiliated with the Lao Evangelical Church, the only state-recognised Christian denomination, the house was torn down and bibles and other documents were burned.
On 29th February 2024, as reported by Radio Free Asia (RFA), the house church was rebuilt under the protection and supervision of the Ministry of Public Security. District-level authorities cautioned village officials against further harassment of Christians. Nevertheless, nothing has been done to hold to account those involved in the attack.
As previously documented, while Laos has an existing law which allows Lao Christians to preach in the country, Christians - who account for around two percent of the seven million population - consistently face discrimination, particularly in rural areas. Some have been arrested for holding prayer services and have faced harassment from the authorities.