Thus, in spite of declarations from the authorities of the LPDR claiming that the Lao citizens are never harrased on religious ground, the Christian minority of Laos is always being persecuted for the practice of their faith, a repression that has been going on for more than 28 years.

According to informations sent to the LMHR, three Christians - MM. GORNJEAN, A-LAR and A-LUA - from the village Katip, district of Muong Phine, were arrested on 20 April 2004 for having refused to give up their Christian faith, forced to work day and night, with only one very light meal per day.

After being convened by the police authorities on 14 April 2004 and be asked to renounce their religion, six other Christians - - MM SIPAK, A-DANG and SOMSAI from the village Kengchay as well as MM BOUNLERD, MAK and KHAMPON from the village A-Lawkork - - were jailed on 11 May 2004 for having ignored the authorities demand.

The waves of repression continued on 15 May 2004 at the village Hueyhoy, district of Muong Phine, with the arrest of MM. KHAMCHAN, DONKHAM and BOUNTHA because of their will to remain Christians in spite of the authorities pressures.

Up to this day, the twelve Christians are being incarcerated in the prison of Muong Phine. Nine of them, those from the villages Kengchay, A-Lawkok and Kueyhoy, have their hands and the legs constantly blocked in a wooden frame.

The LMHR expresses its deep indignations to these unacceptable arrests and strongly condemns these endless violations of the basic rights endured by the Laotians. The LMHR denounces, one more, the double language and the absence of sincerity of the leaders of the LPDR whose violent actions against the people are in complete contradictions with their warm pledges given to the international community and to the donator countries.

These violations of the freedom of religion, which cannot be the only responsibility of the local authorities, clearly shows that the LPDR remains repressive and predator of freedoms. They confirm the alarming informations published on 12 May 2004 by the USCIRF and on 17 May 2004 by the American State Department in the report entitled "Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The US Record 2003-2004."

The LMHR asks the authorities of the LPDR to release these Christians without conditions, to end this campaign of repressions against religious minorities as well as against ethnic minorities, and to immediatly free all persons jailed for their opinions or their belief.

The Lao Movement for Human Rights calls on the donator countries, in particular to the European Union and its member States, the United Nations, the Unites States, Japan, Australia, ASEAN and the International financial institution, to reconsider their bilateral relations with the LPDR and to accentuate their pressures, including economic, on this totalitarian régime so that freedom of belief and the basic rights of the Lao people are fully respected.