On 1st October 2003 Nirj Deva called on the British Government to act urgently to ensure the well-being of Christians currently being detained in the city of Muang Nong, Laos.

The group of twenty one Christians from the minority ethnic group Bru were arrested and jailed in May 2003 for refusing the orders of local officials to stop practising their religion

Deva Higlights Religious Persecution in Laos
1st October 2003

Nirj Deva, the MEP for South East England and Conservative Spokesman for International Development has, in a call for peace and democracy, today (Wednesday) called on the British Government to act urgently to ensure the well-being of Christians currently being detained in the city of Muang Nong, Laos.

The group of twenty one Christians from the minority ethnic group Bru were arrested and jailed in May 2003 for refusing the orders of local officials to stop practising their religion.

Local authorities have confirmed that six members of the group have been released on compassionate grounds after signing statements saying they would no longer practise their religion.

Those held captive are rumoured to have been forced to hold guns to their heads in order for the Laotian Police to facilitate firearms violation prosecutions in order to cover up the real nature of their arrest.

Expressing his disgust, the angry MEP said:

“I was shocked to receive a letter from a constituent informing me of the disgusting conditions these innocent people are being kept in for the simple crime of practising their faith.

“I have written to the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, urging him to put pressure on the Laotian Government to end this religious persecution.

“In order to raise awareness of this gross abuse of human rights, I urge all my constituents to contact their local churches and write to their Members of Parliament across the region urging them to take action on this important issue”

Those wishing to involve themselves in the campaign against this oppression should contact Christian Solidarity Worldwide:

PO Box 99
New Malden
Surrey
KT3 3YF
United Kingdom

Tel: + 44 20 8942 8810
Fax: + 44 20 8942 8821
E-mail: elizabeth@csw.org.uk