Human rights in Laos

The situation of human rights in Laos has often been and remains being recognized as a cause for concern.

The Constitution that was promulgated in 1991 contains most key safeguards for human rights. For example, in Article 8 it makes it clear that Laos is a multiethnic state and is committed to equality between ethnic groups. The Constitution also has provisions for gender equality and freedom of religion, for freedom of speech, press and assembly. [ [http://confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/laos.pdf Constitution of the Lao PDR] ]

Whilst the policy strategies of both the Lao government and international donors remain focused toward achieving sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction [ [http://www.worldbank.org/lao World Bank: Lao PDR] ] , restrictions on freedom of expression and association are a source of concern [ [http://thereport.amnesty.org/eng/regions/asia-pacific/laos Amnesty International Report 2008, Lao PDR] ] . Lack of access by independent human rights monitors hamper an exact appraisal of the situation. The situation for groups of ethnic Hmong hiding in the jungle remained grave and led to a steady stream of people taking refuge in neighbouring Thailand. The death penalty in law remains, although no executions were reported to be carried out since 1989. [ [http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA26/001/2008/en Amnesty International: Official moratorium on the death penalty – an opportunity for Laos] ]

The controversial U.S. State Department reports on human rights around the world declare that most Lao trials in 2003 were little more than pro forma examinations of the accused, with a verdict having already been reached. The State Department indicated that in some instances, police administratively overruled court decisions, at times detaining a defendant exonerated by the court, in violation of the law. Moreover, while Lao law prohibits torture, members of the security forces reportedly subjected prisoners to torture and other abuses. A significant issue in human rights in Laos is the presence of anti-government rebels, mainly of the Hmong ethnic minority, who have reportedly been harshly treated by the Lao government. In the report for 2006 the State Department mentions that "The government's overall human rights record worsened during the year". For more details see the report (link given below under "see also").

Two former high-ranking government officials, whose imprisonment for expressing dissident political views had been much publicised by international human rights groups, have been released in October 2004. [http://www7.nationalacademies.org/humanrights/Latsami_Khamphoui_Released.html] A third dissident sentenced with them died in prison in 1998. The three men had been arrested in 1990 for expressing concern about government policies and advocating economic and political reforms. [http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=4836&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html]

In 2004, a Lao Hmong refugee photographed then smuggled video footage out of Laos, of an alleged incident in which Lao government troops raped and murdered four young Hmong girls and one boy, then mutilated their bodies [http://www.rfa.org/english/news/social/2004/10/06/laos_massacre/index.html] .He denies claims on the part of the Lao government that the video was a fabrication.

References

ee also

* [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78779.htm US State Department report on human rights in Laos 2006]
* [http://thereport.amnesty.org/eng/Regions/Asia-Pacific/Laos Amnesty International Annual Report 2007]
* [http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/152/ Censorship in Laos]