This landlocked, mountainous nation between Vietnam and Thailand gained its independence from France in 1953. Backed by Vietnamese rebels, the Communist Pathet Lao (Land of Lao) guerrillas began trying to topple the monarchy. Laos was drawn into the Vietnam War in 1964, with North Vietnamese forces operating out of Laos.

After the Communists gained control of Vietnam, the Pathet Lao seized power in Laos in 1975, resulting in a one-party Communist state under the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.

Though there have been economic reforms since the mid-1980's, resulting in some privatization and foreign investment, human rights freedoms have not come as easily. Christians have been forced at gunpoint to renounce their faith in Christ and the government has put extensive restrictions on all religious groups. In the last two years, the government has worked to improve their human rights record. There have been fewer arrests and many of the churches that were previously closed have now been reopened. The church, however, is not yet free from persecution. The plight of some evangelists in in Hueyhoy, Savannakhet province points to the lack of religious freedom in Laos. At least eight Christians were arrested in March, 2004 when they refused to stop sharing the gospel. Elsewhere, in the Kasy District of Vientiane Province, believers had been facing pressure from local authorities for quite some time. It culminated on August 2, 2004 when four believers from two different villages were arrested. Among the charges laid against them was the claim by a local witch doctor that they were responsible for the deaths of six people. Then in October, 2004, Pastor Bouthao was arrested for holding worship services in his home in Saythamoung village, Phin district, Savannakhet province. He had been holding these services for nearly two years.

The Laotian government yields to international pressure, and Christians around the world are encouraged to contact Laotian embassies and their local government representatives to put pressure on the Laotian government to recognize basic human rights for their citizens.

• Pray for Christians who continue to face pressure and imprisonment for their faith.
• Pray for the government of Laos, that those in power will continue to improve policies and activities, recognizing need for freedom for all their citizens.