*EPF213 03/05/2002
Excerpt: Lao Government's Rights Record Remains Poor, Report Says
(Laos Country Report on Human Rights Practices in 2001) (870)

In 2001 the Lao Government's human rights record remained poor, according to a report on human rights practices in Laos released by the Department of State March 4.

"The judiciary is subject to executive influence, is corrupt, and does not ensure citizens' due process," the report says. According to the report, the Government of Laos infringes on citizens' privacy rights, and restricts freedom of speech, the press, assembly, association, and religion. The Government also imposes some restrictions on freedom of movement and restricts some workers rights.

Although some societal discrimination against women and minorities persists, the Government of Laos actively supported a policy of encouraging greater rights for women, children, persons with disabilities, and minorities, the report says. The government also permitted some access to the foreign press and the Internet.

The full report can be found online at:

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001

Following is the introduction to the Laos Country Report on Human Rights Practices for the Year 2001:

(begin excerpt)

Laos

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2001
Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
March 4, 2002

The Lao People's Democratic Republic is an authoritarian, Communist, one-party state ruled by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). Although the 1991 Constitution outlines a system composed of executive, legislative, and judicial branches, in practice the LPRP continued to control governance and the choice of leaders through its constitutional "leading role" at all levels. The 99-member National Assembly, elected in 1997 under a system of universal suffrage, approved the LPRP's selection of the President in 1998, and ratified the President's selection of a new Prime Minister in March. The judiciary is subject to executive influence.

The Ministry of Interior (MOI) maintains internal security but shares the function of state control with party and popular fronts (broad-based organizations controlled by the LPRP). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for the monitoring and oversight of foreigners working in the country, although in practice MOI elements conduct the actual monitoring. The MOI includes local police, security police (including border police), and other armed police units. Communication police are responsible for monitoring telephone and electronic communications. The armed forces are responsible for external security but also have some domestic security responsibilities that include counterterrorism and counterinsurgency activities. Civilian authorities generally maintain effective control over the security forces. Some members of the security forces committed serious human rights abuses.

Laos is an extremely poor country with a population of 5.2 million. The economy is principally agricultural, with 85 percent of the population engaged in subsistence agriculture. Since 1986 the Government largely has abandoned most of its socialist economic policies, although in practice the domination of the state-owned banks and enterprises and an apparent lack of conviction in improving the investment climate indicate a reluctance to discard socialist models. Economic reforms only recently have begun to move the country gradually from a centrally planned system to a market-oriented economy open to foreign investment with a growing legal framework, including laws to protect property rights. The country is heavily dependent on official foreign aid and on remittances from Lao living abroad.

The Government's human rights record remained poor throughout the year, and there were a number of serious problems. Citizens do not have the right to change their government. There were credible reports that security personnel in a remote village killed a noncombatant civilian in the course of making arrests. At times members of the security forces abused detainees, especially those suspected of insurgent or antigovernment activity. Prisoners are abused and tortured, and prison conditions generally are extremely harsh and life threatening. Police used arbitrary arrest, detention, and surveillance. Lengthy pretrial detention and incommunicado detention are problems. The judiciary is subject to executive influence, is corrupt, and does not ensure citizens' due process. The Government infringed on citizens' privacy rights. The Government restricts freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and association. However, it permitted some access to the foreign press and the Internet. The Government restricts freedom of religion. During the year, police and provincial authorities arrested and detained approximately 60 members of Christian churches. At least 13 members of religious communities remained in custody at year's end. Forced renunciation campaigns and church closings intensified in some areas. The Government imposes some restrictions on freedom of movement. Some societal discrimination against women and minorities persists, although the Government actively supported a policy of encouraging greater rights for women, children, persons with disabilities, and minorities. The Government restricts some worker rights. Trafficking in women and children is a problem.

Beginning in 2000, a series of bombings occurred in urban areas. These bombings continued into the early part of the year, and caused some injuries. No group claimed responsibility for these acts. The authorities attributed at least one of the bombings to terrorists or "ill-intentioned persons."

There were no reports of attacks on government forces by the organized Hmong insurgent group, the Chao Fa, during the year. In December another insurgent group attacked a village in Xieng Khouang Province and burned several houses, but there were no reported deaths or injuries among villagers.

(end excerpt)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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