Lao PDR: UN expert calls out alarming pattern of violations against human rights defenders

GENEVA (22 September 2023) – A UN expert today pointed to a pattern of serious human rights violations targeting human rights defenders in Lao PDR, including summary executions and enforced disappearances.

“I am alarmed by the serious trend of human rights abuses that have been perpetrated against these human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists,” said Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.

The expert said the violations also included arbitrary and incommunicado detentions, enforced disappearances, violations of fair trial and intimidation which appear to be directly related to the victims’ legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights.

Of the eight cases raised by the Special Rapporteur, two concerned the killings of human rights defenders, Mr. Leokham Losavath and Mr. Bounsuan Kitiyano, with a third, Mr. Phouvong Sayaseng, killed following his enforced disappearance.

Three activists, Mr. Lodkham Thammavong, Mr. SoukaneChaithad and Mr. Somphone Phimmasone are imprisoned in Laos, having been arbitrarily detained and tried in secret after they returned to Laos from Thailand.

Two other human rights defenders Mr. Od Sayavong, and Mr. Phetphouthone Philachanh, allegedly forcibly disappeared, and their fate and whereabouts remain unknown.

Lawlor criticised the ineffectiveness of investigations into these enforced disappearances.

She pointed to a trend of suspected extra-territorial rendition, given that a number of these human rights defenders were based in Thailand at the time of their deprivation of liberty and subsequent enforced disappearance.

“This indicates that countries in the region are coordinating, assisting or acquiescing to extraterritorially abduct human rights defenders, leading to their enforced disappearance,” Lawlor said. “It is a worrying trend that States allegedly coordinate with one another to facilitate these renditions.”

This is not the first time experts have pointed to such a pattern. In 2020, they issued four letters (THA 8/2020, KHM 7/2020; LAO 4/2020; VNM 4/2020) highlighting a persisting trend in Southeast Asia. They are still waiting for more 'substantive information' from Thailand, Viet Nam and Lao PDR as to the facts behind the allegations and welcome additional information from the Governments involved.

“These rendition practices constitute a flagrant violation of the principle of non-refoulement,” the Special Rapporteur said.

Lawlor called on Lao PDR and Thailand to supply updates on their inquiries into the killings and to clarify without delay the fate and whereabouts of the disappeared persons.

“A greater effort must be made to keep human rights defenders safe,” she said.