Christian persecution in Laos: evangelical pastor killed
Thongkham Philavanh, 40, was attacked in his home in the village of Vanghay. Rescued by his wife, he died on arrival in hospital. The murder of Pastor Sy Sengmany in 2022, a case that is still unsolved. A relative of Philavanh: ‘Groups of people do not like what he did’.
Rome (AsiaNews/Agencies) - In Laos, a one-party communist state with a predominantly Buddhist population, persecution of Christians is not uncommon. On Tuesday evening, Thongkham Philavanh, 40, a Khmu Christian pastor, an ethnic group present in northern Laos, was assassinated by two masked men who were reportedly riding motorbikes.
Philavanh was shot twice in his home in the village of Vanghay, Xai Province. The pastor was immediately rescued by his wife, who took him to the provincial hospital, where he died on arrival. Police investigations are ongoing and the exact motive is unclear at the moment.
The murder of Thongkham Philavanh, whose funeral will be held tomorrow, 27 July, at the village cemetery, recalls the sad attempt on the life in 2022 of another Christian pastor, Sy Sengmany, who was found dead near a forest in Khammouane Province. Before the incident, two men had visited his home and the village authorities had ordered him to stop his religious activities.
The case remains unresolved and underlines the extent to which violence against the Christian community has increased in Laos in recent years, aggravated by the control of the local communist authorities, the destruction of homes and the closure of churches, which have forced assemblies to meet in private homes, by means of meetings that are technically considered ‘illegal’.
These aggressions and discriminations take place despite the fact that a national law protects the free exercise of faith. But those who practise Christianity are still under suspicion by the authorities and targeted on various levels.
Radio Free Asia gathered some statements from Christian communities in Oudomxay province and other parts of Laos, who said they were mourning the loss of Thongkham. ‘Last night, our community was shocked by the tragic loss of our beloved pastor, who was senselessly taken away from us in an act of violence,’ some of them wrote in English on Facebook the day after the murder.
‘His profound wisdom, unwavering faith and boundless compassion touched the lives of many,’ echoed someone else, recalling Thongkham Philavanh's magisterial leadership, who often participated in Christian church activities in Oudomxay province.
‘I am not sure why they killed him, but I believe it is because he serves Jesus Christ,’ said a relative of the Christian pastor who does not disclose the identity for security reasons. ‘One thing I am sure of is that there are some groups of people who do not like what Thongkham did as a pastor.’
Another Christian also told RFA that it is likely that Philavanh was killed simply because he was a Christian pastor and religious leader, and that this did not please anyone. Another believer, who had known Thongkham Philavanh for years, said he was sorry to learn the news of the pastor's death via social media.
Other Christian communities in Laos expressed concern for the safety of their pastors and members, fearing that they too might be killed. A member of the Evangelical Church in Laos said that anti-Christian groups in the country seek opportunities to harm Christians, and what happened on Tuesday is yet another proof.
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