Laos
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Official name: Lao People’s Democratic Republic |
DEMOGRAPHY
ECONOMY |
LIFE & LIBERTY |
Contents |
[edit] History
- Laos traces its first recorded history and its origins as a unified state to the emergence of the Kingdom of Lan Xang (million elephants) in 1353. Under the rule of king Fa Ngum, the wealthy and mighty kingdom covered much of what today is Thailand and Laos. His successors, especially king Setthathirat in the 16th century, helped established Buddhism as the predominant religion.
- In the late 18th century, the Thai established hegemony over much of what is now Laos. Following their colonisation of Vietnam, the French supplanted the Thai and began to integrate all of Laos into the French empire. Under the French, the capital (Vieng Chan) was changed to Vientiane. The French-Thai treaty of 1907 defined the present Laos boundary with Thailand.
- During World War II the Japanese occupied French Indochina, including Laos. King Sisavang Vong of Luang Prabang was induced to declare independence from France in 1945, just prior to Japan's surrender. During this period, nationalist sentiment grew.
- In September 1945 Vientianne and Champassak united with Luang Prbang to form an independent government under the Lao Issara banner. By early 1946, French troops re.occupied the country and conferred limited autonomy on Laos.
- During the first Indochina war between France and the communist movement in Vietnam, prince Souphanouvong formed the Pathet Lao resitance organisation committed to the communist struggle against colonialism. Laos was granted full sovereignty at the Geneva peace conference in 1954.
- Election were held 1955. A growing American and North Vietnamese military presence in the country increasingly drew Laos into the second Indochina war (1954 - 1975. The fall of Saigon and Phnom Penh to communist forces in April 1975 hastened the decline of Laos. In December 1975 the king abdicated his throne in the constitutional monarchy. After taking control of the country, Pathet Lao's government renamed the country as the "Lao People's Democratic Republic" and signed agreements giving Vietnam the right to station military forces and to appoint advisers to assist in overseeing the country. Laos was ordered in the late 1970s by Vietnam to end relations with the People's Republic of China which cut the country off from trade with any country but Vietnam. Control by Vietnam and socialization were slowly replaced by a relaxation of economic restrictions in the 1980s and admission into ASEAN in 1997. Nonetheless, Vietnam still wields political and economic influence in Laos.
[edit] Geography
[edit] Location
- Laos is a landlocked communist state in South-east Asia, bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west. After a period as a French protectorate, Laos gained independence in 1949. A long civil war that lasted for two decades ended when the communist Pathet Lao movement came to power in 1975. Laos’ thickly forested landscape consists mostly of rugged mountains, with some plains and plateaus. The Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand, whereas the mountains of the Annamite Chain form most of the eastern border with Vietnam.
[edit] Climate
[edit] Natural Resources
[edit] Demographics
[edit] Peoples
- Hmong
- Jeng: According to Asian Minorities Outreach*, approximately 7300 Jeng people live in six villages in southern Laos. There are no known Christians, no Scripture, no JESUS Film and no Christian radio. In the past the Jeng lived in the mountains inside Vietnam, but they migrated en masse to the plains of southern Laos in 1936. Their culture and worldview have been greatly influenced by the Lao since then, although they have firmly resisted Buddhism. Pray that God's plan for the Jeng to receive His Word will take place soon.
- Khmu
- Lao
[edit] Provinces
- The Cities of Laos
[edit] Life
[edit] Economy
- A desperately poor communist state.
[edit] Government
- Type of Government: Communist state
[edit] Religion
- Majority Religion: Buddhism 61%, Traditional 31.2%, Christianity 1.9%, Other 5.9%
[edit] Islam
[edit] Buddhism
- Buddhists strongly influenced by animism make up the majority (61%) of the population which is growing. Most reports indicate Buddhism thrives in harmony with the communist regime.
[edit] Christianity
- Christian 2%, churches are growing despite persecution and pressure.
[edit] History
[edit] Churches
- Thank God for His faithfulness and the faithfulness of His Church in this country. Despite restrictions and persecution, the Christian Church is growing.
[edit] Church and State Relations
[edit] Challenges for Christians:
- The Laos government, still one of the world’s most severe abusers of religious liberty, has explicitly declared its intention to “eliminate Christianity.” The government not only severely persecutes Christians, but it is also pursuing a genocidal war against the Hmong, using military means that include gross barbarity, chemical weapons and starvation. Thanks to Gospel radio and indigenous missionaries, the 20th century saw revivals amongst the Hmong and the Khmu, which sometimes involved whole villages turning to Christ. Over 90% of trained church leaders left Laos in 1975 in the face of persecution from communists. It is still dangerous and difficult for church leaders to leave the country to get training.
[edit] Mission
- Much of Laos is still unevangelized. After years of hard work missionaries saw significant breakthroughs among the Hmong and Khmu, but since the communist takeover in 1975 little could be done by expatriates. Christianity has not moved easily across the diverse ethno-linguistic boundaries, leaving many groups completely unreached. Pray that the entire country may be made open for the gospel to be proclaimed.
[edit] Broadcasting
[edit] Councils and Networks
[edit] Persecution
- Persecution is fairly strong. The constitution provides for religious freedom, but local officials can interpret and implement this as they choose. The regime limits which churches are open and regularly closes churches, especially in the countryside. Believers are watched closely. Since 2007 there are signs of improvement: 2006 persecution was less brutal than before. There are still Christians in prison for their faith.
- Hmong villagers falsely accused of stirring rebel dissent. The hunted Christians are largely Hmong refugees who had fled persecution in Vietnam. Christians are prohibited from worshipping together. Authorities are still pursuing Christian leaders who escaped and are following closely Christians who go to other villages.
- Pray for speak comfort and love to reach the hearts of the Christian believers among the traumatized Hmong fleeing through the jungle or who are refugees in Thailand, so that they will not lose faith or hope.
- Pray for God to protect and sustain his Church in Laos amidst terrible persecution, especially the Christian leaders, who are being specifically targeted by the authorities.
- In September 2008, the chief of B village in a southern province called a special community meeting to resolve the “problem” of eight resident Christian families who have refused to give up their faith. The meeting concluded with plans to expel all 55 Christian s from the village. Although all adult members of a village are usually invited to such meetings, on this occasion the Christian s were deliberately excluded. Pastor S and two other believers from the village, C and K, remain in detention in the nearby district police detention cell. It was earlier reported that police have held the men in handcuffs and wooden foot stocks since their arrest on Aug. 3, 2008, causing numbness and infection in their legs and feet due to lack of blood circulation. Authorities have said they will release the three only if they renounce their faith.
- Remember those suffering for the sake of Jesus.
[edit] Future Trends
[edit] For More Reading
