Laos: Further information on Fear of torture/fear for safety

Index Number: ASA 26/011/2003
Date Published: 8 July 2003
Categories: Asia And The Pacific, Laos

On 9 July, Pastor Naw Karl Mua, Thierry Falise and Vincent Reynaud were released from prison, escorted to Vientiane airport, and flown from Laos to neighbouring Thailand. Their release followed negotiations between foreign diplomats from the USA, Belgium and France and the Lao government. All had been serving 15-year prison sentences, imposed after an unfair trial on 30 June.