Pasalao

Laos (Lao People’s Democratic Republic)
Political Rights:
Civil Liberties:
Status: Not Free
Population: 6,320,000
Capital:Vientiane

Key Developments: The Laotian government continued to encourage large-scale foreign
investment and development projects in 2009, often at the expense of small farmers and tribal
communities. The United States lifted trade restrictions on the country in June despite objections from
human rights activists. Also during the year, Laos reached a deal with Britain to repatriate two British
citizens facing life in prison for drug smuggling. However, human rights advocates in December voiced
concern over the fate of some 4,000 Hmong migrants to be deported by Thai authorities at the request of
the Laotian government.
Political Rights: Laos is not an electoral democracy. The 1991 constitution makes the Lao People’s
Revolutionary Party (LPRP) the sole legal political party and grants it a leading role at all levels of
government. The LPRP vets all candidates for election to the rubber-stamp National Assembly, whose
115 members elect the president. Corruption and abuses by government officials are widespread. Official
announcements and new laws aimed at curbing corruption are rarely enforced. Government regulation of
virtually every facet of life provides corrupt officials with many opportunities to demand bribes.
Civil Liberties: Freedom of the press is severely restricted. Any journalist who criticizes the government
or discusses controversial political topics faces legal punishment. The state owns all media, including
three newspapers with extremely low circulations and the country’s only radio station. Internet access is
heavily restricted, and content is censored. Religious freedom is tightly constrained. The government
forces Christians to renounce their faith, confiscates their property, and bars them from celebrating
Christian holidays. The religious practice of the majority Buddhist population is restricted through the
LPRP’s control of clergy training and supervision of temples and other religious sites. Academic freedom
is not respected. University professors cannot teach or write about democracy, human rights, and other
politically sensitive topics. The government severely restricts freedom of assembly. Laws prohibit
participation in organizations that engage in demonstrations or public protests, or that in any other way
cause “turmoil or social instability.” All unions must belong to the official Federation of Lao Trade
Unions. The courts are corrupt and controlled by the LPRP. Security forces often illegally detain suspects,
and hundreds of political activists have been held for months or years without trial. Poor prison conditions
and the use of torture remain serious problems. Discrimination against members of minority tribes is
common at many levels. Gender-based discrimination and abuse are widespread. Poverty puts many
women at greater risk of exploitation and abuse by the state and society at large, and an estimated 15,000
to 20,000 Laotian women and girls are trafficked each year for prostitution.

ຖ້າຢາກອ່ານລາຍລະອຽດ ກະລຸນາເຂົ້າໄປອ່ານຕາມລິ້ງລຸ່ມນີ້:
http://freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=137
ແລ້ວກົດບ່ອນ Worst of the Worst 2010