According to church sources in Thailand, the number of families affected is between 50 and 100. The authorities have reportedly forced the closure of one of the oldest churches in the country, founded in 1902. Three years ago there were 20 churches open in Savannakhet alone.
Today there are only five.
Sources say the Lao authorities have so far closed 58 churches throughout the country during the last 18 months. Last year there were about 60 Christian prisoners in Laos. But according to the latest reports, the number is down to 31. While the number has dropped, church sources say it is not an improvement in the condition of the church or its relationship to the government. Pressure is also mounting on Christians to recant their Christian faith by the end of 2001 or flee from Laos.