Thongkham Philavanh, 40, was killed in his home in Vanghay village. Rescued by his wife, he died on arrival at the hospital. The murder of pastor Sy Sengmany in 2022, a case still unsolved. A relative of Philavanh: “Some groups of people don’t like what he did.”
Rome (/Agencies) – In Laos, a one-party communist state with a predominantly Buddhist population, persecutions against Christians are not uncommon. On Tuesday evening, Thongkham Philavanh, 40, a Khmu Christian pastor, an ethnic group present in northern Laos, was killed by two masked men who were apparently on a motorbike. Two shots hit Philavanh in his home in the village of Vanghay, in the province of Xai. 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 not yet clear.
The murder of Thongkham Philavanh, whose funeral will take place tomorrow, July 27, at the village cemetery, is reminiscent of the sad attempt on the life of another Christian pastor, Sy Sengmany, in 2022, 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 unsolved and underlines the extent to which violence against the Christian community in Laos has increased in recent years, aggravated by the control of local communist authorities, the destruction of homes and the closure of churches, which have forced assemblies to meet in private homes, with meetings technically considered “illegal”. These attacks and discrimination occur despite a national law protecting the free exercise of faith. However, those who practice Christianity remain under suspicion by the authorities and are targeted at various levels.
Radio Free Asia collected statements from Christian communities in Oudomxay province and elsewhere in Laos, expressing their grief at the loss of Thongkham. “Last night, our community was shocked by the tragic loss of our beloved pastor, who was senselessly taken from us in an act of violence,” some of them wrote in English on Facebook the day after the killing. “His profound wisdom, unwavering faith and boundless compassion touched the lives of many,” another person echoed, recalling the masterful leadership of Thongkham Philavanh, who often participated in Christian church activities in Oudomxay province. “I am not sure why he was killed, but I think it is because he serves Jesus Christ,” said a relative of the Christian pastor who was not identified for security reasons. “What I am sure of is that there are some groups of people who do not like what Thongkham did as a pastor.”
A Christian believer also told RFA that Philavanh was likely also killed simply because he was a Christian pastor and religious leader, and that some people did not like that. Another believer, who had known Thongkham Philavanh for years, said he was sorry to learn the news of the pastor’s death through social media. Other Christian communities in Laos have expressed concern for the safety of their pastors and members, fearing they could also be killed. A member of the Evangelical Church of Laos said anti-Christian groups in the country look for opportunities to harm Christians, and Tuesday’s events are further proof.
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