The communist-ruled nation regularly ranks low in the global freedom of press indexes
The communist government of Laos released a female blogger who was arrested and jailed for five years for criticizing the government’s dismal response to victims of flooding in 2019, says a report.
Houayheuang Xayabouly, 35, was released from the Banglieng prison in southern Champasak province after serving a 5-year sentence, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported on Sept. 12.
Xayabouly’s brother posted a photo of her holding her nephew as her mother stood nearby.
“A mistake is life’s lesson learned. Stand up and begin a new chapter of life, my big sister,” the photo caption read, according to RFA.
Xayabouly, also known as Mouay, was arrested in September 2019 after she slammed the government for its delayed response in rescue efforts that left residents of Champassak and Salavan provinces cut off by flood waters.
The 17-minute-long live video posted on Facebook on Sept. 5, 2019, was viewed 150,000 times.
In the video, Xayabouly described the emergency situation caused by flooding and questioned where the rescue helicopter was.
“I cannot be silent as we have been in the past,” she said in the video. “The era of the regime keeping the eyes and mouths of the people closed has come to an end.”
Xayabouly was arrested in Sept. 2019 and was charged under Article 117 of the Lao Criminal Code for defaming the country.
The repressive law, which is widely used by authorities to crack down on dissent, states that persons who “campaign” or “twist” the policies of the Communist Party and government, should be punished if convicted.
It also criminalizes actions related to the release of “destructive news causing disorder, speaking, writing, printing, posting photos, videos, and texts via electronic means or otherwise.”
The law warrants one to five years in jail and a fine of 5-20 million Laotian kip (US$227-US$910) for the convicts, RFA reported.
The communist-ruled Southeast Asian nation consistently ranks at the bottom in global press freedom indexes.
In 2016, Paris-based Reporters Without Borders noted that the government “exercises absolute control over the media,” which prompted many Laotians to turn to social media to express dissent.
Xayabouly, among others, has been a vocal critic of the government for its repressive policies.
In late 2018 she published a video slamming the government’s inadequate response to the July 2018 collapse of the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Dam in Champassak which is regarded as Laos’ worst dam disaster.
The flooding had destroyed all or parts of 19 villages, killed 71 people, and displaced another 14,000, RFA reported.
In its Freedom in the World Index 2024, US-based Freedom House categorized Laos as “Not Free,” with a score of only 13 out of 100 on its rating scale.
In the one-party state, the ruling Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) “dominates all aspects of politics and harshly restricts civil liberties,” Freedom House said.
The nation does not have an organized opposition, independent civil society, or independent media sector, Freedom House pointed out.
To further crush dissent, the government formed a task force to scrutinize social media content in 2021.
In August 2023, the government issued tighter regulations on social media and introduced restrictions on pages that provide “misleading or distorted information” on it.
The Ministry of Telecommunications and Technology even warned through an official, that the police would question those who criticize the government on social media, Freedom House said.
The move came after widespread criticism from all corners of the Laotian civil society which voiced disapproval over issues such as inflation.
The inflation reached as high as 41 percent in March due to the devaluation of the local currency, and related cost-of-living concerns.
https://www.ucanews.com/news/laos-releases-blogger-jailed-for-criticizing-govt-flood-response/106393
