Council President, Ambassador Robert Seiple, and his wife Margaret Ann, returned this month (January 2007) for their 13th visit to Laos, a country for which they have been integral in efforts to promote religious freedom, since Seiple's tenure as the first U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. During their trip, they are meeting with representatives of the Lao government, including provincial governors, the U.S. Ambassador to Laos, Patricia Haslach, and Lao religious representatives.
Why I'm Returning to Laos - Robert Seiple
Forty years ago, as a young Marine Corps aviator, I was engaged in what at that time was known as a “secret air-war” over Laos. More bombs were dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War than were dropped over Germany during four years of World War II. Today there are still over 400 crash sites that are under investigation, sites where American aircraft and, in all too many cases, those who flew them experienced their final mission. Our war with Vietnam finally ended, but Laos remained forgotten for decades to follow. When Laos finally reappeared on the international scene, it was as a bad-news story.
Religious persecution was rampant in Laos, especially against those practicing what the Lao authorities regarded as “Western religions.” This negativity toward the West, and the increased persecution being sanctioned inside Laos, reached its height in 1999. Forced renunciations of faith, jailings, killings, and destruction of houses of worship all became the norm during that year. But 1999 was also the year that the United States government formally engaged the government of Laos on these issues and, in what would become a careful creation of trust and positive relationship-building, the Lao government began to seek, and implement, an intentional program of religious freedom for all of its citizens. Progress was sometimes slow, and there were moments when no progress was being made at all, but there is no question that on the issue of religious liberty, Laos is a changed country from what it was just eight years ago. Furthermore, the United States completed a trade agreement with the Lao that puts that country in the same category as other “most-favored nations.” Bilateral wounds continue to heal, relationships continue to grow, and although nothing can ever be taken for granted in a country that still faces multiple challenges, the future for Laos is as bright as it has ever been.
This is the context for my 13th visit to the country, a series of visits that began in 1989. The purpose of the visit is multiple: To maintain relationships that have been fostered over many years, to meet with new government appointees at a time of some transition within Laos, to discuss how our relationships can be less personality-dependent and more formalized as we go forward, to meet with all the various faith-expressions in Laos today, and to call attention to those individuals who are still being imprisoned because of their faith. All of this will revolve around a speech to the Lao Institute for Foreign Affairs that I have been asked to give on the subject of religious freedom. I plan to report back on a daily basis. Hopefully, there will be photos as well to provide visual data points for the travelogue that follows.
As is always the case, not everyone can travel to a country like Laos. We consider it a privilege, but one that we wish to share with as broad an audience as possible. I trust that you will return to this web site for the next week and, if I create more questions than answers, please email me and we’ll keep the conversation going. For all too long, Laos was the forgotten country, by friends and enemies alike. That cannot continue, and I invite you to vicariously accompany me on this trip.
Day 1 of Visit
"Settled Culture" - The first day of any trip is spent on briefings - the U.S. Ambassador, old friends from the Lao government, leaders of the present religious denominations in the country. As in recent trips to Laos, there is a constantly recurring, somewhat disconcerting theme. Much has changed for the better since the dark days of 1999. "The right to believe or not to believe" gets more than lip service today. However, this sense of new found freedom is always hedged with a caution, "We must be careful. This is all very new and the hardliners in government can make changes if they want."
Such an environment begs the question: How do we "lock in" the gains made in religious freedom over the last several years? Unfortunately, there is no easy answer, because Laos has been hard-pressed to establish rule of law. In a country where there are fewer than 60 national laws there is no legal concept remotely approaching "settled" law. Laos is a country known for its opaqueness, a country that invented plausible deniability. One can never count on a justice system that is less than totally transparent, predictable and fair to the individual. the State always comes first.
But this is not simply a function of communist ideology. This is also very much tied to Lao culture. The most important values of the Lao culture are integration, harmony, and patriotism. When someone chooses to become a Christian in an all-Buddhist village, for example, the act is potentially very disruptive and divisive to that village. Besides, Christianity (especially Protestant) is a "western religion," represented by the same nation that sent a military force to bomb the country in the early 1970's. One's patriotism, then, is also immediately challenged. As an aside, this is where many missionaries from outside the country get it wrong. While it is important to respect the government, it is absolutely essential to understand the role of culture.
There are two components in every reconciliation exercise that are fundamental to success: mercy and justice. Simply put, mercy forgives the past; justice makes sure the past does not repeat itself. In 1999, the United States government chose not to punish Laos with sanctions, choosing rather to work with the Lao government in promoting religion for all. It was a wise choice and much good has been seen in the intervening years. It was also merciful, but the lack of a strong system of justice, rule of law, makes religious freedom in Laos a fragile success. We have come a long way, and there is still nothing that can be taken for granted.
Ambassador and Mrs. Seiple with Tong Yeu Tho, Deputy President LFNC
Breakfast with U.S. Ambassador to Laos, Patricia Haslach, and Terry Mobley, Embassy Officer
The Seiples meet with Bishop Khamse at Catholic Church in Vientiane
Stay tuned for more news from the Seiple's in Laos...