E/CN.4/2001/66 page 137 Lao People’s Democratic Republic 689. By letter dated 5 October 2000, the Special Rapporteur advised the Government that he had received information on the following individual cases. 690. Pa Tood was reportedly arrested on 7 March 1999 on account of being a Christian church leader. He is said to be currently detained at the Savannakhet city jail where he is allegedly being held in solitary confinement with one leg in wooden stocks, 24 hours a day. It is further alleged that he is fed only every few days. The authorities are reportedly pressing him to sign a declaration to the effect that he agrees to abandon his Christian faith. On 17 March 1999, it is reported that Pa Tood’s wife, Koom, was arrested with their baby. She was reportedly detained for seven days, during which period she reportedly had a nervous breakdown. 691. Peto, Sisamouth and Bonme were reportedly arrested on 25 July 1999 and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment relating to their Christian religious activity. All three are reportedly being detained at the Mano prison in Luang Prabang and are allegedly being held in wooden stocks in solitary confinement in cells without natural light. 692. Thongpaseuth Keuakoun, Kamphouvieng Sisaath, Seng-aloun Phengphanh, Bouavanh Chanhmanivong and Keochay were reportedly arrested on 26 October 1999 for their part in organizing and taking part in a public demonstration in Vientiane calling for political change. The five men are believed to be part of the Lao Students Movement for Democracy. Thongaseuth Keuakoun is reportedly detained at the Samkhe Re-education Camp, although it is alleged that he is frequently taken from there and subjected to beatings. The whereabouts of the other four detained men is reported to be unknown and fears have been expressed that they are being similarly ill-treated. 693. By letter dated 6 November 2000, the Government responded that all allegations of ill-treatment had been deliberately fabricated to discredit the image of the Government. Torture is prohibited by the Penal Code which imposes a prison term of from three months to three years or re-education for any unlawful act or torture against a detainee or an accused person. Often-repeated allegations of mistreatment of Christian believers are false. No one has ever been arrested on account of his religious belief, which is prohibited by the Constitution, except for acts violating the laws of the country. Christian believers in Laos practice their religion freely, go to church and live in harmony with the Buddhist community. Urgent appeals and replies received 694. On 6 January 2000, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Chairman-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of Thongpaseuth Keuakoun, Seng-Along Phengphanh, Kamphouvieng Sisaath, Bouavanh Chanhmanivong Keochay and other demonstrators who had been arrested after a demonstration organized by the Lao Students’ Movement for Democracy in Vientiane on 26 October 1999. They were said to be held incommunicado.