30 March 2020

[...]

This joint submission is respectfully submitted [...] requesting urgent action to stop the ongoing human rights violations committed against prominent environmental activist and human rights defender, Ms. Houayheuang Xayabouly also known as Ms. “Muay” who is currently imprisoned, facing a prison sentence of 5-years and a fine of 20 million Kip [...].

[...]

An example of an issue Ms. Muay raised was the unfair competition created by Chinese investments [...]. [...] Land that belonged to the Lao people was also forcibly taken away from them and given in land concessions to Chinese companies for mines, dams, railways, infrastructure projects and special economic zones. [...] The final aspect that she highlighted was the unfair practices in the Chinese-owned and operated banana plantations. The indigenous groups ‘Khmu’ and ‘Hmong’ that lost their land to the plantations were forced to work there, suffering negative health impacts, due to the use of chemicals that contaminated their land, rivers and groundwater [...].

[...]

Providing a further insight into the negative impact of business activities, following the collapse of a saddle dam that was part of the South Korean, Thai and Lao owned Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower project on 23 July 2018, Ms. Muay decided to address the consequence of the collapse on the affected communities in the South of Lao PDR.

[...]

[...] [T]he government and businesses in Lao PDR [...] began to monitor her, violating her freedom of opinion and expression [;] [...] freedom of assembly and association [;] [...] right to work and an adequate standard of living. [...] Ms. Muay was also a victim of an arbitrary arrest and detention, with due process and her right to fair trial [...].

[...]