The communist government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic continues its decades-long repression of ethnic minorities and Christians. Chinese investment has further exacerbated the problem, with the Lao government displacing indigenous communities to make room for Chinese-funded projects. Analysts have noted that each time the PRC enters a new phase of religious and ethnic repression, Laos follows suit, restricting ethnic and religious freedom that the ruling party perceives as a threat to national unity and party control.
Laos is the most ethnically diverse country in mainland Southeast Asia, with a population of about 7 million spread across dozens of ethnic groups. The government officially recognizes 49 ethnic groups and 160 subgroups, categorized into three geographic tiers: Lao Loum in the lowlands, Lao Theung in midland regions, and Lao Sung in the highlands.
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