Lao Woman Gets Five Years for Criticizing Government on Facebook

Authorities in Laos last week sentenced a woman to five years in prison for criticizing the government on Facebook.

Houayheuang Xayabouly, 30, also known by her nickname Mouay, was arrested Sept. 12 after she voiced her concern about the government response to flooding in the country’s southern Champassak and Salavan provinces in her Sept. 5 Facebook Live video.

The delayed government response had left many Lao villagers stranded and cut off from help, she said in the video, which was viewed more than 150,000 times.

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RFA’s Lao Service