This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission.
A Lao woman who was arrested after criticizing the government’s failure to help hundreds of people stranded by a destructive flood was released from prison on Thursday after serving a five-year sentence.
Houayheuang Xayabouly, 35, was met by family members just after walking out of Banglieng prison in southern Champasak province, a person with knowledge of the matter told Radio Free Asia on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
A Facebook post by her brother shows photos of her holding her nephew as her mother stands nearby.
“A mistake is life’s lesson learned. Stand up and begin a new chapter of life, my big sister,” a photo caption reads.
Houayheuang Xayabouly, also known as Mouay, was arrested in September 2019 after she criticized the government for delaying a rescue effort that had left residents of Champassak and Salavan provinces cut off by floodwaters.
The condemnation was posted in a 17-minute-long Facebook Live video that was viewed 150,000 times.
“In this emergency situation, I am not in need of food and water yet, but yesterday, a huge flood came and people here were up on the roofs of their houses trying to escape. Where is the helicopter for rescuing those people?”
“I cannot be silent as we have been in the past,” she added. “The era of the regime keeping the eyes and mouths of the people closed has come to an end.”
Charged with causing disorder
Authorities charged Mouay with defaming the country under Article 117 of the criminal code.
The vaguely-worded law says that persons who “campaign” or “twist” the policies of the ruling Communist Party and government, and who release “destructive news causing disorder, speaking, writing, printing, posting photos, videos and texts via electronics means or otherwise, will be jailed from one year to five years, and fined from 5 million to 20 million kip,” or US$225 to $900 at current exchange rates.
Laos has consistently ranked low on international freedom of the press assessments.
Global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders noted in 2016 that the government “exercises absolute control over the media,” which prompted many Laotians to turn to social media.
Mouay had been an active critic of the government online since 2018, usually uploading her content on Facebook and YouTube.
In late 2018 she published a video that slammed the Lao government’s inadequate response to Laos’ worst-ever dam disaster, the July 2018 collapse of the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Dam in Champassak that destroyed all or parts of 19 villages, killed 71 people and displaced another 14,000.
In early 2019, Mouay set her crosshairs on corruption among government workers, who she said were able to use their positions to get rich quickly, then flaunt their wealth by buying luxury houses and cars.
The video that got her arrested went up Sept. 5, 2019. After two storms barreled into southern Laos that week and dropped more than 40 centimeters (15 inches) of rain in some parts, many people were in desperate need of relief.
“My parents and I have been trapped – surrounded by water in Attapeu Province for several days now, and the authorities have sent no boats or helicopters to come and evacuate or rescue us,” she said.
One week later she was arrested, authorities said she exaggerated the government’s lack of response and added that some of what she said was untrue.
