Lao Movement for Human Rights ( LMHR) :   Reverend Naw-Karl Mua, you were arrested in Laos on 4 June2003, sentenced to 15 years prison on June 30^th and, finally, freed and expulsed out of Laos on 9 July 2003.
Why were you in Laos and why were you arrested ?
Revd Naw-Karl Mua (Rev. NK M) : First of all, I went to Laos it is my native country and I still have relatives there. And due to the fact that "Peace, Freedom, Democracy, Equality, etc…" are publicized everywhere making me believe that the country is really a free country. The question, "Why was I arrested" simply because those words "Peace, Freedom, Democracy, Equality, etc.." are used for camouflage only. Whenever one is trying to use according to their proper terminologies, he or she is in trouble. So were I and the journalists.

LMHR : Where exactly where you arrested ? by whom were you arrested ?
Rev. NK M : We were arrested on route number 7 at Ban Khai east of Muang Seui, Xiengkhuang province by village guards more commonly known as Kong Lonne.

Mldh :  From the June 4^th to July 9^th   2003, where were you emprisonned ?
Rev. NK M : Three Hmong guides, whom the journalists hired to guide us, and myself were put into Phonesavanh  prison, while the two European journalists had been in custody at the police station in the city of Phonesavanh. We were separated for two reasons, I believe. One was because the Lao authorities do not want the Westerners to see how bad the prison conditions of Laos are.  Even though, I have American citizenship, I was looked down by the Lao authorities and treated me just like any other local Lao/Hmong. On the 8^th of June, we all were transferred by plane to Vientiane. We the Hmong had been put into Phonetong jail, while the two Europeans, once again, had be kept in custody at the police station until after the trial on 6/30/2003. When the trial is over, everybody was put into Phonetong  jail until we the foreigners were released on July 9, 2003.

Mldh : How long were you detained in each prison ?
Rev. NK M : I had been detained in prison for a total of 34 days, because I was arrested on the 5^th of June, while my colleagues were arrested on the 4^th of June. When they were arrested, I was hiding myself in the jungle for 30 hours and decided to surrender later on.


Mldh : Can you describe each prison where you were detained. How many buildings? What kind of buildings :  in wood, in bricks, etc...? How many persons you think are emprisonned in each jail, how many persons you think are emprisonned in each jail? Are there court where prisoners can go out and walk ?
Rev. NK M : There are two buildings in each prison. In Phonesavanh, one was for women and the other for men. In Phonetong, only three rooms are set for women, the rest (17 rooms) are for men.   All the buildings are built in cement including the floors.  There must be at least 120 prisoners at Phonesavanh jail and around 90 in Phong. Yes, there are courts, but prisoners in Phonesavanh are not allowed to walk around. They are locked in for 23 and a half hours a day. They are allowed to go outside their rooms only from 9 to 9:30 a.m. for toiletry and wash themselves. In Phonetong, around 70% of the prisoners are allowed to use the court most of the day.

Mldh : have you been aware or known of a '' torture'' or '' punishment'' location inside each prison?
Rev. NK M : No. I don't. But I believe tortures are open in front of everybody's eyes. For instance, when the Liberians were tortured in Phonetong, it was in front of all the prisoners. Everybody talked about it to me, while I was there.