A/HRC/13/40/Add.4 B. Decree No. 92/PM for the Management and Protection of Religious Activities 13. On 5 July 2002, the Prime Minister issued Decree No. 92/PM for the Management and Protection of Religious Activities. According to article 1, the Decree has the aim of “making religious activities conform to laws and regulations, and ensuring the exercise of the right of Lao people to believe or not believe”. Article 2 notes that various religions have been established with the consent of believers without any coercion or bribery from any political institutions or individuals from outside or inside the country. The same article stipulates that the activities of all religions in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic are based on and aimed at serving the development of the country and at educating the population of various social strata to follow the progressive teachings of their religion, such as (a) avoiding badness, doing good and having a pure heart; (b) teaching individuals in the spirit of solidarity, mutual assistance and love; and (c) assisting individuals in the spirit of equality, justice and peace. According to article 4 of the Decree, Lao citizens, immigrants, stateless persons and foreigners in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic have the right to engage in or organize religious ceremonies in their pagodas or churches. 14. Article 5 of the Decree requires believers of all religions to observe and implement the Constitution and laws of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and preserve and expand historic traditions, cultural heritage and Lao national unity. Religious organizations have to establish a register pursuant to article 6 of the Decree and monks, novices and other clergymen receive a specific identity card. All religious organizations in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic that wish to be registered and establish their organizations are required by article 7 of the Decree to submit a comprehensive set of documents through the concerned local administrative authorities to the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction. The latter has the right and duty, pursuant to article 10 of the Decree, to manage, promote theology and give instructions to administrative authorities of each level with regard to the activities of religious communities in order to ensure that their activities are in conformity with their own principles as well as with laws and regulations of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. 15. Article 11 of the Decree states that religious organizations and believers of each religion in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic have the right to organize meetings of their own believers for the purpose of delivering sermons, disseminating religious teachings, conducting religious ceremonies, organizing festivals or praying on the usual days of importance to each religion in their pagodas or churches. For the dissemination of religious teaching to other believers, article 12 of the Decree requires approval of the Lao Front for National Construction at the district, provincial or national level, depending on the geographic outreach of the religious teaching. 16. According to article 13 of the Decree, it is punishable to conduct activities inimical to the regime of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic or to create divisions among ethnic groups or religions with a view to disturbing public order. The printing of books related to religion or documents for dissemination requires authorization, pursuant to article 14 of the Decree, by the Ministry of Propaganda and Culture with the approval of the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction. Article 15 of the Decree imposes a duty on the believers of various religions in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to preserve the sacred sites, articles of historical heritage as well as Lao national culture, customs and traditions. The repair of these sacred sites and the building of new pagodas or churches need to be authorized by the relevant authorities and approved by the Lao Front for National Construction. 17. Article 17 of the Decree provides that communications of believers of each religion with foreign organizations, religious agencies and individuals need to be in conformity with GE.10-10542 7