A/57/274 taking part in a prayer procession for peaceful elections. Prohibited from holding a “prayer walk” by the local police, church members reportedly took to their cars for a “prayer drive”. The Anglican organizer of the initiative, Reverend Noel Scott, was allegedly arrested shortly after the drive and ordered to surrender his Zimbabwean passport before being released from prison. Ten others, including a woman, were reportedly arrested and charged with obstruction. 58. By a letter dated 8 March 2002, Zimbabwe replied: “The law in Zimbabwe clearly states that any procession, gathering or rally cannot take place without clearance from the police. The persons mentioned were acting against the law when they proceeded with their procession in defiance of the advice of the police, hence their arrest. While Zimbabwe guarantees religious freedom and expression, this freedom has to be enjoyed within the confines of the law.” B. Late replies to communications transmitted before the submission of the report to the Commission Bhutan 59. Regarding allegations that Christians have been compelled to fill in forms about the circumstances of their conversion and have been threatened with expulsion from the country if they refuse to abandon the Christian faith (see E/CN.4/2002/73, para. 68), Bhutan cited a response previously sent to the Special Rapporteur (cf. A/56/253, annex, para. 6) and replied: “The Royal Government wishes to unequivocally state that such assertions are completely false. Such forms do not exist and have never been circulated by the Royal Government. Christians or those subscribing to any other religion in Bhutan have never been asked, at any time, to abandon their faith or leave the country.” Lao People’s Democratic Republic “A group of trouble makers have sowed division between Christian believers and believers of other religions, leading to conflict and confrontation among them. In order to calm down and bring the situation back to normal, the local authorities had ordered a temporary closure of the Church. They have also given the assurance that the Church will again be reopened when the situation is secure and tranquillity guaranteed. “Such an allegation is not new. It is part of a misinformation campaign which seeks to discredit and tarnish the image of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. No public organization or individual may force citizens to believe or not believe in any religion. While Buddhism is the major religion practised, there is no discrimination against any other religion and no one is arrested on account of his or her religious faith.” C. Additional information 61. The Special Rapporteur wishes to thank the Government of Ukraine for the communication which it sent to him on the measures adopted to restore the rights of churches and religious organizations, by which he was informed that, on 21 March 2002, the President of Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma, signed a decree on urgent measures for combating the negative consequences of totalitarian policies of the former Soviet Union regarding religion and restoration of the violated rights of churches and religious organizations. That document is aimed at the restoration of justice, protection of the rights and interests of religious organizations, continuation of their moral and political rehabilitation, improvement of relationships based on religious and ideological tolerance, and creation of favourable conditions for affirming the principles of freedom of conscience. The Government of Ukraine stated its intention to form, by 1 May 2002, an interagency commission to consider proposals on the restoration of the rights of churches and religious organizations, and to draft plans for further actions. 60. Regarding the closing of Christian churches and the arrests of Christians asked to abandon their faith (see E/CN.4/2002/73, para. 103), the Lao People’s Democratic Republic replied, inter alia: 11