A/HRC/16/53/Add.1 the Covenant. Such failures lead to impunity which can encourage a repetition of the crimes by others in subsequent incidents. 267. The Special Rapporteur urges the Government to consider the need for thoroughgoing reforms and long term preventive measures targeted to address the root causes of communal clashes and preventing future recurrences. The Special Rapporteur would like to refer to his predecessor’s recommendations in her country report on Nigeria (E/CN.4/2006/5/Add.2, paras. 113-115): “The Government should also abide by its basic obligation to ensure the protection and security of religious groups which may be targeted and which should be entitled to practise their religions freely and without any obstacles, including those created by non-State actors. The Government should reassess the efficiency of its mechanisms in order to be able to intervene in a timely and proper manner when such violence occurs. Early warning mechanisms should also be strengthened. The mechanisms created by the Government to promote interreligious dialogue should be strengthened and extended. In particular, they should ensure that religious leaders of all communities can participate and involve the civil society. Mechanisms at the local level should be created in as many places as may require them because of the composition of the population, past experience, or any other indication of possible religious tensions. The Government should also increase its support for such initiatives coming from the civil society and disseminate principles of good practice.” P. Lao People’s Democratic Republic Urgent appeal sent on 12 February 2010 jointly with the Special Rapporteur on the right to food (a) Allegations transmitted to the Government 268. The Special Procedures mandate holders brought to the attention of the Government information regarding regarding the situation of the members of 11 Christian families from Katin village of Ta-Oyl district in Saravan province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic. 269. According to the information received, on 10 January 2010, approximately 100 people, consisting of villagers and local officials, including the village chief, an official from the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC), district police and village policemen, disturbed the Sunday morning worship service of the Christian community in Katin village of Ta-Oyl district, Saravan province. With guns pointed at the worshippers’ heads, these officials allegedly forced all members of the 11 Christian families present, including children, out of their place of worship to an open field in the village. Subsequently, the officials seized the personal belongings of the Christians from 11 homes and destroyed 6 of their homes. While they did not manage to persuade the Christians to renounce their faith, the officials forced the Christians to walk six kilometers away from their homes and then left them on the side of the road. Unable to return to their home village due to police posted at the entrance of Katin village, the Christians, including women and 27 children, have been sleeping on the ground in the woods with no food and shelter. 270. Around 18 January 2010, the Saravan provincial LFNC official and the Ta-Oyl district official met with the members of the 11 Christian families and tried to persuade them to renounce their faith. The two officials argued that neither the 56 villages in Ta-Oyl district nor the officials want Christians to reside in the district. However, the Christians confirmed their faith and emphasized that since they believe in God they no longer had to participate in any animal sacrifice as animist believers would do. The two officials then prohibited the members of the 11 Christian families from returning to their home village. 53