(Beijing/Vientiane — October 21, 2025) — Renowned human rights lawyer Lu Siwei, who was detained by Lao authorities and forcibly repatriated to China while in exile, has filed a formal legal complaint through his Chinese attorney, accusing the Lao government of serious violations of his personal and property rights, as well as breaching its international obligation of non-refoulement.
The letter of counsel, issued by attorney Li Xiongbing of the Beijing Caixing Law Firm, was delivered on Tuesday, October 19, 2025 (local time), to the Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in China, addressed directly to Ambassador Song Pong. This marks a new phase in Mr. Lu’s legal defense and underscores ongoing concerns over Southeast Asian governments’ cooperation with China in cross-border renditions of human rights defenders.
Core Allegations: Torture and Inhumane Treatment
According to the letter, Mr. Lu Siwei was detained by Lao Customs police on July 28, 2023, while attempting to cross Laos en route to Thailand, and remained in custody until September 23, 2023. The document outlines several grave accusations against the Lao authorities:
Physical Assaults: Mr. Lu Siwei was allegedly beaten twice by Lao police, once at the Immigration Department of Vientiane International Airport and again at the Mohan border crossing between Laos and China. The latter incident reportedly involved several Lao special police officers and Chinese customs police officers.
Inhumane Conditions: During detention, Mr. Lu Siwei was subjected to inhumane treatment such as hunger, sleep deprivation, and inability to shower. The conditions of the detention facilities were described as cruel and below international standards.
Lack of Due Process: Throughout his detention, Lao authorities reportedly failed to provide any written legal documents explaining the grounds or legal basis for his detention.
The letter also notes that Mr. Lu Siwei’s personal property, including foreign currency, gold coins, and personal effects, was confiscated by Lao police and has yet to be returned.
Violation of the International Principle of Non-Refoulement
The central dispute of the case centers on the September 23, 2023 involuntary repatriation. The letter asserts that Lao authorities forcibly deported lawyer Lu Siwei to China without assessing the imminent risk of torture or inhumane or degrading treatment he would face upon return to China. Following his involuntary repatriation, lawyer Lu Siwei was criminally prosecuted in China and sentenced to eleven months in prison.
The attorney emphasized that this act constituted a clear breach of Laos’s international obligations, including those under the UN Charter and other international conventions safeguarding the principle of non-refoulement.
Demands Raised by the Attorney
To remedy the alleged violations, Lu Siwei’s lawyer has made three specific demands to the Lao government:
Restitution and Compensation: Immediate return of all confiscated property, full compensation for personal losses, and a formal apology to Mr. Lu Siwei.
Independent Investigation: Establishment of an independent investigative team, including independent experts from the UN Human Rights Council and non-governmental organizations, to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the violations and publicly disclose the findings to the international community.
Accountability: Pursue criminal responsibility under Lao domestic law and international human rights standards for the police officers who assaulted Mr. Lu Siwei, and publicly release the results of disciplinary action.
The letter of counsel concludes with a stern warning: if the Embassy fails to respond or take substantive action, the attorney will submit a report to relevant UN Human Rights Council institutions and raise the case during Laos’s Universal Periodic Review, holding Laos accountable for any resulting international consequences.
The case has drawn attention from multiple international human rights organizations and members of the UN Special Procedure Working Group, becoming a key test of protection for human rights defenders in Southeast Asia.
Reported by Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai for ChinaAid
Beijing Caixing Law Firm
Letter of Counsel
To: Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in the Republic of China
And His Excellency Ambassador Song Pong
Beijing Caixing Law Firm of the People’s Republic of China ( “China”), acting under the authorization of Chinese citizen Mr. Lu Siwei (ID No. : 320582197301095719), has instructed Lawyer Li Xiongbing to formally submit this letter to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic ( “Laos”) regarding the serious violations of Mr. Lu Siwei’s personal and property rights and breaches of international obligations by the Lao authorities, as stated and addressed below:
Mr. Lu Siwei is a well-known human rights lawyer and defender in China, widely respected by the international community. On July 28, 2023, while transiting through Laos en route to Thailand. Mr. Lu was detained by Lao customs police and remained in custody until his expulsion to China on September 23, 2023. The following facts are based on Mr. Lu’s own statements, international media reports, personal social media, and publicly available information from the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Special Procedures officers:
1. On July 28, 2023, Mr. Lu Siwei was detained by Lao police at a train station in Vientiane and remained in custody until being expelled to China on September 23, 2023.
2. During his detention, Lao authorities did not provide Mr. Lu with any written legal documents under domestic law or international conventions to clarify the grounds and basis for his detention.
3. While in custody, Mr. Lu suffered two assaults by Lao police officers. The first occurred at approximately 2:00 p.m. on July 28, 2023, inside an office of the Immigration Department at Vientiane International Airport, with intermittent beating lasting about 20 minutes. The second occurred at approximately 3:00 p.m. on September 23, 2023, at the Mohan border crossing between China and Laos, in the presence of two Chinese customs police officers and several Lao special police officers.
4. While detained, Mr. Lu was subjected to inhuman treatment including hunger, sleep deprivation, inability to shower, and arbitrary detention; the conditions of the detention facilities fell short of internationally recognized minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners.
5. Mr. Lu’s personal property – including US$8, 020, €1, 300, HK$1, 800, over RMB 5, 000, two zodiac gold coins weighing 20 grams, a Xinhai Revolution commemorative coin, and his clothing and books – was unlawfully seized by Lao police and has not been returned to date.
6. On September 23, 2023, Lao authorities expelled Mr. Lu to China without assessing the possibility and urgency of his exposure to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment. After being returned, Mr. Lu was criminally prosecuted by Chinese judicial authorities and sentenced to eleven months of imprisonment, which has caused him serious physical and psychological injury, and his health has markedly deteriorated during detention.
In light of the Lao authorities’ disregard for human rights protections, violations of the United Nations Charter and international conventions, our firm hereby formally demands:
A. The Lao authorities must immediately return Mr. Lu’s property listed Above – including US$8, 020, €1, 300, HK$1, 800, over RMB 5, 000, two zodiac gold coins weighing 20 grams, a Xinhai Revolution commemorative coin – andmust apologize to Mr. Lu and compensate him for the loss of clothing and books seized from his possession.
B. The Lao authorities must establish an independent investigation team, whose members should include independent experts from the United Nations Human Rights Council and non-governmental organizations, thoroughly investigate the circumstances of Mr. Lu’s detention in Laos and publish the results to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and international media.
C. The Lao authorities must, in accordance with Lao domestic law and international human rights standards, pursue criminal accountability of the three police officers who assaulted Mr. Lu Siwei, and publicly disclose the outcome.
This letter is delivered to Your Excellency and the Embassy in both Chinese and English. Please treat these matters with utmost seriousness; should the Embassy and Your Excellency fail to timely reply or take substantive action regarding the issues raised in this letter, this lawyer will, as authorized report to the by the client, submit a relevant United Nations Human Rights Council institutions and raise the relevant allegations during Laos’s Universal Periodic Review. All resulting consequences and international attention shall be borne by the Lao side.
Sincerely,
Beijing Caixing Law Firm
Lawyer Li Xiongbing
Tel: + 86 13701221801
Email: lxblawyer@gmail.com
October 19, 2025
Below are photos of the letter of Counsel in Chinese and English.
