UNESCO says Mr. Latsami Khamphoui, a former Laotian government official, has been imprisoned in Laos since 1990 under very harsh conditions and is said to be in poor health.
In a public appeal for his release, UNESCO expressed concern over the Lao government's indication that the 63 year-old former government official might not be released at the end of his 14-year sentence unless he appeals for clemency.