According to sources, three Lao human rights activists, Soukan Chaithad, Somphone Phimmasone and Lodkham Thammavong, were sentenced to between 12 and 20 years’ in prison following a secret trial held in April 2017. Arrested in March 2016, and held incommunicado for over two months, they are prisoners of conscience and should be immediately and unconditionally released.