Evangelical group says 3 US volunteers detained in Laos

BANGKOK – A U.S.-based Christian evangelical organization says three of its American volunteers have been detained in the Southeast Asian nation of Laos.

The group, Vision Beyond Borders, based in Casper, Wyoming, said in a statement late Friday that the three, whom it identified only by the names Wayne, Autumn and Joseph, were detained by police while visiting villages in the northern province of Luang Namtha.

Eric Blievernicht, the group's operations manager, said the three carried Gospel tracts and MP3 players with Scripture and other Christian material to share with villagers.

Laotian authorities could not immediately be contacted on Saturday, as celebrations of the extended traditional New Year's holiday began. An emailed inquiry to the U.S. Embassy in Laos was not immediately answered.