- List of The State And Government Leaders
- Prisoners Were Pardoned
- Lao-Thai Boundary Demarcation In Progress
- Paving To Start On Two Major Roads In Vientiane
- Vientiane Waste Management Project Completed
- Khammouane Province Gives Priority For Dry Season Production
- Hydropower In Champassak Province
- Pakse Bridge Across The Mekong River In Progress
- Fund For Women And Handicapped Children Established
- Agreement On The First Northern Transport Link Signed
- Lao Community In Alaska To Support English Training Project
- Tripartite Cooperation For Houaphan Province
- Join Investigation For Americans Unaccounted For In Laos
- U.S. Cooperation In Medical Research
- Japanese Grant To Prevent Infectious Diseases
- Quaker Service Supports Irrigation
- Lao-UNESCO Cooperation
- Satellite Link With Vietnam
- Japanese Volunteers Help For Fish Breeding
- U.S. Business Firm Invests At Wattay Airport.
- Drug Enforcement Seminar Held In Vientiane
- Illicit Drug Trade Dismantled In Bokeo.
- Luang Phrabang Celebrates World Heritage Status
- “ Ethnic Groups in Laos” (continued): The Lenten Tribe
- All Sectors Gearing Up For “Visit Laos Year 1999
- OTHER NEWS OF FEBRUARY 1998
LIST OF THE STATE AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS
(Elected and approved by the first session of the National Assembly Fourth Legislature, February 24-26, 1998)
President of the State
Mr. Khamtay Siphandone
Vice-President
Mr. Oudom Khattiya, Chairman of the Lao National Construction Front
President of the National Assembly
Mr. Samane Vignaketh
Vice-Presidents of the National Assembly
Mr. Khambou Sounisay
Mr. Vongpheth Xaykeuyachongtoua
Mrs. OneChanh Thammavong
Chief of the Supreme Court
Mr. Thongsy Inthaphom
People Prosecutor
Mr. Khampane Philavong
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
Mr. Sisavath Keobounphanh, Prime Minister
Mr. Bounngang Vorachith, Deputy Prime Minster
Mr. Choummaly Sayasone Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense
Mr. Somsavat Lengsavad, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Khamphoui Keoboualapha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Asang Laoli, Minister of Interior
Mr. Phimmasone Leuangkhamma, Minister of Education
Mr. Sileua Bounkham, Minister of Information and Culture
Mr. Bouathong Vonglokham, President of the State Planning Committee
Mr. Somphanh Phengkhammy, Minister of Labor and Social Welfare
Mr. Phoummy Thipphavone, Minister of Commerce
Mr. Soulivong Daravong, Minister of Industry and Handicrafts
Mr. Phao Bounnaphon, Minister of Communication, Transport, Posts and Construction
Dr. Phonemek Daraloy, Minister of Public Health
Mr. Kham-Ouan Boupha, Minister of Justice
Mr. Siene Saphangthong, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
Mr. Saisomphone Phomvihane, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office and Chief of Cabinet Office
Mr. Khamxay Souphanouvong, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office
Mr. Bountiem Phissamay, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office
Mr. Souli Nanthavong , Minister to the Prime Minister's Office
Mr. Xaysenglee Tengbliavue, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office
Mr. Somphavanh Inthavong, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office
Mr. Cheuang Sombounkhanh , Governor of the State Bank.
PRISONERS WERE PARDONED
President Nouhak Phoumsavanh of the Lao PDR, recently signed a decree pardoning 97 well-behaved prisoners. According to the decree, signed in January, the prisoners including 10 women, will be released when the inaugural session of the Fourth Legislature of the National Assembly is held.
The same decree also reduced the sentences for 238 prisoners, including 11 women, who reportedly improved their conduct and behaved well. The decision was in response to the proposal made by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly. The timing of the Presidential decree is to honor the 22nd founding anniversary of the Lao PDR, the 6th anniversary of the proclamation of the Constitution and the inaugural session of the fourth Legislature of the National assembly elected on December 21.
LAO-THAI BOUNDARY DEMARCATION IN PROGRESS
The joint field operation for the Lao-Thai boundary demarcation has so far surpassed targets. The first phase of the project was carried out from May 5 to June 28 and the second phase began on November 5, 1997. The land boundary demarcation has so far covered 186km.
The first phase covered 63km, and 12 boundary markers were erected. In the second phase, 113km of boundary has been covered and the two sides have agreed to erect boundary markers at 26 points(13 markers have so far been erected).
The boundary demarcation was based on five treaties and conventions between France and Siam. The treaty reached in 1992 and agreed upon at the sixth meeting of the Lao-Thai Joint Boundary Commission in Songkla, southern Thailand, last year, deals with the common boundary.
The subsequent meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission held last September in Pakse, Champassack province, Laos, decided that the land boundary survey and demarcation ought to be completed in two years. It was also decided that the joint field operation should be carried out for eight months each year. Following the Pakse meeting, the Joint Technical Commission had met three times, during which operation plans were jointly decided. According to the plans, four teams of boundary survey and demarcation were established. Earlier, there were only three teams.
The actual field work, starting on November 5, will continue until June 30, 1998. As for work left over from the first phase, there were six points that had not been agreed upon. These included the boundary markers at Kaeng Phadai(No 2-10), Phou Phamon-PhouSifa(No 2-07,2-08,2-09 and 2-10) and Meuang Ngeun-Houai Kone(No 3-17). On this matters the Lao side was ready to erect the markers at these points whenever the Thai side was ready.
In light of the difficulties facing the actual location of the boundary markers at these points, it was decided at the Pakse meeting that a special team was to be established to study the terrain in November 1997. The Franco-Siamese treaties, using watersheds as the dividing line between the two countries was used as the basis for the decision.
PAVING TO START ON TWO MAJOR ROADS IN VIENTIANE
Paving work on the two of the four major roads renovation will commence. Most of the renovation work on the four roads had been finished. The work completed included the demolition of obstacles, laying of drainage and conduit pipes, and the expansion and upgrading of the road surface. The contractors started paving Khouvieng Road, from the junction of Khoua Khao to Sokpaluang with asphalted concrete on a trial basis.
The companies have so far been paving the first and second layers with rock and will start paving with tar soon. If the results of the trial paving are satisfactory, the work will proceed on to the junction at Dong Palane, the junction at Phasay and the That Khao crossroads. The paving will also go ahead on some stretches of the road starting from the Nasay junction and running to Nongbone junction and Phonh Kheng junction. From Nongbone junction the work will run to the junction at That Luang Lower Secondary School. The paving of this stretch is expected to be completed by February.
If the supply of asphalted concrete is ensured, the paving of asphalted concrete should be finished by June. Other work, including street beautification, pavement construction, and the installation of road lamps would be completed by the end of this year. According to the original plan of the project six major roads in Vientiane municipality were to be renovated. So far work has started on four.
VIENTIANE WASTE MANAGEMENT PROJECT COMPLETED
In an attempt to aid the clean-up of the environment in Vientiane municipality, the Japanese government officially handed over its completed project for the improvement of solid waste management on January 16, 1998. As a top priority, this project received a total of 678,825,000 yen in capital from the Japanese government and the Lao government contributed 120 million kip in 1996-97, adding 60 million kip in 1997-98. With its completion, the municipality has taken some positive steps towards urban cleanliness and beautification.
In 1992, a highly successful experimental solid waste management project was set up under the name of “Clean Vientiane”. In June 1996, an exchange of notes was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between the Lao and Japanese governments which stipulated how much the project would cost. Project implementation started in January 1997 and was divided into 5 main parts: constructing offices and maintenance facility at Km-7, constructing offices and disposal site at Km-18, laying water pipes from Km-12 to Km-18, providing materials and vehicles for waste management service, and supervising engineering works by consultants. The Project works was contracted out to Hazama, Tomen, and Kokusai Kogyo corporations.
The government and administrative committee of Vientiane municipality highly value this grant aid and recognize its great importance in contributing to the task of socio-economic development in Laos as a whole.
KHAMMOUNE PROVINCE GIVES PRIORITY FOR DRY SEASON PRODUCTION
This year Khammouane province lacked rice for three months because in the past few years, natural disasters have heavily destroyed the wet season rice crop. Farmers are interested in dry season planting. However, many areas need irrigation systems to enable production of foodstuffs. Water pumps were determined a suitable solution for this province’s nine geographically diverse districts.
Last year, in the Province, dry season rice fields reached 2,000 ha with a total production of 1,000 tons. The wet rice field covered 44,000 ha of land but 7,000 ha were damaged by flood, and the remaining 37,000 ha produced 78,000 tons of rice. The upland rice plantations harvested 300 ha and produced more than 1,500 tons. At present, people are making dry season rice plantations a priority instead of rainy season rice which risks being flooded.
The provincial administration has put this project on the fast track to help these farmers, including a loan for water pumps and their installation, as well as 5,660 tons of rice provided to them from foreign organizations which the province has used to create a rice bank.
The project emphasizes construction and maintenance of all irrigation systems so local people can produce and harvest more crops. Many local areas now have irrigation systems and people are very interested in rice production because this is the only way to solve their problems of famine and poverty. Dry rice plantations will yield more rice than rainy season fields as the potential of water can be controlled and the land can be fertilized instead of the rains washing away the fertilizer.
People have had insufficient rice for generations; however, now that the water pumps are installed and they have been provided with a new strain of rice called Thadorkham. They are especially pleased because the potential of this rice is high. Over the past few years of trials, the farmers have seen that the quantity of rice is much higher with the new strain than with the local strain of rice. Therefore the provincial administration has placed emphasis on dry season rice which will produce more than wet season rice. The agricultural Development Bank will be responsible for the loans and farmers will reimburse them with five percent interest annually for five years. Last year, people in 40 villages received loans for water pumps.
Dry season rice is also on the fast track of the Khammouane branch of Electricité du Laos which is responsible for running electricity into the irrigation systems. Within the framework of this project, in 1997, 75KW electricity plants were set up at nine points.
HYDROPOWER IN CHAMPASSAK PROVINCE
Houay Ho hydropower dam in Paksong district, Champassak province, started in 1994, is expected to be finished in
August this year. At present, this project is 78 percent complete.
Once finished, this dam will distribute about 150 megawatts of electricity. The Lao government has agreed to
sell 126 megawatts to Thailand; the remainder will be sold to the local people of Champassak and Attapeu
provinces. Three companies have invested in this project: Electricité du Laos has 20 percent, the Thai company
Loxley has 20 percent, and Korean Daewoo holds 60 percent. The total project costs amount to
approximately US.$ 225 million. The dam stands 83 meters high, 400 meters wide and the supply
tank will have a capacity of 620 million cubic meters of water.
PAKSE BRIDGE ACROSS THE MEKONG RIVER IN PROGRESS
The construction of a bridge across the Mekong River between Pakse and Phonthong district, Champassak province, began on October 1997. The bridge construction project is managed by the Ministry of Transportation, Post and Construction. The Ministry has recently signed a contract for the bridge construction with two Japanese companies, which will join in the contract. Construction now 5 percent underway, is scheduled for completion in the year 2000.
The cost of the bridge construction will be covered by a grant aid from the Japanese government. According to a Japanese project expert, this bridge is the first ever built in Laos with the use of new technology. The heads of the bridge on both sides are made of steel reinforced concrete, and is over 1,380m long and 11.8 m wide, with two traffic lanes of 3.5 m on each lane and a 1.5 m wide sidewalk for pedestrians on each side. The bridge is 740m longer than the Vientiane-Nongkhai bridge. The Pakse bridge will be a boon for transportation in the four southern provinces of Laos, namely Saravane, Sekong, Attapeu and Champassak.
FUND FOR WOMEN AND HANDICAPPED CHILDREN ESTABLISHED
A Women and Handicapped Children’s Fund (WHCF) was set up at the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare as a new mass organization, playing its role under the constitution of the Lao PDR and under the temporary disciplines of the fund.
The fund will be used to raise cash and materials for helping women and handicapped children and disadvantaged people, providing jobs for these groups, and encouraging self sufficiency. The objective of the fund is to reduce the burden on society and individuals’ families. It will also strive to give disadvantaged people a social and economic role to play according to their ability. The fund will provide for people from a range of different social groups, abilities and careers.
AGREEMENT ON THE FIRST NORTHERN TRANSPORT LINK SIGNED
An agreement to rehabilitate the national road between Paklai and Kenethao with the help of UNDP and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) was signed in January, in Vientiane.
This US$ 4.6 million project will rehabilitate the last section of road connecting Luang Phrabang to Thailand through Sayaboury province and become the first northern transport link to connect Laos with Thailand, Vietnam and China. This project is a result of the government and UNDP-led provincial round table meeting process carried out in Sayaboury province in 1996. This process has already led to cover US$ 24 million in commitments from UNDP, IFAD(International Fund for Agricultural Development) and other bilateral development partners. UNDP led donor investments in Sayaboury province center on rural development such as income generation activities, micro-finance and integrated rural development.
The project will go a long way in helping Sayaboury and other provinces in northern Laos meet their long term development aspirations. This project will also be the first in Laos to incorporate HIV/AIDS awareness training for project personnel and beneficiaries, as part of UNCDF/UNDP’s efforts to draw attention to the threat of a HIV/ADIS epidemic. This follows the recent establishment of the HIV/ADIS Trust Fund.
The rehabilitation of the Parklai-Kenthao road is the last phase of a UNDP and UNCDF-assisted project started in 1986. Over 240 kilometers of all-weather gravel road was constructed which linked Luang Phrabang with Sayaboury town and Parklai. This last phase consists of 63 kilometers of all-weather gravel road and will facilitate communication between the isolated province of Sayaboury and the rest of the country. It will also facilitate local access to health and education services.UNCDF is contributing approximately US$ 4.2 million in commitments to this road construction initiative.
LAO COMMUNITY IN ALASKA TO SUPPORT ENGLISH TRAINING PROJECT
Recently the Lao community in Anchorage, Alaska, through a fund raising party collected US$ 3,550 to support the English Language Training Project for Lao officials in Vientiane. The money will be used to purchase equipment and materials for the class rooms.
The donation was sent through the Lao Embassy in Washington, D.C. to the National Human Resource Development Committee in Vientiane. In recognition of this valuable contribution, on behalf of the Lao Government, the Chairman of the Committee expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Lao community in Anchorage and presented a Certificate of Merit to the donors.
TRIPARTITE COOPERATION FOR HOUAPHAN PROVINCE
A joint cooperation signing ceremony between Laos, USA and Japan to hand over Japanese grant assistance to three projects in Houaphanh province was held at the office of the Lao-American Projects, in Vientiane. The three projects in Houaphanh to receive grant assistance are for the improvement of irrigation facilities in Vienthong district worth US$ 57,115, the construction of Vienthong primary school worth US$ 50,090, and the construction of Houaphanh primary school worth US$ 50,090.
In recent years, the American government has made substantial contributions to the socio-economic development in Houaphanh as well as in the whole Laos. This Japanese grant assistance for grassroots projects will contribute to successfully improve the living conditions of the multi-ethnic population of Houaphanh province and the relations of friendship and cooperation between the people of the three countries involved.
JOINT INVESTIGATION FOR AMERICANS UNACCOUNTED FOR IN LAOS
In January, the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the United States conducted investigations and remains recovery operations in a continuing effort to account for Americans still missing in Laos from the war in Southeast Asia. This was the 36th joint field activity conducted by the U.S. and Lao representatives since January, 1992, and the first in 1998. Operations were successfully conducted in several Lao provinces over a period of 31 days. The
Lao and American teams investigated and excavated approximately 40 cases of unaccounted for Americans.
These operations were successful owning to the excellent support of the Lao Government and local villagers. The US welcomed and expressed appreciation for the cooperation and humanitarian assistance of Lao in the efforts to account as fully as possible for the missing U.S. personnel.
U.S. COOPERATION IN MEDICAL RESEARCH
US Ambassador to Laos and Deputy Minister of Public Health signed a cooperative medical research agreement. The agreement includes two projects in which the United States Naval Medical Research Unit Two (NAMRU 2) and the Lao Ministry of Public Health will work together to research infectious disease health threats.
In the first project, NAMRU 2 and the Lao Ministry of Public Health through its National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) will work to create resources in the Laos to identify and manage infectious disease with outbreaks, particularly those with epidemic potential. The second project will include conducting baseline zero-surveys of hepatitis, HIV and other infectious agents throughout the Laos. The purpose of these baseline surveys is to establish strategies for preventive action such as hepatitis vaccinations.
These two projects follow the successful collaboration of NAMRU and NIHE on the study of hepatitis and other diseases. These study findings were presented at the 14th International Conference on Tropical Medicine and Malaria, held in November 1996 in Nagasaki, Japan, and in Vientiane in March 1997.
These humanitarian assistance projects are coordinated through the US Embassy’s Joint Task Force for Full Accounting. The projects are also part of US response to needs of the Lao people who have assisted the US in the ongoing efforts to obtain the fullest possible accounting of Americans still missing in Laos.
JAPANESE GRANT TO PREVENT INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Laos and Japan have agreed upon a plan to fight infectious diseases among children in Laos. Under agreement, Japan will provide a grant for immunization, particularly the eradication of poliomyelitis. The project will be launched nationwide in early October and will be carried out over three years. It will rely on close cooperation from international organizations, particularly the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
QUAKER SERVICE SUPPORTS IRRIGATION
Quaker Service Laos(QSL) recently signed project agreements with the governments of Oudomsay and Luangphrabang to support small scale irrigation development activities in those provinces. QSL plans to provide materials for small and family size irrigation project construction as well as funds for water user groups and farmer training in the two provinces. QSL will also provide office supplies and training support for provincial and district level irrigation and agriculture staff. Special support for training in gender issues related to irrigation development will also be provided. The agreement with Luangphrabang is for 1998 with an estimated budget of 30 million kip. The agreement with Oudomsay is for support of over 200 million kip for the period from 1998 to 2000.
LAO - UNESCO COOPERATION
UNESCO concluded with Laos for further cooperation in the fields of education, science, technology, culture, communication and information.
Education for all remains a high priority objective for the government. With this in mind, UNESCO will continue to help the Ministry of Education to improve the effectiveness of the management and planning of the educational system by putting special emphasis on basic education. Alongside the traditional school system, efforts will be intensified in the field of non-formal education. The government is planning an overall reorganization of the system for higher education and will participate in the international conference on higher education to be held in Paris in October 1998.
The Lao government stated its attachment to the importance of environmental protection, with respect to the follow up activities from the Rio Summit. Within the framework of the program called Man and the Biosphere, UNESCO’s cooperation is required for a pilot project for a park that will be a biosphere reserve in Laos. For this purpose, UNESCO will contribute support to technical infrastructures, ensure the training of Lao staff and supply expert services. Among other projects, UNESCO cooperation will also be devoted to water resource management, notably within the framework of the program related to the Mekong.
Since the registration of Luang Phrabang as a World Heritage site in 1995, the government has fully met the requirements of the World Heritage Center, while UNESCO undertook several parallel activities in the city itself: legal assistance and advice in town and protected sector planning. The international financial aid notably from France, the Netherlands and the European Union, widely contributed to the implementation of these activities. Likewise, Vat Phu, one of the most important archaeological sites of the region made it possible to introduce new regional approaches in non-destructive archaeological research and in the participation of local communities in the preservation of community heritage.
UNESCO undertakes to follow through on its collaboration with the government to set up a viable tourist development policy; funds should be obtained from the New Zealand government and the World Bank/ICF in favor of an ecotourism project in Nam Ha. UNESCO accepted the Lao proposal concerning aid in constructing an arts school, a cultural research institute and a journalists’ training center.
UNESCO will continue to participate in the preservation of the cultural heritage of the country’s cultural and ethnic minorities as well as the preparation of registration files for the Plain of Jars, That Luang and Vat Phu on the World Heritage list.
In the field of communication and information, among other projects, assistance was provided in view of improving the local production of programs of the Luang Phrabang radio station. The Lao government expressed its appreciation for the UNESCO bureau in Bangkok which over the past decade organized 52 missions to Laos and enabled 400 Lao nationals to participate in training courses, seminars and conferences.
SATELLITE LINK WITH VIETNAM
The Vietnamese government has agreed to facilitate communication via satellite between Vientiane in Laos and Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The agreement was reached at the first meeting of civil aviation general directors held in Ho Chi Minh City in January. The meeting was attended by delegations from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Cooperation in air transport amongst new members of ASEAN was very important in preparation for air transport among all members. It was also in line with ASEAN’s policy to widen the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and services. ASEAN’s old members had already formed subgroups for transport cooperation.
The first group is composed of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. The second group includes Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, and the third group has Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. In each subgroup there is an agreement for progressive cooperation, and from now till 2003, plans will be put in place for cooperation among the groups. ASEAN will then open its “free sky” cooperation agreement for ASEAN-Europe-America. The Meeting of aviation general directors will be held once a year, and the next one is set for Hanoi.
JAPANESE VOLUNTEERS HELP FOR FISH BREEDING
Recognizing that fish is a natural resource that can provide small business potential as well tremendous nutritional value, the International Volunteers Association of Japan (IVAJ) has instituted a project to help build a fresh water fish breeding facility at the Houay Nam Bo pond at Ban Nongping, Vientiane municipality. The project main objective is to promote the business initiative of local people, to create alternative revenue streams for families who live around natural ponds and rivers and to provide an added source nutrition for the local people.
IVAJ presented fund for the project and will provide extensive training in all of the technical skills necessary to maintain a successful fish breeding facility. Initially, the project will build 15 fish cages for breeding and rearing, and after nine months, the fish will be sold to local markets. During this time, activities will be controlled and supervised under the guidance of technicians who have a wealth of experience raising fish. After a year of operation, the plan is to have the villagers manage the project themselves - from breeding the fish to keeping the financial accounts.
U.S. BUSINESS FIRM INVESTS AT WATTAY AIRPORT
The president of OGDEN Cooperation, a business service company based in the United States, has expressed its interest toward investing in all ground handling services at the Vientiane International Airport (Wattay Airport), excluding those within the passenger terminals.
The initial investment of US$4.8 million will be used for buying new ground handling equipment and for repairs to the existing warehouse. It’s thought that the company would like to join forces with the Lao Duty Free Company, which is currently running business at the Wattay Airport, and with the Lao Civil Aviation Department, to explore further investment opportunities at the airport. In addition to this, the company has also revealed its plans to cooperate with the Laosamay Group to build a bonded warehouse on the Lao side of the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge with a capital investment of US$ 3 million.
DRUG ENFORCEMENT SEMINAR HELD IN VIENTIANE
The US Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA) and the Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision (LCDC) were holding the two-week seminar on basic drug enforcement, in Vientiane in January, to provide American expertise to Lao enforcement officers.
In the opening speeches at a seminar, Mr.Soubanh Srithirath, Chairman of the LCDC stated that cooperation between Laos, the USA and other countries is needed if the drug trade is to be controlled. The need for international cooperation is to stop cross-border trafficking, hence the need for this type of seminar, he told the 40 Lao law enforcement officers attending from seven provinces. The Chairman of the LCDC spoke of the Lao government commitment to controlling narcotics, citing instances of successful cooperation between the two countries, as well as other bilateral and multilateral cooperation efforts to fight drug trafficking. He talked in particular about the tripartite agreement between Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, and the Memorandum of Understanding signed with neighbors such as Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam as well as the United Nations for Drug Control program ( UNDCP). He was pleased, that a series of seminars had taken place, helping to improve the capacity of Lao law enforcement officers.
In the opening speech, Ms. Wendy Chamberlin, American Ambassador to Laos stated that the United States is very happy to assist the Lao PDR in the common efforts against drug trafficking. Together, the law enforcement officers of Laos and the USA can help to make the world a little safer. Lao-US cooperation in this field had served as a model for the world, and the training would provide both sides with some useful exchanges. It is hope that the seminar would be practical for the participating law enforcement officers, giving them something they could transfer to other colleagues who were not able to take part in this seminar.
ILLICIT DRUG TRADE DISMANTLED IN BOKEO
Police arrested a number of illicit drug producers, including some foreign nationals, during a raid on heroin and amphetamine refineries at an area bordering Bokeo province and Chiang Rai province, Thailand.
The raid was jointly made by the central and local police, after conducting operations for years to find out a source of the illicit drug production and trafficking within the province. The drug refineries were located in Ban San Luang area, Paktha district, which is remote and difficult to be reached.
During the raid the police also seized several tons of opium, heroin, and chemicals for drug processing stored in containers and plastic bags, production equipment, and some firearms. Now investigations are being conducted to ascertain the people who gave financial and technical support to this illicit drug production in order to bring them to court for trial according to the law. The raid on the illicit drug production was also seen as move to eradicate illicit drug from Laos and cut off the drug trafficking route through Laos to foreign countries.
LUANG PHRABANG CELEBRATES WORLD HERITAGE STATUS
Tens of thousands of people, many coming from Vientiane and from other provinces gathered in the streets of Luang Phrabang to celebrate the consecration of the city’s World Heritage status. Lavish ceremonies were organized to mark the historic event. The Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) presented the certificate to Minister of Information and culture of the Lao government, which officially bestows World Heritage status on Luang Phrabang, the cultural heritage of which now belongs to the whole of mankind.
The city was listed as a World Heritage site in December 1995 as the best preserved ancient city in Southeast Asia, which makes it a universal and exceptional site in accordance with the provisions of the World Heritage convention of 1972 now signed by 152 countries including Laos which adhered to it in 1987.
The Director General of the UNESCO praised the Lao government for developing and implementing conservation regulations through setting up a National Commission for Cultural, Historic and Environmental Heritage and a Local Heritage Committee. A plan for the Preservation and Development of Luang Phrabang was elaborated to determine the works of protection, improvement and adaptation to undertake for each building with the participation of the population. This plan, could serve as reference for other cities candidates for World Heritage status. The opening of a Heritage House is designed to give advice to the inhabitants to exchange expertise and skills with Lao colleagues. The Heritage House team will also advise public and private investors in construction and urban planning.
Receiving the certificate on behalf of the Lao government, the Minister of Culture and Information said that the inscription of Luang Phrabang as World Heritage site was evidence of UNESCO’s high recognition of the antiquity and richness of the Lao civilization. It also shows the international organization’s will to assist Laos in the preservation of his cultural and natural heritage. This will contribute to international recognition of Lao’s treasures and encourage cooperation for their safeguard and development for the sake of peace, friendship, education and development.
The Minister thanked UNESCO for their valuable support and assistance and expressed hope that those cooperation and assistance would be expanded in the future. The hand over ceremony was followed by a parade displaying some of Luang Phrabang splendid pageantry.
“Ethnic Groups in Laos” (continued) : THE LENTEN TRIBE
The Lenten ethnic group is a Tibetan race that speaks a language in the same category as the Hmong-Yao and writes in ancient Chinese. Researchers say that Lenten means purple. This tribe lived in the south of China more than two thousand years ago and some still live in South-East China in Hainam or Kuangxi today. The Lenten who now live in northern Laos migrated there from southern China and northern Vietnam during the 18-19th century.
These people now live in Ban Pakha, Long district, Luang Namtha, Luang Phrabang, Sayaboury, Oudomsay, Bokeo and Phongsaly provinces. According to the 1985 statistics, the tribe has a population of about 18,000. The majority practice slash and burn cultivation. Normally, the tribe plants long grain rice because they do not eat sticky rice like the Lao Lum and they also plant corn, soy beans and breed animals.
The Lenten tribe live in the mountains in houses which are always made of bamboo with grass roofs. The particularity of their homes is that they have three doors: one for men, one for women (on the same side as the kitchen) and the other door for guests on the occasion of traditional ceremonies.
Lenten tribal women wear calf-length trousers and long-sleeved shirts with long tail that cover their bottoms; they sew red silk on the shirt front on either side of the buttons and tie a black scarf around their waists. The men's trousers and shirts are both black, with buttons on the left side of the shirt. When the Lenten have traditional ceremonies, the women and children wear silver necklaces and earrings. They dye their clothes black with herbs that they gather and prepare themselves.
Young men and women are free to choose their partners, and their engagement or wedding ceremonies are always held after the New Year which is at the end of December. Following traditional practices, the man's family has to pay some silver to the woman's mother at the engagement ceremony. If the man's side breaks off the engagement, the woman's side will nevertheless keep the property she had been given by the man. If the woman's side breaks off the engagement, her family will have to pay back twice the amount to the man’s family.
In most cases, the woman moves in with the man's family, however, if the man does not have any property to pay the bride, he may stay with the woman's family for two to three years or sometimes for a lifetime.
The Lenten celebrate three traditional events. the New Year held on December 29 every year, the Three-Color Rice or Third-Month festival held in March and the Fourteenth Day festival held on July 14. Their New Year festivities last for six or seven days. On the first day, all the heads of the families shoot one bullet into the sky and then bless each other, wishing long life, good health, success and fulfillment. The next day they celebrate all day and night. On the third day, all the Lenten stay at home to celebrate the New Year.
On the same day, they shoot their guns three times: first, one bullet is shot and a glass of liquor is drunk in the morning; then, seven bullets are shot and seven glasses of liquor drunk; lastly, twelve bullets are shot and twelve glasses of liquor drunk. They believe that the bullets can chase away the bad things which caused them to make mistakes in the past year. Alcohol is consumed to bring the best fortune in the New Year. For the next three days, they do not wash their clothes, mill rice, or cut trees. They devote their days to celebrating.
For the three-color rice ceremony, they dye sticky rice green, yellow and red. The three colors of rice are mixed together then cooked. When the mixture is ready, they take it as an offering to their ancestors. For every traditional event, the Lenten tribe always prepares food to offer to their ancestors to let the ancestor's spirit know that the younger generations respect them for the good things they did in the past.
When someone dies, a neighbor will shoot a bullet to inform the other villagers of the death and call them to prepare the funeral ceremony. A white cloth is placed over the deceased's face and a silver coin put into his mouth. White clothes and hats are worn at the funeral ceremony and the women let their hair down from the traditional knot or bun. The coffin is adorned with flowers and pictures of birds. In preparation for the funeral meal, none of the family members are allowed to kill any animals for the ceremony. ( To be continued )
ALL SECTORS GEARING UP FOR “VISIT LAOS YEAR 1999”
According to the National Tourism Authority of Laos (NTAL), the government will make every effort to ensure a comfortable stay for foreign tourists visiting Laos during the Visit Laos Year 1999. As for its immediate preparations for next year, the Lao government will restore and promote existing tourist sites and explore the possibility of promoting many natural sites in remote parts of the country thought worthy of tourists’ interest.
At present, many provinces had already restored existing tourist sites and were looking for more. Many new tourist areas have been designated, but they are often very difficult to reach. An example of this inaccessibility is Khammouane province, where there is an underground river flowing under mountains for a distance of 11 kilometers, but it requires a day-long trip by boat. The government intends to upgrade the communication system. The roads linking tourist sites will be good enough for traveling in the year 1999.
The NTAL is now searching the country for ideas with special appeal such as cultural products and traditional festival celebration, so that they can be included at the “That Luang International Fair” to be celebrated in 1999. It is expected that during 1999 close to one million foreign tourists will choose to visit Laos. To try to reach this lofty target, the NTAL is campaigning widely and exchanging information with other regional and international tourism authorities.
Other activities that remain to be done before 1999 are the publication of brochures, postcard and posters with the catchy slogan: “ Visit Laos Years 1999”.
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