Le 1 Mars 2002

• Laos: International narcotics control strategy report (U.S. Department of State) --Laos was the world’s second largest producer of illicit opium, although its production lagged well behind Burma’s. For the 2001 growing season, the United States estimated Laos’ potential production at 210 metric tons
• Oxiana says IFC to fund Laos gold mine (Reuters/Yahoo! Asia or backup or here) --Oxiana Resources Ltd said on Friday the International Finance Corporation had approved a US$30 million debt financing package for the development of a gold mine in Laos... IFC, part of the World Bank, will take equity in
• Lao rural training center wins U.N. award (Xinhua NA/Northern LT or UNESCAP) --The Vientiane-based PDTC was picked out by a jury of regional experts in HRD and poverty reduction, according to an ESCAP announcement. The ESCAP HRD award, which is worth US$ 30,000, is designed to praise those
• Laos: Economic issues high on monthly cabinet meeting agenda (Laos NA or backup)
  In the first half of the 2001-2002 period, 38 projects for foreign investment worth US$ 412.56 million were approved. The projects have US$ 70.612 million in registered investment & create employment for 1,400 local people
• Foreign investors continue pouring money into Laos (Vietnam News Agency) --Laos has received more foreign investment with 38 projects worth US$ 413.5 million being licensed over the past five months from last October.  The country received in the meantime foreign aid worth US$ 164.46 million
• International Monetary Fund approves additional US$ 5.6 million credit for Laos (Vietnam NA) --International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a further disbursement of US$ 5.6 million for Laos at its Executive Board's 1st review of Laos' performance of the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) held in Vientiane. 
• ASEAN U-17s Soccer C'ship: Malaysia go down to Laos in sudden-death shootout (The Star) --Laos sneaked into the final of the AFF Under-17 tournament by the narrowest of margins when they beat Malaysia 7-6 on sudden-death penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw at the MPPJ Stadium in Kelana Jaya last night.
• Int'l expert meeting on floods warning system for Mekong River ends (Xinhua NA/Northern LT)--At the meeting, convened by MRC, over 70 international & Mekong Basin flood experts recommended on how the four countries in the Lower Mekong Basin, namely, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand & Vietnam, can develop the best

Le 2 Mars 2002

• America: Dr. Wagy to give slide presentation on People of Laos (Texarkana Gazette or backup) --Dr.Tom Wagy, Texas A&M University-Texarkana history professor, will give a slide presentation on The People of Laos at 2 p.m. Sunday in Room 108 of the Akin Building. Dr. Wagy teaches Asia in the 20th Century at
• ASEAN U-17s Soccer C'ship: Fleet-footed Myanmar all set to lift Under-17 title, [but they have to beat Laos] (The Star) --Fancied Myanmar are set to lift the inaugural Asean Football Federation’s (AFF) Under-17 championship title hands down when they face Laos in the final at the MPPJ Stadium in Kelana Jaya at 7.45pm tonight.
• America: A funeral, at last -- Orange County relatives find little consolation at graveside (Orange County Register) --Other relatives grimly accepted the U.S. Army's official view that Crone, 21, was killed when a helicopter he was flying in exploded over Laos. Accepting his death or not, a brother and three sisters from Orange County stood
• Epidemic control: Meat from Britain ditched (Bangkok Post) --More than 70 tonnes of frozen chicken & pork meat imported from England without meeting quarantine requirements was destroyed in the Chiang Saen district... The meat, which was destined for Laos, was seized on Feb 15

Le 3 Mars 2002

• Malaysia finish fourth as Myanmar emerge triumphant [by beating Laos 4-1] (The Star)
  Myanmar emerged as the champions, beating Laos 4-1 in the final. Myanmar were undoubtedly the superior side in the 10-team competition. In the Group A matches, besides the thumping win over Malaysia, they also

Le 4 Mars 2002

• Laos: Human Rights Report, March 4, 2002 (U.S. Department of State)--Prisoners are abused & tortured, & prison conditions generally are extremely harsh & life threatening. Police used arbitrary arrest, detention, & surveillance. Lengthy pretrial detention & incommunicado detention
• Thai Fincl Cos to loan THB3B to Laos hydro-power project (Dow Jones/Yahoo! Asia or backup) --Six Thai financial institutions, led by Bangkok Bank PCL (H.BBK) and Siam Commercial Bank PCL (H.SBK), will lend 3 billion baht (US$1=THB43.678) to the operator of a hydro power project in Laos, a banking industry source
• Laos: New cement factory to open in Saravan province (Laos NA or backup)
  The Lao Govt recently gave the green light to Chinese investors to build the third Chinese-run cement factory in Saravan province... The new factory is 100% foreign invested & will use a US$ 30 million budget for its construction
• Vietnam, Laos enhance co-op for security (Vietnam NA) --Minister of Public Security Le Minh Huong and Lao Interior Minister Asang Laoly signed a number of documents on implementation of a cooperation
  agreement between the two ministries in 2002.
• Viet Party General Secretary welcomes Lao Interior Minister (Vietnam NA)--Manh praised the achievements obtained by the Lao people under the leadership of the Lao PRP in their national renewal, and improving people's life. He said he believed that the Lao fraternal people would gain more
• Waste dumps in Southeast Asia called threat to children's health (AP/The Star)
  Children picking through heaps of garbage are a common sight in poorer nations in the region, and dumps in Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam were called some of the most hazardous by participants at an international conference

Le 5 Mars 2002

• Mining gold in Laos where bombs once rained (New York Times or NY Times/AOL) --The earth here is suffused with metal — millions of ounces of gold, millions of tons of copper and thousands of pounds of very old, very live American bombs left over from the Vietnam War. "You factor it into everything you
• Unofficial results of Lao general election announced (Kyodo NS/AOL) --Lao authorities announced Tuesday unofficial results of the Feb. 24 general election for the country's 109-seat National Assembly after the end of vote counting... Four candidates including a deputy governor of Xieng Khuang
• Laos: Japan funds two primary schools in Sayabouly (Laos NA or backup) --Govt of Japan has agreed to provide a grant aid package...The construction of a primary school in Thana village, Sayabouly district will cost US$ 46,069 and US$ 46,403 will be used for the construction of a primary school in
• Laos: Narcotics Report, March 1, 2002 (U.S. Department of State) --Laos was the world’s second largest producer of illicit opium, although its production lagged well behind Burma’s. For the 2001 growing season, the U.S. estimated Laos’ potential production at 210 metric tons

Le 6 Mars 2002

• Laos: U.S. Embassy takes drugs issues to southern provinces (Laos NA or backup) --A U.S. Embassy delegation headed by First Secretary and Director of Narcotics Affairs Angela Dickey visited the southern provinces of Champassak, Savannakhet, Khammuan and Bolikhamsay.
• Lethal temptation of unexploded bombs in Laos (BBC News)--in video
• Teens need literacy lessons, too (USA Today/Yahoo! Asia) --These juniors and seniors, who come from Vietnam, China, Mexico, Laos and other countries, also are learning to read and comprehend difficult science texts written in English, a language that is not their native tongue.
• Myanmar protests over dead workers in Thailand (Reuters/Yahoo! Asia) --Several bodies carried Myanmar identification cards for entering Thailand via Mae Sot on the Thai-Myanmar border on March 2. Thailand is seen as a haven for poor labourers from Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, China
• Laos: Human Rights Report, March 4, 2002 (U.S. Department of State) --Prisoners are abused & tortured, & prison conditions generally are extremely harsh & life threatening. Police used arbitrary arrest, detention, & surveillance. Lengthy pretrial detention & incommunicado detention
• Laos: Narcotics Report, March 1, 2002 (U.S. Department of State) or our abbreviated version --Laos was the world’s second largest producer of illicit opium, although its production lagged well behind Burma’s. For the 2001 growing season, the U.S. estimated Laos’ potential production at 210 metric tons

Le 7 Mars 2002

• Laos: American over-simplication and European silence (Transnational Radical Party) --In the section on Laos in the Annual Report on Human Rights in the World published by the U.S. Department of State, there is a detailed analysis of the various forms of repression of the freedom of peaceful assembly
• Laos: Australian Immigration Minister pledges support for clamp-down on illegals (Laos NA or backup) --The Australian Govt has announced that it will help Laos to counter incidents of human trafficking and illegal immigration. The assistance will include the provision of training for Lao immigration officers both on the job
• Viet and Lao parties promote ideological and cultural co-op (Vietnam NA) --Lao delegation was led by Osakan Thamatheva, head of Propaganda Dept. The two sides informed each other of the socio-economic devt. in their respective countries, exchanged views on regional & international issues
• China, ASEAN officials to begin free trade talks April 1 (AP/Yahoo! or backup) --Senior officials from China and Southeast Asia will meet next month to map out the formation of the world's biggest free trade area... Long Yong Tu, China's trade negotiator, said the delegations will meet for four days starting
• Philippines benefiting most from ASEAN free trade zone: official (AFP/Yahoo! Asia or backup) --The Philippines, where firms are pleading for greater protection from regional competition, has benefited the most under a Southeast Asian free trade plan, ASEAN secretary general Rodolfo Severino said.

Le 8 Mars 2002

• Laos - the new place to chill (Associated Newspapers) --Laos is a landlocked nation of five million utterly laid-back people, nominally communist, deeply Buddhist, still munching baguettes with fish sauce - the legacy of 50 years of French colonial rule. I'd heard of people who get
• Laos: Road 13 South on Lakhonepheng-Pakse stretch in service (Laos NA or backup) --Renovation of the 98-km stretch started in 1998 & was over in early 2002. The road, 9 metres wide, is a bitumen-paved double layer. The work was undertaken by the Chinese Tianjin company at a cost of US$ 17.5 million.
• Vietnamese enterprises' efforts to export products to Laos (Vietnam NA) --Vietnam's consumer goods are considered to be of high-quality and of resonable price in Laos... Many Vietnamese enterprises have attended fairs in Laos where their products such as confectionery, plastics, aluminium
• Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia discuss ways to combat cross-border drug trafficking (Vietnam NA) --A national workshop held in central coastal Da Nang city on Mar. 7-8 underlined the need for the country to strengthen coordination with Laos and Cambodia in the fight against cross-border drug trafficking.
• Thai leader says Southeast Asian free-trade zone way out of crisis (AP/Yahoo!)--Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra said that Southeast Asian countries should stay strongly committed to their free-trade zone as the best way to step out of the economic slowdown that set in with the Asian crisis 5 years ago.

Le 9 Mars 2002

• Luang Prabang, Laos: Classic Charisma (The Nation) --There's no other town in Southeast Asia that better reflects the region's timeless grace and cultural traditions. "Prepare to be back in the old days," says our folksy, chubby guide in Luang Prabang, Anoukone Inthidavong
• Emerald Triangle: Mine grant refused -- Donor countries will not pay for clean-up (Bangkok Post) --The Emerald Triangle golf course has met another set-back -- donor countries have refused a Thai request for 250 million baht to de-mine the area... [and they] thought help should be given only on a humanitarian basis

Le 10 Mars 2002

• Laos: Doing God's work -- Mone Somsnith is a diminutive young woman with a big vision (High Point Enterprise)--Somsnith, 27, came to America from Laos with her family in December 1989 through the sponsorship of Forest Hills Presbyterian Church. The church congregation also has helped several other Laotian refugee families.
• A brand-new hero -- Hmong American Senator Mee Moua in her own words ( AsianWeek)--Mee Moua has already made history, but she is preparing to do even more. The first person of Hmong descent elected to state legislative office, the new Minnesota senator was sworn in just a month ago to a standing ovation.
• America: Hmong in Oshkosh say political candidacies years off (The Northwestern)--Despite watching the first Hmong be elected to a state Senate post last month, Koua Vang doesn't expect to see a Hmong name on a local ballot for years. It's not that the need for someone to represent Oshkosh's Hmong
• America: School helps Hmong achieve 'best of both worlds' (Wausau Daily Herald)--Mai Kao Moua followed a path laid out for her by Hmong tradition when she married at age 17 and had two children by age 23. But in most other ways, Moua has joined a growing number of young Southeast Asian women who
• America: Women's life stories highlight activities at CSUSM (North County Times)--Mollie Thao says she is often told that her life story is "like a movie." The Cal State San Marcos senior was born in a cave on the mountainous border between Laos & Thailand while her refugee mother fled from approaching
• ASEAN prepares for El Nino, acts against haze (Reuters/Yahoo! or backup)--Southeast Asian nations are preparing for possible El Nino weather effects this year that could aggravate smoke pollution in the region... ASEAN said its Singapore-based meteorological center reported gradual warming of sea

Le 11 Mars 2002

• In its water, Laos sees power to cut poverty (International Herald Tribune) --Sisavang says he dreams of a better future if a group of international investors & the Laotian govt go ahead with a plan to build a big hydroelectric power project near where he lives, at an estimated cost of $1.2 billion.
• Chinese State Councilor meets Lao guests (Xinhua NA/Northern Light Tech)--Chinese State Councilor Luo Gan met in Beijing Monday with the visiting President of the People's Supreme Court of Laos, Khammy Sayavong, and his entourage. Luo said China attaches great importance to exchanges
• Aviation helps develop sub-regional tourism (Vietnam NA)--The civil aviation services from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia & Myanmar have worked out a long-term cooperation plan up to 2009, promoting links among the four countries as a springboard for regional tourist development.
• ASEAN finance ministers to meet in Myanmar April 6-7 (Vietnam NA) --Member countries of the ASEAN will provide financial services, including insurance, auditing and accounting services... The meeting will review the implementation of the Hanoi Plan of Action passed at the 1998 ASEAN

Le 12 Mars 2002

• Luang Prabang, Laos: Locals lose out as tourism booms (Asia Times) --Walking down Phothisarat street in the center of the old town of Luang Prabang is an odd experience. Every second person is a tourist and every second building a restaurant, shop, bakery or guest house, interspaced with
• Laos: wives of public servants found to be drug dealers (Laos NA or backup) --The Vientiane municipality Police Department recently announced that it had discovered that many wives of state employees, including police and soldiers, were involved in drug trafficking. The police department said that
• Laos: Teachers quit in Bolikhamsay (Laos NA or backup) --Many teachers have resigned from their jobs at schools in Bolikhamsay province due to hard living conditions, low pay & lack of teaching equipment, says the provincial Education Service. Officials say that
• Laos drugs fight threatened by lack of funding (BBC News)-- In Video...-- 
• Healthy communication -- Translators for patients who don't speak English often are in short supply (Anchorage Daily News)--Chong Vang moved his family to Anchorage because he thought the change in environment might help his wife's diabetes. When the family arrived from California five months ago, Vang and his wife, Ia Vue, went to
• Energy: Nepo upbeat about Mekong co-op (Bangkok Post) --Thailand had made bilateral electricity deals with Burma, Cambodia, Laos and China, said Piyasvasti Amranand, Nepo's secretary-general. Thailand is a major buyer while Burma, Laos and China export power generated by
• All not well in the ASEAN camp (Asia Times)--In 2002, the ASEAN will face some of their greatest challenges yet - not only shoring up their recoveries from a lingering economic downturn, but proving to the international community that the pledges they made years ago
• ASEAN private sector nixes new WTO round (Sun Star)--THE ASEAN private sector has rejected a new round of WTO negotiations that will open discussion on subjects not related to trade. In a paper distributed during the Asia Economic Summit in Kuala Lumpur last week

• Laos: FM refutes U.S. vilification of Lao human rights record (Laos NA or backup or Viet version) Response by Kay Danes & Georgie Szendrey--The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has utterly refuted the content of the U.S. State Department 2001 Report, calling it fabricated, unacceptable, and an interference in the internal affairs of the republic... The report was designed
• Vientiane eradicates 11 drug trafficking rings in eight months (Vietnam NA)--Drug control forces in Vientiane destroyed 11 drug trafficking syndicates in the past eight months... The rest of stories... Vietnam, Laos cooperate in volleyball devt... Laos National Assembly Election results announced... 
• America: 'Father Larry' an atypical priest (Newsday)--Rev. Lawrence M. Penzes didn't take long to make a splash at St. Pius X in Plainview, where bake sales and raffles were the norm. He announced one day that he was sponsoring a family from Laos to come to the United States
• America: Hmong students speak of culture, transitions, identity (Winona Daily News)
  4 young Hmong men spoke Tuesday about their culture, coming to America & their ethnic identity. "And by the way, Hmong people don't eat dogs," Chia Vang said. The 24-year-old Winona State University student spoke on
• ASEAN Education Ministers' Conference opens in Thailand (Xinhua NA/Northern LT)
  Education Ministers of all 10 member countries of the ASEAN are gathering in this northern resort province of Chiang Mai to attend the 37th ASEAN Education Ministers' Conference, according to a report of the Thai News

Le 14 Mars 2002

• Australian story: On their honour -- It's a saga with the ingredients of an international thriller (Australian BC) --Kerry & Kay Danes returned to Australia last year after ten harrowing months in an Asian jail. Kerry Danes was on extended leave from the Army when he took a job in Laos running a security company.
• America: 'A Saint on Earth' -- Laotian family mourns slain priest who rescued them (Newsday or backup) --Bullets riddled the Mekong River as Phengsy Phanithavong clung to the back of a tiny canoe that held her three daughters and drifted to freedom. They were fleeing their native Laos in 1978 for Thailand, where they spent
• Laos: More American MIAs to be sent home (Laos NA or here) --Laos handed over the remains and personal effects of Americans missing in action in Laos during the Indochina war to the U.S. Embassy at a ceremony held at Wattay Airport... FM Phongsavath Boupha presented the remains to
• Sweden gives US$ 900,000 in non-refundable aid to Laos (Vietnam NA or backup)--The Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA) will grant a non-refundable aid worth US$ 900,000 to Laos' education service fund in Vientiane. The aid will be used in training doctors in justice, making
• Laos: ASEAN health ministers meet against "diseases of the rich" (Xinhua NA/Northern LT or backup) --Public health ministers of 10 members of the ASEAN meet Thursday in the Lao capital of Vientiane, starting a three-day discussion on how to prevent their population from the "diseases of the rich", the state-owned radio here

Le 15 Mars 2002

• Drilling planned on gold project in Laos geological review completed (Pan Australian Resources N.L.) --Pan Australian has received advice that the Govt of Laos has approved the transfer of an 80% interest in Phu Bia Mining Limited to Pan Australian. On this basis the Company is pleased to report that it is preparing to commence
• South Korea provides assistance to Laos (Laos NA or here) --The Govt of the Republic of Korea recently provided US$ 120,000 for the construction of a Laos-Korea Agricultural Promotion Centre, which is located on the premises of the Seed Research Centre at Salakham village
• Laos endorses Feb 24 election results (Japan Today) --The election committee in Laos has endorsed results of the Feb 24 general election for the country's 109-seat National Assembly...The National Election Committee endorsed the election results Tuesday, saying 25 women were
• Viet and Lao dailies boost co-op (Vietnam NA) --A delegation of the Pasason daily of Laos led by Editor-in-Chief Khamkay Viengsavan arrived in Hanoi yesterday, March 14, starting a working visit to Viet Nam as guest of the Nhan Dan (People) daily.

Le 16 Mars 2002

• Rebel Raid: Court hands its verdict on Tuesday (Bangkok Post)--The court in Ubon Ratchathani on Tuesday will give its verdict on the case of 28 Thai and Lao people accused of a raid on a border checkpoint at Vang Tao in southern Laos nearly two years ago, their lawyer said.
• Farm goods: Plan for regional alliance -- Cooperation could boost pricing power (The Nation) --Commerce Minister Adisai Bodharamik will work with Cambodia, Vietnam & Laos on the import & export of farm goods in a bid to strengthen the four countries' bargaining power, particularly in terms of prices on the world
• In brief: Mekong water level (Bangkok Post)--The water level of the Mekong river has reached a record low partly because the spillways of a Chinese dam were closed to prepare for rock blasting on the banks of the river... it was unusual for the water level Chiang

Le 17 Mars 2002

• Wildlife conservation: New centre in Lampang to look after elephants -- Focus is on working, roaming pachyderms (Bangkok Post)--Lao elephants became famous after six beasts were used in an elephant caravan from Vientiane to Bhutan under Unesco's Asian elephant conservation campaign, he said. "Laos and Burma have much better natural
• New York, America: More markets failing inspections -- Potential health hazards found at 1 in 5 Tier food stores (Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin)--Among the stores that failed last year was the Laos Mini Store at 233 Main St. in Johnson City, which inspectors cited in October for a sewage line that was leaching onto empty shelves in a basement storage room, not far from
• Last one in the pool is shot by a sniper -- Tourism industry's future top 10 destinations include some more famous for kidnapping and conflict than relaxation (Sunday Herald)--According to the predictions, Turkey will be the number one country to see huge growth, with India in second place and China third. Also in the top 10 for a boom in tourism are Mexico, Laos, Vietnam and Nigeria, a country

Le 18 Mars 2002

• We were set up by black mafia element of Laos govt: Danes (AAP/The Age or AAP/News Limited)
  Kay Danes alleged today the arrest of her & her husband in Laos was a setup by a mafia element in that country's govt to expropriate a foreign investor's assets. Ms Danes & her husband Kerry, sentenced to 7 years' jail
• Danes to appear on Australian Story (Australian BC)
  There's two versions of the Kay and Kerry Danes story. They're either an incredibly naïve couple who became the scapegoats for a tangled web of shady business deals and Lao government corruption or they are thieves
• Kay Danes speaks in her defence (Australian BC)
  So with the situation still a case of the Danes' word and the Australian government's against the Lao government's, I spoke to Kay Danes from her Brisbane home a short while ago about how the couple got involved in such
• Danes struggle on after their release (The Age)
  Five months after being freed from a Laotian prison, Kerry and Kay Danes face a continuing struggle to prove their innocence and even to maintain their mental stability. With their three children beside them, the Danes are
• Danes relied on Lonely Planet for safety information (AAP/The Age)
  Kay Danes, who along with her husband Kerry spent most of last year in a Laos jail, said she relied on a Lonely Planet travel guide for safety info. in the communist country. The couple, who have always maintained their
• Laos: ASEAN Health Ministers endorse Vientiane Declaration (Laos NA or backup)
  The Sixth ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting endorsed the Vientiane Declaration on Healthy ASEAN Lifestyles, which provided a framework for ASEAN to work together toward realising the ministers’ vision for 2020.
• Three car thieves arrested at Laos border (Bangkok Post or backup)
  Three members of a car theft gang were arrested and a stolen 4-wheel-drive pick-up truck was seized yesterday at the Chong Mek border checkpoint in Ubon Ratchathani following a brief gunfight with border patrol police.
• Laos promotes eco-tourism (Vietnam NA)
  Laos is investing heavily in its growing eco-tourism sector in an effort to take advantage of the prestine tropical forests which cover 70% of its acreage. Almost all Lao provinces have the potential to develop eco-tourism
• Japanese, Singaporean ministers agree to boost Japan-ASEAN ties (AFP/Yahoo! Singapore)
  The Japanese and Singaporean trade ministers agreed Monday on a joint effort to boost Japan-ASEAN economic ties. Visiting Singaporean trade and industry minister George Yeo held a 30-minute meeting with his Japanese

Le 19 Mars 2002

• Thai court jails men for Laos border attack (Reuters/AOL)--A Thai court said on Tuesday it fined and imprisoned 28 members of an armed group which attacked a Laotian border post two years ago, in a move likely to upset neighbouring Laos which had called for their extradition.
• Thai court jails 28 for Lao border post attack (AFP/Yahoo! Singapore)--Twenty-eight Thais and Laotians who fled across the border after a raid on a Lao frontier post in July 2000 were Tuesday sentenced to jail by a Thai court. The court in the eastern province of Ubon Ratchathani sentenced all
• Torture screams haunt wife in Laos jail ordeal (AAP/The West Australian)--Memories of prisoners in a Laotian jail being tortured pushed Kay Danes to contemplate suicide after her return to Australia. Mrs Danes has been on medication since she returned in October after she & husband Kerry spent
• Laos: Prostitutes arrested and 10 brothels shut down (Laos NA or backup) Reader's response through email --The Chanthabouly district police in collaboration with local officials and the Interior Ministry recently shut down ten brothels in the district and 50 prostitutes were arrested. Of the prostitutes, 43 were fined 150,000 kip each
• New highway linking China and Laos (People's Daily) --A section of the new highway between Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, and Vientiane, capital of Laos. The 1,660-km line has been linked up recently, stretching 900 km in China and 760 km in Laos. It will be formally open to traffic on May 1, 2002
• Laos, Myanmar and China obtain remarkable results in drug control (Vietnam NA) --China, Laos & Myanmar have obtained remarkable results in implementing a co-op program to replace opium poppy with other cash crops over the past seven years. More than 60,000 hectares in Myanmar's two special zones
• Southeast Asian seminar on counter-trafficking in women, children opens in Cambodia (Xinhua NA/Northern LT)--With the continued rise in trafficking in women & children for sexual purposes, the ESCAP has decided to launch a Resource Guide on Using Legal Instruments to Combat Trafficking in Women & Children as a weapon

Le 20 Mars 2002

• Laos: Editorial Comment (Gem Mining Lao P.D.R.) Reader's email --It really would be an injustice if the corrupt elements of the Government of Laos, who imprisoned and tortured Kay and Kerry Danes get away with this crime. Not only did Lengsavad's bully boys persecute these totally innocent
• One man's mission to Laos (BBC News) or see Video--For US war veteran Lee Thorn, a visit to the picturesque Buddhist temple of Udon Kati, in the tranquil setting of rural Laos is to revisit the most anguished period of his own life. As in many such shrines, the temple walls
• 17 Laotians sentenced over illegal entry in 2000 (The Nation)--The provincial court here yesterday sentenced 17 Lao nationals to jail for a year & nine months each for illegal entry into Thailand. They were among 28 suspects, the others being Thai nationals, arrested in the province after
• Raid on Lao customs outpost: Court frees most defendants -- Lawyer seeks help to prevent extradition (Bangkok Post or here)--Ten Thais implicated in raids on customs & immigration offices in southern Laos 20 months ago were released yesterday
• Laos-Japan work on intellectual property rights (Laos NA or backup) --Participants to the meeting discussed and shared their comments to enrich the draft report, which included suggestions on the improvement of macro-economic and financial policy, industrial sector development
• Laos organizes elephant parade to highlight animal protection (Vietnam NA) --A parade of elephants has started from Vientiane to highlight the country's efforts to protect endangered animals & the natural environment. The seven domesticated elephants of Champassak province will go through ten other
• Vietnam, Laos pleased with co-op in culture and information (Vietnam NA)--Vietnam and Laos have expressed satisfaction over bilateral cooperation in the domains of culture and information in the recent past. The remark came during talks in Vientiane on Mar. 20 between Minister of Culture and Info.
• Deputy returns MIA bracelet to pilot's daughter (Muskegon Chronicle) --On Feb. 15, 1971, Leonard volunteered to pilot his Chinook helicopter into enemy territory to a fire base in Laos that needed fuel. With the fuel suspended below in a sling, the Chinook apparently overran the fire base.
• WHO: Poor countries must spend now to head off tuberculosis crisis (AP/Yahoo!)--The countries in the region with the highest levels of TB are also among the poorest — Cambodia, China, Laos, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines & Vietnam. Omi estimated that countries facing the highest levels

Le 21 Mars 2002

• Thailand unlikely to extradite 28 border rebels for trial in Laos (The Nation/BBC Monitoring Service) --With the sentencing of the 28 Thais & Laotians who in July 2000 stormed a Lao border checkpoint, the spotlight has effectively shifted to the United Nations-Vientiane court, with Bangkok distancing itself from the entire fiasco
• Laos makes extradition request to Thailand for border raiders (AFP/Yahoo! Asia or Australian BC)--The Laotian govt has lodged a request with Thailand for the extradition of 16 Lao nationals accused of mounting a bloody cross-border raid in July 2000, officials said Thursday. The Lao embassy in Bangkok said it was waiting for
• Vang Tao raid case: Laos soon to submit extradition request-- 16 jailed raiders are terrorists, says envoy (Bangkok Post or backup)--Vientiane will soon submit a formal request for the extradition of 16 Lao nationals implicated in an armed raid in southern Laos due to be released by Thailand on April 3. Lao ambassador... refused to admit Vientiane had
• Laos: Sepon Project - 80% Oxiana, 20% Rio Tinto issue of shares to Rio Tinto (Oxiana Resources N.L.)--Under its Agreement with Rio Tinto for the purchase of the Sepon Project in Laos, Oxiana proposes to issue 12,565,500 shares to Rio Tinto at 25.7¢ per share. 25.7¢ is the weighted average market price of Oxiana shares over
• Laos: Hospitals search for ways to dispose of infectious waste (Laos NA or backup)--Lecturers from the Cleaning Agency of Japan and the Vientiane Cleaning and Environmental Sanitation Agency recently presented papers on waste disposals and the management of garbage in local hospitals.
• Chinese delegation leaves for Laos (Xinhua NA/Northern LT)--A delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) left here Thursday for the Laos, at the invitation of Lao PRP. The delegation is led by Bai Enpei, Secretary of the Yunnan Provincial Committee of CPC and also a member
• America: Citizen dreams now reality Hmong veterans can take test in their native language (Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune)--Thanks to a change in federal law approved in 2000, U.S. citizenship is within the reach of more Hmong veterans. Before, any potential new citizen had to read English to be able to take an American citizenship test and had

Le 22 Mars 2002

• Border raiders: Laos wants all 28 extradited -- Early reply sought to request for return of 17 Laotian and 11 Thai 'criminals' (The Nation)
  The Lao government has submitted a request for the extradition of all 28 men who were convicted by a Thai court on Tuesday of illegal immigration and possession of war weapons, an official at the Lao Embassy in Bangkok
• FM requests urgent extradition of bandits [freedom fighters] after Thai court orders their release (Laos NA or backup or FT)
  The Foreign Ministry will present a formal letter of request to the Thai Embassy for the extradition of the 28 detainees currently held in Thailand and wanted for the Vang Tao-Chong Mek Checkpoint raid in 2000.
• Khmu ethnic group struggle to cope outside native Laos (Arizona Republic)
  In a 25-year-old picture hanging on Laeng Vilaisouk's living room wall, the Laotian native stands proudly in military uniform, cradling a U.S.-made rifle
  and smiling confidently as if he knows his place in the world.
• Timeline: Laos -- A chronology of key events (BBC News)
  1893 - Laos becomes a French protectorate until 1945, when it is briefly occupied by the Japanese towards the end of World War II. 1946 - French rule over Laos is resumed. 1950 - Laos is granted semi-autonomy as
• Laos joins ASEAN-Japan promo center (The Star or FT)
  Laos officially joined the Tokyo-based ASEAN-Japan Promotion Center on Trade, Investment & Tourism. The inclusion of Laos was formalized when Laos Ambassador Leuane Sombounkhan signed the agreement in Jakarta
• Hmong veterans proud to be American (Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune)
  A new drive for Hmong citizenship has benefited Kong Fong Vue, in his mid-50s, and Chong Por Khang, 49, both of Wisconsin Rapids, who were soldiers in their homeland of Laos during the secret war waged by America
• ESCAP focuses on Mekong River water resources development (Xinhua NA)
  The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) started a series of activities to promoted the sustainable development of the Mekong River water resources here on Friday

Le 23 Mars 2002

• Raid on Lao customs outpost: Prisoners appeal against extradition -- Sixteen inmates to be released next week (Bangkok Post or backup) --Lao prisoners who attacked Lao immigration offices two years ago want Thailand to resist any efforts by their home country to get them back. The 16 Lao nationals involved in the armed raid in southern Laos would be
• World Tuberculosis (TB) Day tomorrow (Frontier Post) --The highest levels of TB in the region are found in Cambodia, China, Laos, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines & Vietnam all countries with high levels of poverty. WHO says the poor are more likely to suffer from TB

Le 24 Mars 2002

• Saddle sore, but it's all for a good cause -- Gruelling hills, bucket loos and a hard floor to sleep on at night: a charity cycling challenge in Laos is not everyone's idea of a holiday but David Joss Buckley finds the gains worth the pain (The Observer)--Goodness knows what they made of us. The entire population of a tiny hilltop Hmong settlement - young and old - squatted on their haunches and studied us solemnly. I'm sure they'd never seen anything quite like the 50

Le 25 Mars 2002

• New Laotian parliament to meet in early April (Reuters/Yahoo! Asia or backup) --Laos' newly-elected parliament will meet for the first time in April, but a host of new faces among the 109 members is unlikely to herald any policy changes in the communist country, officials said on Monday.
• Laos: Second Vang Vieng Cement Factory a good buy (Laos NA or backup)--The construction of the second Vang Vieng Cement Factory at a cost of US$ 36 million was seen as a good buy due to the factory’s annual production capacity of 200,000 tonnes for domestic use.
• Lao PRP holds plenary session (Vietnam NA)--The session discussed & charted a strategy for national industrialization & modernization as well as the five-year investment plan (2001-2005) in order to make the resolution adopted by the seventh LPRP congress a success. 
• Laos starts construction of Kaysone Phomvihane Monument in Savannakhet (Vietnam NA)--Work has started for the construction of Kaysone Phomvihane Monument in Savannakhet province, nativeland of the former Chairman of the Lao PRP and State President, Kaysone Phomvihane. The monument is built by
• Laos holds artistic performance to fight drug (Vietnam NA)--Artists from Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand & China jointly gave performance nights on Mar. 23 and 24 in Vientiane to fight drug abuse. The performance was held by the Laos Drug Control Committee in response to the Lao Govt
• Mien-American: Reaching Out (The Fresno Bee)--Teacher Lou Saephan's journey to the head of the classroom has been anything but typical. He lived in his native Laos until the age of 5 when the aftermath of the Vietnam War drove him and his family out of the country to a refugee camp in Thailand. His first stop in the United States was in the Riverside County community of Sunnymead
• ASEAN Seminar on Road Safety Opens in Vietnam (Xinhua NA/Northern LT)--A seminar on road safety attended by member states of the ASEAN kicked off here on Monday. At the three-day seminar with the theme of "toward sustainable road safety cooperation", participants focus their discussions
• Philippines - Group helps 'refine' ASEAN Internet roadmap (MC Times/Newsbytes)--Through the help of a private sector e-commerce group, the eASEAN Task Force, an organization tasked to promote electronic linkages between govts & businesses in the ASEAN, plans to develop a roadmap on Internet devt

Le 26 Mars 2002

• United Nations recognizes Laos as devoid of drug-processing (Vietnam NA)--In the past 10 months alone, the narcotics squad has broken up 11 drug smuggling syndicates, arrested 290 offenders, and seized 224,000 drug pills, 1.2 kg of drug powder, and 28.5 kg of heroin.
• Air transport joint-venture established in Laos (Vietnam NA) --The joint-venture company has an investment capital of USD 950,000, to which Laos contributed five percent; Russia, 81 percent; and France, 14 percent. It has an operation duration of 20 years. 
• Vietnam installs GPS for Laos (Vietnam NA)--The first phase of a Viet-assisted project on enhancing the Lao National Mapping Dept's professional capacity has been completed... It totally cost VND 25 billion (more than USD 1.6 million) covered by the Viet govt. 
• Soccer - Emperor's Cup: Juniors lose to Laos (Bangkok Post)--Thailand's U-20 team were beaten 2-1 yesterday by Laos Transportation Communication in their last match at the Quang Trung Emperor's Cup in Binh Dinh, Vietnam. Laos went ahead through Kolladech Polprachan's
• Alien Labor: 200,000 fail to renew their work permits -- Amendment to law sought for more bite (Bagnkok Post)--Most of the escapees were Burmese, Cambodian & Laotian workers in the fisheries & farming sectors, he said. However, employers who had given the Labour Ministry prior notice about delays will have until April 25 to submit

Le 27 Mars 2002

• Thailand denies Lao plea to extradite Thai rebels, [but would consider Lao rebels] (Reuters/Yahoo! Asia or backup)
  Thailand told Laos on Wednesday it would not allow the extradition of 11 Thai members of an armed group that attacked a Laotian border post two years ago, a move likely to test relations between the two neighbours.
• Emerald Triangle: Laos urges caution over golfing plan -- Too many border problems in the way (Bangkok Post or FT)
  Laos has urged caution on a plan to build an international golf course in the Emerald Triangle area, saying safe and settled frontiers must come before any thought about development projects.
• Laos: U.S. provides funding for UXO clearance program (Laos NA or backup)
  The U.S. has provided US$ 370,160 worth of aid for clearance operations run by the Lao National UXO Program, UXO Lao... The consignment was made up of 23 Russian-made 4WD Sadko vehicles, 104 spare tires, and 23
• Vientiane seminar highlights Laos-Vietnam special relationship (Vietnam NA)
  Reports delivered at the seminar, chaired by Lao acting FM Phongsavath Boupha, affirmed the important and great value of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-op between Laos and Vietnam in
• Laos becomes full member of ASEAN-Japan Promotion Center on Trade, Investment and Tourism (Vietnam NA)
  Joining the AJC will help Laos to attract investors, businesses, and tourism companies from Japan, other AJC and ASEAN member countries, thus contributing to the country's socio-economic development.

Le 28 Mars 2002

• The traditional Lao New Year Festival, known a Pi Mai Lao, has as its cultural heart, the northern town of Luang Prabang. This year the township is preparing a feast of activities to fascinate visitors and tourists as well as
• ADB approves additional US$ 45 million in loans to Laos (Laos NA or backup, or another backup) --Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide US$ 45 million in additional loans to Laos for its work to reduce the poverty of the Lao people. The action plan includes additional developments for the Nam Ngum Dam
• Extradition of Raiders: Vientiane's request rejected (Bangkok Post or backup)--Thailand has denied a request by Laos for the immediate extradition of 28 Thais & Laotians to stand trial in Laos for their involvement in the cross-border raid on Vang Tao. The govt will not send the 11 Thais involved
• China recruits young volunteers to work in Laos (Xinhua NA/Northern LT or backup) --Recruiting has begun for young volunteers for 6-month tours of aid service in Laos, China's 1st youth volunteer project abroad. The initial 5 volunteers will include one Chinese language teacher, an English language teacher
• Vietnam War Veterans visit Laos (Vietnam NA) --Bouasone Bouphavanh, permanent Politburo member of the Lao PRP, has expressed his hope that the War Veterans' Associations of Vietnam & Laos will increase the exchange of experiences & active involvement with regard
• Illegal ivory trade booms in Southeast Asia: survey (Kyodo NS/AOL) --Wild elephant populations in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam declined by over 80% between 1988 and 2000 from about 6,250 to 1,510 largely due to the trade in ivory and other elephant products, the 88-page report says.

Le 29 Mars 2002

• Letters to Representative of UNHCR in Thailand, Thai Ambassador to the U.S., Secretary-General of the United Nation and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (Lao Human Rights Council) --Many witnesses in Laos reported that on July 3, 2000, many hundreds of people inside Laos conducted war against the Communist Lao government of the Lao PDR in Ban Vang Tao, Southern Province, Laos.
• Laos' fresh coffee hopes (BBC News) --In the gloom of a cramped, thatched-roof hut in southern Laos, coffee roaster Khamla Phongsouta prepares his antiquated equipment for another day's business. It does not take long.      
• Checkpoint Raid: Laos asks for 17 re-arrests -- Court expected to approve its request (Bangkok Post or backup) --Laos has asked Thailand to continue detaining 17 people who raided a Lao checkpoint two years ago. The protesters, along with 11 Thais who also took part, are being released from jail tomorrow... Vientiane wanted the Laotians
• China helps Laos in economic and educational development (Vietnam NA)--China has granted non-refundable aid worth 300 million Chinese Yuan and a credit of 690 million Chinese Yuan to Laos' key projects... China has invested USD 120 million in 90 investment projects in Laos. 
• More Lao people killed by U.S. ordnance (Vietnam NA) --Almost 30 people in Laos' central provinces were killed or injured in the first three months of the year by explosive ordnance left over from the Vietnam War... In Xiangkhouang province, 12 locals were reported dead & 12 others
• Laos-Vietnam joint-venture bank inaugurates Internet webpage (Vietnam NA)
  By plugging itself into the global computer network, the bank hopes to create an easily-accessible information channel to business circles of both countries, particularly Viet businesses interested in investment & business
• Jet Ski/National Meet: Second round on Mekong next month (Bangkok Post) --National Jet Ski Championships will take place on the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province from April 6-7... it will be the 1st time that a jet ski tournament has taken place on the Mekong, which borders Thailand & Laos.
• Asian finance ministers to meet in Yangon Apr 5-6 (Reuters/Yahoo! Asia) --Finance ministers and senior central bank officials from 13 Asia countries including Japan and China will meet in the Myanmar capital of Yangon next week to discuss regional economic integration, officials said on Friday.
• Senior China, ASEAN officials to talk trade in May (Reuters/Yahoo! Singapore) --Senior officials from China and the ASEAN will meet in May to prepare for talks on establishing a free trade zone.  Long Yongtu said... the officials would discuss preparatory work for talks in Beijing "as soon as possible"

Le 30 mars 2002

• Heroin to flood market: Thailand (News Limited) --The flow of drugs from the Golden Triangle, where the borders of Burma, Laos and Thailand meet, is placing new strains on the Burmese military regime. The Thai FM summoned Burmese ambassador Myo Myint this week