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[justinm at ucr.edu]

This week in Laos!
Thanks,
justin

2007-1214 - KPL News

http://www.kpl.net.la/

Laos – Thailand sign agreement to build third Friendship Bridge

(KPL) Mr. Sommat Pholsena, Minister of Public Work and
Transport, on behalf of the Lao Government and Mr. Thira
Haocharoen , Minister of Transport of Thailand signed in
Bangkok on 12 December an agreement to build the third
friendship bridge across the Mekong River, connecting
Thailand's Nakhon Phanom and the Lao province of Khammoune.
The signing of this agreement was based on the agreement of
the government of Laos and Thailand. The sides agreed that the
construction will be financed by the government of Thailand.
The main goal of construction is to strengthen the close
friendship relation between two neighboring countries of Laos
and Thailand, to boost economic development and to facilitate
transportation, trade, investment, and tourism. In addition,
the construction of the third friendship bridge will upgrade
Laos as the hub center for transportation in the regional
countries.
The third Mekong friendship bridge is expected to be
constructed early 2008 with the construction costs of 1,347
million bath.

President grants pardon to 741 inmates on National Day

(KPL) President Choummaly Sayasone has granted an amnesty for
741 inmates nationwide on the 32nd anniversary of National Day
2 December.
According to a pardon decree of the President, No 282 issued
on 30 November. The pardon has been made in accordant with the
Constitutions of Lao PDR, VI chapter, 67 article on the
amnesty for good behaviour prisoners and the proposal of
National Assembly Committee, No 81 on 27 November 2007.
Out of total prisoners who have received an amnesty, of whom
164 were women.
While 695 prisoners have reduced penalty in which 157 females,
12 foreigners and 46 prisoners, of whom three foreigners
include two Nigeria and a Cameroon have been freed thanks to
the President’s amnesty.

New Lao Ambassador presents credentials to President of the
Swiss Confederation

(KPL) Mr. Somphet Khousakoun, on 5 December presented his
credentials in Geneva to Ms. Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of
the Swiss Confederation as new Extraordinary Plenipotentiary
Ambassador of the Lao PDR to the Swiss Confederation.
After the presentation, President Micheline Calmy-Rey
congratulated the Lao Ambassador and had cordial discussion
with him.
On this occasion, Ambassador Somphet conveyed cordial
greetings and felicitation from President Choummaly Sayasone
to the President and people of the Swiss Confederation.
President Micheline Calmy-Rey said that the relationship
between the two countries have developed , and extended her
best wishes for good health and prosperity to President
Choummaly and the Lao people.
Mr. Somphet expressed gratitude to the President Micheline
Calmy-Rey and pledged to do his utmost to strengthen ties
between the two countries. He also informed the President
Micheline Calmy-Rey of conditions of development in Laos and
its co-operation with international community.

4th Senior Officials Meeting on Health Development (SOMHD)
held in Vientiane

(KPL) A senior officials in public health sector from 10 ASEAN
member countries gathered in Vientiane on 13 December to talk
about the health development. This was a part of 4th Senior
Official Meeting on Health Development of ASEAN.
The meeting chaired by Mr. Bounkoung Phichit, Deputy Minister
of Public Health aimed to estimate the past one year working
of the of sub-committee on food safety , the communicable
disease and HIV/AIDs. The meeting also heard the report on the
progress of the projects implementation and the co-operation
between ASEAN and its dialogue partners related to the health
sector, especially the co-operation between ASEAN and China,
Japan, R-Korea, WHO, UNIDS, UNDP, USAID, AusAid and India.
The meeting also reviewed and revised the role and duty of the
senior official on health development and prepared some
documents for the 9th Ministerial meeting of Health which is
expected to be held in the Philippines in 2008.
The meeting also presented the position of the two year term
of president of the senior officials meeting on health
development from Indonesia to Laos.

Government provides relief aid Korean flood victims

(KPL) The Lao Government provided USD25,000 relief fund to the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea last week, to assist the
Korean victims affected by severely flood last August.
Representing, the Government of Laos, Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs Mr. Phongsavanh Boupha handed over to
Ambassador of DPRK to Laos Mr. Pak Myong Gu on 13 December at
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vientiane. The fund will be
brought to assist the flood victims in the DPRK.
The Ambassador Pak Myong Gu, on behalf of victims and the DPRK
expressed thanks to the Lao people and Government for
assisting the Korean flood victims.

Luang-Prabang and Yunnan further co-operation on trade union

(KPL) The trade union of Luang-Prabang province and Yunnan
province of China agreed to further their co-operation in the
next future. The statement was released during the visit to
Luang-Prabang province of Yunnan trade union delegation last week.
While in Luang Prabang, the Yunnan delegation of trade union
met with Luang-Prabang governor Bounheuang Douagprachanh where
he was briefed about the objective and activities of the
delegation. This was a part of activities to strengthen the
relation and co-operation between Yunnan and Luang-Prabang
province.
A working session to exchange the experience and skills on
trade union development was also held on this occasion between
Luang Prabang trade union and its counterpart from Yunnan.

Champassak governor urges Bachiangchaleunsouk to send more
technical official to remote area

(KPL) Mr. Soukhan Mahalath, Secretary General of the
Champassak province party committee has urged all leading
officials and core cadres of the Bachiangchaleunsouk to pay
more their attention on rural development by sending more
technical staffs to help people in the remote areas to improve
their living condition.
This statement was made during the review meeting on the
social-economic development for 2006-2007 and to discuss the
plan for 2007-2008 of the Bachiangchaleunsouk district.
Mr. Soukhanh also hailed achievements scored by the district
authorities in fulfilling their social-economic tasks
according to the target and policy of the state. He also
stressed that poverty reduction for people should be
concentrated by all people concern and in order to reach that
target, the building of politic at the grass root level should
be strengthened .

High ranking delegation of American defense ministry visits Laos

(KPL) A high ranking delegation from American defense ministry
led by Admiral Timothy J. Keating, Commander, U.S. Pacific
Command, arrived Vientiane on 14 December for two day working
visit to Laos.
The main objective of the visit aimed to strengthen the
friendship relation and co-operation between Laos and USA.
During his visit, Admiral Keating paid a courtesy visit to Mr.
Saysomphone Phomvihane, Vice President of National Assembly ,
Major General Somphet Thipmala, Deputy Minister of National
Defense, Vice Foreign Minister Phongsavath Boupha, He also
spoke to Lao officials at the Institute of Foreign Affairs on
the policy of the United States toward the Asia Pacific region.
This was Admiral Keating's first visit to Laos as the
Commander of U.S. Pacific Command. The visit provided an
opportunity to broaden the United States – Laos defense
relationship and explore opportunities for future engagement
such as medical and humanitarian assistance activities and
language training.
Building upon the recent strengthening of the United States
and Laos military-to-military relationship, the visit provides
a forum to discuss the pace and level of future cooperative
military activities.
Admiral Keating actively seeks cooperation and collaboration
with allies and partners in order to achieve effective
solutions to common challenges in the Asia-Pacific region.

Khammuan and Nakhonphanom boost cooperation on flood prevention

(KPL) The central province of Khammuan and Nakhonphanom
province of Thailand on 11 December held in Khammuan province
a discussion meeting on flood prevention and emergency situation.
The session was co-chaired by Mr Saengthong Phakhounthong,
Head of Labour and Social Welfare service of Khammuan and his
counterpart from Nakhonphanom province Mr Adisone Thepa. The
session was attended by more 40 concern officials from two sides.
The objective of the session aimed to discuss and provide a
number of basic knowledge on natural disaster prevention, to
create the staffs from state sector in the provincial and
district level with knowledge on disaster management and be
able to provide the local community on how to manage the
natural disaster.

Ford cares environmental issue

(KPL) Lao Ford City last Friday donated a total environmental
conservation funds worth US$ 20,000 to nine Lao people, after
they were selected unanimously from 60 applicants.
Donation ceremony was took place at Settha Palace Hotel on 13
December 2007. Attention has Processor Dr. Bountiem Phissamay,
Minister to Prime Minister’s office and President of the
Science, Technology and Environment Agency, Mr Ravic Huso,
Ambassador of the United States of America to Laos as well as
officials concerned.
This is the third annual Ford Motor Company ceremony, which
has supported to Lao people’s attempts in conserving the
environmental, wildlife, and promoting the Lao culture and
children’s role.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Ravic Huso, Ambassador of the
United States of America said that these grants are one key
way that the Ford Company has an intention to support the
protection of environment and to promote Lao young’s awareness
how to be good stewards or projectors of the world in which we
all must live. Laos is currently enjoying strong economic
growth that growth need not come at the expense of the
environment. Laos can and should take actions to both grow the
economy and preserve its natural resources. For example,
development of hydropower resources in not just a question of
damming rivers. For the dams to function, the watersheds on
which rivers depend must be also be protected.
“ I commend the Lao government’s efforts to enforce strong
measures to protect the environment through protection and
sustainable management of its forests, through combating the
illegal trade in wildlife, and through enforcing standards and
regulations against industrial pollution of the land, air and
water”, said he
At the same time he called for all people should play key role
to take part of protecting the environment effectively and
know more natural valuable as sustainable development.
Each year, Ford Motor Company has provided a lot of aid grants
around the world to promote the environmental protection. This
year it has approved about US$ 1 million to protect the
environment around the world.

National Workshop on Fisheries Law held

(KPL) Fisheries in Lao PDR are vital to livelihoods of its
population by providing direct or indirect employment and
sustenance in order to attain a decent standard of living.
“Freshwater Fish and other inland aquatic animals constitute a
very important source of food and income for rural people
living adjacent to the Mekong River and her tributaries,
including those in the Lao PDR” said Mr Verniau, Food and
Agriculture Organisation’s representative to Lao PDR upon the
opening, on 14 December, of the FAO/EC (European Commission)
National Workshop on Fisheries Law.
It is of concern that the country lacks an enabling law for
more effective fishery and aquaculture management. Mr. Verniau
said that FAO is proud to collaborate with the Department of
Livestock and Fisheries and the Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry to provide assistance in developing new fisheries law.
The technical workshop held in Thulakhom District, Vientiane
province, is a culmination of review activities conducted
under the FAO Project “Support to Development of Fisheries
Legislation” funded by the European Commission. The workshop
enabled the FAO Consultancy team to report to stakeholders on
the progress and outcome of the Project which is at aimed at
assisting the Department of Fisheries to develop a new
fisheries law. The new law will provide for an effective legal
framework for fisheries and aquaculture by providing clear
direction on how fisheries resources should be managed.
Participants at the Workshop were informed that the importance
of aquatic resources to the majority of the rural population
of Laos is evident in the various estimates of fish
consumption. The most recent estimates place the average level
over 40 kilograms per capita per year. The vast majority of
the fish consumed are wild, and aquaculture contributes little
to fish production in most parts of the country, especially in
rural areas. It is commonly considered that the yield and
quality of the fisheries is declining throughout the country
and there is an urgent need for improved management of the
resources.
The involvement of responsibility to communities for
establishing local fisheries management means that there is
effectively little or no formal management in place. Local
management mechanisms exist but have little or no formal
recognition. Aquaculture development similarly has no legal
basis and there is no legal basis to control aquaculture
development. The rapid emerging interest in joint venture,
foreign investment and the use of concessions to promote this
is also affecting the fisheries and aquaculture sector and can
limit the right to food especially for poor people who survive
of subsistence farming.
Mr. Simon Funge-Smith, Senior Fisheries Officer of the FAO
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok and
principal coordinator of the Project said, “It should be
recognised that fish is vital in the diet and livelihood of
rural Lao people. This resource is increasingly under threat
through population pressure and development. It is timely that
Lao PDR develops fisheries legislation that will address
challenges and enable a systematic and effective local and
national management to secure food security and livelihood
benefits for its people into the future.”
__._,_.___

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
2617 Humanities Building
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu