[Tlc] L-Lao news report

[justinm at ucr.edu]

Last big report on Laos before the break.
Thanks,
justin



2007-1221 - KPL News

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

Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh visits Oudomsay province

(KPL) Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh and his delegation
arrived on 19 December the northern province of Oudomsay,
starting his two days working visit. PM Bouasone was warm
welcomed by Mr. Bounpone Vannachit, Acting governor of
Oudomsay , leading officials, military officers and people of
Oudomsay province.
On this occasion, PM and his delegation visited Nam Hin
irrigation construction project, commencing for construction
in 2001 with the 100% investment worth 29 billion kip from the
government. The project has a capacity to supply water for
230ha of cultivated areas. In addition, the project is able to
produce electricity for about six months, provide water to Say
district water supply system .
PM then visited the decorated follower plantation project at
Ban Mai, Say district. The project is invested by Chinese
investor.
During the visit, the PM met with the veteran military
officers, senior officers and the provincial authorities. He
then talked about the traditional patriotism of the local
people and history of co-operation to protect the country from
imperialist aggressors. He said the local authorities and
people had developed their good traditions, expanded their
patriotism and trust in the leadership of the Party and
government, bringing security and better living conditions to
the province.

NA members comment draft Trade Union law

(KPL) On 20 December at the Fourth Ordinary Session of
National Assembly, under the chairmanship of Mr Thongsing
Thammavong, President of National, after Mr Khamla Lorlonsy,
Deputy President of Lao Trade Union, has completed to
introduce the draft law on Trade Union.
NA members have contributed views with high spirits to the
draft consisting of 12 chapters and 62 articles.
The Lao Trade Union is a mass organisation plays an importance
role in society and a representative of working class.
This draft law was determined activities of Lao Trade Union
relating to development of workers so as to ensure and enhance
friendship and solidarity among workers, farmers and students.
The law also covers the rights of protection and benefit of
workers that contributed to the national development.

International Day against Corruption celebrated

(KPL) The Party Inspection Committee last Friday in
co-operation with UNDP, UNODC, World Bank, European Union, Lao
Bar Association, GPAR SBSD and International Law Project
celebrated the 4th Anniversary of the International Day
against Corruption (9 Dec) at a five star Don Chan Palace Hotel.
The ceremony was chaired by Party Central Committee and the
Minister of National Security, Mr. Thongban Seng-aphone.
Attending to the function were more than 500 officials from
the Party, state, public and International organisations,
state and private businesses across Vientiane.
The Chairman and UNODC’s Resident Representative, Mr. Leik
Boonwaat, along with representatives from international
organisations shared their speech on the significant day
against corruption.
“Corruption is not some vast impersonal and inevitable force.
It is a crime committed by people who decide to break the
rules for their own gain,” said in message Executive Director
of the United Nation Office on Drugs and Crimes, Antonio Maria
Costa.
She furthered “In the case of bribery, there are two guilty
parties –the person who offers the bribe, and the other who
accept it. One word can prevent this criminal act: ‘no’.”
If someone asks you for a small contribution-otherwise known
as a bribe –to facilitate a process, just say ‘no’.
If someone offers you a bribe to get something done, reject it.
These may seem like small acts, but they all make a
difference. They stop the rot of a culture of dishonesty. They
prevent fraud, abuse office, and can ever save lives.

Vientiane Secretary promotes developing village clusters

(KPL) The Party Central Committee and also the Secretary of
Vientiane, Mr Sombath Yialiheu, on Thursday urged the
authorities of Tha Ngone development cluster’s, Saythany
district, Vientiane, to promote developing village clusters
and focal areas.
Mr Sombath was informed by the chief of Saythany district of
the implementation of Party’s resolutions on developing
village clusters and focal areas to improve living condition
of the local people.
Saythany district has 104 villages, totally housing 141,688
people. The district’s authorities encourage their residents
to pay attention to grassroots construction and promote their
participation in implementing the socio-economic development
projects of the district and Vientiane as well.
The Vientiane Secretary also urged party members of the
district to participate in developing village clusters and
focal areas and in enhancing the harmony among ethnic people
and public security activities.
He also urged people to pay greater attention to promoting
their market-oriented production, especially the agricultural
and handicraft production, to generate greater income to
reduce their poverty in line with the policies and directives
of the Party and government.

Laos dams river for 250MW power plant

(KPL) Sekaman river in Sekong province of Laos was dammed on
December 20 for construction of Viet Nam-built hydro-electric
power plant, the Sekaman 3.
Present among those at the damming ceremony were General
Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and State
President Choummaly Sayasone, Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat
Lengsavad and Minister of Energy and Mining Bosaikham Vongadara.
On the Vietnamese side were Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung
Hai, Minister of Trade and Industry Vu Huy Hoang and
Ambassador Nguyen Huy Quang.
The Sekaman 3 is one of the five hydro-power to be built under
a Laos-Viet Nam energy development cooperation programme which
aims to produce 3,000 MW of electricity.
The Sekaman 3 is being built in Dakchung district at a cost of
273 million USD, to which the Viet Nam-Laos power joint stock
company contributes 85 percent and the Lao government, the
remainder.
Construction of the plant, designed to have a capacity of 250
MW, began in April last year under the Build-Operate-Transfer
(BOT) form in 30 years.

SIDA improves roads in Vientiane province

(KPL) Agreement on construction and improvement of four roads
in Vientiane province was signed on 13 December at the Public
Work and Transport Service of Vientiane Province between the
director of the service, Mr. Davone Phengsengsay and the
representatives of construction companies.
The construction will be implemented with a financial grant
from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA.
Roads to be constructed include Ban Saphue-Tanpiew of
Thourakhom district with 20 km length by Panyathirath
Bridge-Road Construction with an investment of 1.2 billion
kip, Phonesou-Nampea, Vangvieng district, with a length of 16
km by Sisombath Road-Bridge Construction with an investment of
562 million kip, Ban Nongkhan-Ban Saysomboun, Phonehong
district, with a length of 10 km by the Nuanta Road-Bridge
Construction with an investment of 540 million kip, and Ban
Thaheua- Ban Donehom, Hom district, with a length of 5.6 km by
the Thavisok Phatthana Road-Bridge Construction with an
investment of 199 million kip.
According to the agreement, the construction will kick off at
the end this month to better the transportation of people
within the province and help them better access to basic-need
facilities to help them reduce poverty in line with the
policies of the Party and government.

Kaisone Phomvihanh National Defense Academy receives grant aid

(KPL)On 19 December, the Kaisone Phomvihanh National Defense
Academy has received 50 computers, worth US$ 15,000 from KOLAO
group company.
Dr Khamkhan Naphavong, Executive Director of KOLAO Group
presented computer to Major General Chansamaun Chanyalath,
Director of Kaisone Phomvihanh National Defense Academy. It
was attended by head of prime minister office and concern
officials.
On the same day, the KOLAO al so presented 15 computers, worth
US 4,500 to mass media institute to Mr Vilaithong Sisanon,
Director of Mass Media Institute.

Businesses promote information and culture works

(KPL) Forty-three private businesses have donated over 60
billion kip to the Ministry of Information and Culture to
support its upcoming meeting to be held in Champassak province
in January.
Representing the ministry by its deputy minister, Prof. Dr.
Borsengkham Vongdala, received the donation package from the
representatives to the businesses.
Relevant officials of the ministry and the businesses
witnessed the Thursday’s handover here.
Prof. Dr. Borsengkham Vongdala expressed thanks to the
businesses and expressed his belief that they would further
provide assistance to the ministry in the future.

Phongsavanh Bank opens third service unit

(KPL) Phongsavanh Bank opened the third service unit branch at
the Wattay International Airport last Thursday in order to
cope with economic growth.
The opening ceremony of the third branch was held under the
presidency of Mr Oth Phongsavanh, President of the Phongsavanh
Bank, Mr Sengdeuan Panyasith, Acting Director General of the
Department of Business Bank Management and Financial Institute
of Laos.
Opening the third service unit branch at the Wattay
International Airport aimed at providing a complex banking
service to both visitors and local customers.
This opening is a key step for upcoming year that Phonsavanh
Bank has set a plan for expanding new branches across the
country, particularly central Vientiane at Talad Sao market,
the national university.
The bank has already set up its branches at Sykhai market, the
first Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge and the Lao-International
Trade and Exhibition Convention Center.
The Wattay International Airport is a crowded place between
arriving and departing passengers therefore the Phongsavanh
Bank hoped providing the best service to customers through its
branch, said Mr Bounthay Dynavong, Deputy Managing Director of
Phongsavanh Bank.

Yunnan and three northern provinces of Laos further
cooperation on prosecution

(KPL) A bilateral meeting on prosecution co-operation between
three northern provinces of Oudomxay, Phongsaly and Laung
Namtha and Yunnan province of China was held on 18 December in
Oudomay province.
This was the third meeting between the provinces of Laos and
Yunnan province of China. During the meeting, the sides
informed each other about the situation of their co-operation
in the past, especially in the field of prosecution.
During the past five year, the public prosecutor office of the
three northern provinces of Laos has received a number of
assistance from Yunnan province including the scholarship for
training in Kunming on prosecution affairs.
The first and second MoU on prosecution co-operation between
Yunnan and three provinces of Laos was also disseminated to
the officer concern of Laos and China who are working at the
border areas.

Relief aids arrives hospital and school in Khammouane

(KPL) The Lao Helping Poor Foundation, represented by its
president, Mrs. Sisaliew Thammatheva, has donated foods and
household utensils to the Khammouane Provincial Hospital and
the Ethnic People School, Khammouane province.
The handover of 107 million kip aids package took place on 11
December, including 93 million kip of blankets, cushions,
math, bed sheets and consumer goods to the hospital, which was
received by the director of the hospital, Dr. Khamsene
Keopadapsy, and 14.05 million kip of rice, fish sauce, cooking
oil, canned fish and sugar to the Ethnic People School.
The Lao Helping Poor Foundation’s president also provided a
free of charge sight test and 3,000 pairs of glasses to local
people, especially the elderly ones, on the same day.
__._,_.___

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