Le 1 Décembre 2001

• Laos Smuggling: Opium hidden in ‘fish’ tins (The Nation or BBC MS/FT)--Drug traffickers in Laos have learned from Thailand a new channel of smuggling their illicit products out of the Golden Triangle narcotics zone and into world markets, by simply using the postal service, according to a Lao
• Viet leaders greet Lao National Day (Vietnam NA)--In their messages, the Viet leaders warmly congratulated the fraternal Lao people on their great achievements in national defence and construction in the past 26 years. They expressed their belief that the traditional friendship
• Viet military delegation visits Laos (Vietnam NA)--During the visit, the delegation held talks with a delegation of the GPD of the Lao People's Army led by Colonel Chanxamon Channhalat. The two sides briefed each other on the socio-economic situation in their countries
• Lao-Thai: Border Patrol policemen released (The Nation)--Laos yesterday released two Thai Border Patrol policemen, arrested for encroaching onto its territory after their relatives paid a fine of Bt25,000 each, Uttaradit governor Sithiporn Kietsiriroj said yesterday.
• Volunteers from as far as Texas helped build Milwaukee's first Hmong church (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
  There will be tears at the Hmong First Baptist Church. Walking through the new doorway, sitting in the new pews - it's bound to be emotional. Members of the church will see the wooden cross made by one church member
• Hard work, love build Hmong church (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
  Doua S. Vang lost everything he had many years ago: his house, his vegetable garden, his wedding pictures, his furniture, his clothes. He left them behind when, in the late 1960s, the U.S. Air Force vacated Laos
• Asian nations adopt new 10-year strategy for Mekong river area cooperation (AFP/Yahoo! Singapore)
  Six countries bordering the Mekong river have adopted a 10-year strategy to boost cooperation within the region... Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China's Yunnan province adopted the strategy
• ASEAN Free Trade Area: Supachai warns conflicts may 'marginalise' bloc -- Lack of progress in liberalisation to date (Bangkok Post)
  The ASEAN Free Trade Area (Afta) faced the threat of being marginalised in the global arena as internal conflicts and infighting undermined the potential of the regional bloc, Supachai Panitchpakdi warned yesterday.

Le 2 Décembre 2001

• European diplomats arrive in Laos (BBC News or here) ---Two senior European diplomats have arrived in Laos to press for the release of five activists - including a member of the European parliament - arrested during a pro-democracy protest last week. The diplomats, the European
• European envoys fly to Laos to see activists (Reuters/AOL or backup) ---Two senior European diplomats flew to Communist Laos on Friday to meet and press for the release of five activists arrested during a pro-democracy protest in the capital Vientiane last week, diplomatic sources said.
• Letters sent by Lao Human Rights Council to President of the European Parliament, the EU ambassador to the U.S. and the Counselor of EU in Bangkok (Lao Human Rights Council) ---The purpose of this letter is to appeal to the members of the European Union and European Parliament to consider the following proposals for peace, freedom, democracy, justice, liberty and human rights for people in Laos
• For more news relating to five pro-democracy activists arrested in Vientiane, please check Transnational Radical Party
• Efforts intensify to secure release of European activists in Laos (AFP/Yahoo! Singapore)
  Legal and diplomatic efforts to secure the release of a Euro-MP and four activists detained after mounting a pro-democracy protest in Laos have intensified. A Lao lawyer acting for the five was due to submit a formal request
• European envoys meet activists held in Laos (Reuters/Yahoo! Singapore)
  Two senior European diplomats flew to Laos on Friday to meet and press for the release of five activists arrested during a pro-democracy protest in the capital Vientiane last week. "They visited the arrested people at 2 o'clock

Le 3 Décembre 2001

• Laos mulls changes to political system (The Nation) --Twenty-six years after the revolution, communist-ruled Laos is still confident in its socialist path of development but needs to adjust some basic principles to meet new circumstances in a rapidly changing world, a key minister said
• Laos: Turning wood from bad to good -- A Swedish-owned company hopes to make eucalyptus into a source of renewable, commercially viable timber (Financial Times) --It was Sunday in Vientiane, the dusty capital of Communist-ruled Laos, and the city by the Mekong River seemed to sleep in the blazing sun. But there was no langour at the Burapha furniture factory, 30km outside the city
• Lao ambassador hails Laos-Vietnam relations (Vietnam NA)--The relationship between Laos & Vietnam has been constantly developed, says Lao ambassador to Vietnam Vilayvanh Phomke... Laos & Vietnam share many similarities. One of the most obvious is that both countries are
• Lao artists perform in Hanoi (Vietnam NA) --Hanoians enjoyed an art performance by 20 Lao artists at the Hanoi Opera House on Dec. 2 when Laos celebrated her 26th National Day. The artists from the Laos National Ensemble provided the audiences with Lao & Viet
• Hmong Americans start New Year’s celebrations (AP/AsianWeek) --Fifteen-year-old Chue Neng Vang, often torn between American culture & Hmong traditions, joined several hundred people over the weekend in a Hmong New Year’s Day celebration. Traditional activities marking the start
• Mekong Meet: Six nations draw up detailed 3-year action plan-- A rich and united region envisioned (Bangkok Post) --Ministers from Burma, Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam attended the meeting sponsored by the ADB. "The countries of the region know that they must integrate their economies much more effectively if they
• Indochina/Transport Network: New routes would bring prosperity and problems -- More convenient for gamblers, smugglers (Bangkok Post) --A seminar has concluded the planned Indochinese transportation network would ultimately benefit the country but the government must be ready for the myriad problems it was bound to generate.

Le 4 Décembre 2001

• Laos: New media law to further guarantee journalistic expression, [is it reality or just another hoax?] (Laos NA, From VT) ---“Although the Lao Constitution guarantees citizens freedom of expression, the Mass Media Law expected to be adopted early next year will serve as an additional instrument for guaranteeing journalistic expression," said Deputy
• A letter to a refugee (Christian Science Monitor)---A Laotian Canadian recently told me that one night he swam about 1-1/4 hours across the Mekong River to escape the communist regime in Laos. Some time later, he swam back to bring his family across.
• Hmong tech center receives computers (Pioneer Planet)---A Hmong foundation received 25 computers Monday to help launch a community technology center to serve residents of diverse St. Paul neighborhoods. The foundation hopes to open the center next year
• Thailand, Indochina explore ways to tackle domestic violence (Kyodo NS/AOL)---Parliamentarians, lawyers and local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam began a three-day workshop Tuesday in Phnom Penh to explore ways of drafting domestic violence laws
• Workshop on preventing domestic violence in Mekong sub-region held in Cambodia (Xinhua NA/Northern LT)---A workshop... was held here Tuesday, promoting the development of legislative reform for the advancement of women human rights in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia & Vietnam. About 50 representatives from the 4 countries
• Freedom, poverty & 9/11 (New York Post) ---Anyone who thinks poverty is a root cause of terrorism should study the 2002 Index of Economic Freedom... Tied for last place among 156 countries are Iraq and North Korea - trailed by Libya, Cuba, Laos, Iran.

Le 5 Décembre 2001

• Thais warned about little-known Lao laws (The Nation or here)--Regardless of whether money is exchanged, Thais visiting Laos should refrain from having sex with locals who are not their legal spouse or they run the risk of being thrown in jail or fined by Lao authorities, the FM warned
• Cambodia opens a new bridge to link roads to Vietnam and Laos (Radio Australia News)--Cambodia has opened a new bridge which will connect to a road network into neighboring Vietnam and Laos. Funded by Japanese aid money, the 13-hundred metre long Kizuna Bridge was opened by PM, Hun Sen.
• Laos: Sayaboury provides funds for trade center construction (Laos NA or backup)--Sayaboury province has earmarked US$ 4 million to construct a market trade centre located in Simongkhoun village, Sayaboury district. The 88 x 66m building will begin construction in the next ninety days and will be
• America: Buyer of Hmong slaughterhouse wins suit (Pioneer Planet)--A civil suit involving a Hmong-run slaughterhouse in Hugo was resolved Monday in favor of the family of Seng Lee. The high-profile lawsuit was once a zoning and nuisance dispute that included overtones of religious

Le 6 Décembre 2001

• Improving environmental management in Lao PDR (Asian Devt Bank or backup)--Environmental management in Lao PDR will be improved with a US$20 million loan approved today by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Environment and Social Program. The Program will enable the Govt to take
• Laos: Environment and Social Program (Asian Devt Bank)--The Environment and Social Program will assist the Lao PDR to implement a policy reform agenda for environmental management and social safeguards in the energy and transport sectors, focusing on hydropower and roads.
• Chinese Defense Minister meets Lao guests (China Daily or backup)--Chinese DM Chi Haotian met here Thursday with Ay Souliyaseng, vice defense minister of Laos and his party. Chi, also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and a state councilor, recalled his visit to Laos
• Mekong region countries to strengthen ties (Asia Pulse/Yahoo! Singapore)--The ADB has agreed to back the co-op between the GMS members -- Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China's Yunnan Province & Vietnam. The new strategy envisages greater co-op to realise the region's potential.

Le 07 Décembre 2001

• Border Raid: Lao suspects seeking UN refugee status -- Only way to escape a prison sentence (Bangkok Post) Email--Eleven Lao nationals wanted by Vientiane for allegedly raiding Wang Tao border checkpoint last year are seeking United Nations refugee status. Lawyer Pruattisit Bunpon said he was seeking advice on how to proceed
• Laos: Canada continues UXO victim rehabilitation support in Xieng Khouang (Laos NA or backup)--Victims of unexploded ordinance & their families are being rehabilitated & their living conditions improved by the CGGI organisation & the CIDA at a cost of CN$ 500,000. The assistance package furthering the rehabilitation
• E Asian leaders discuss ways to accelerate poverty alleviation (Asia Pulse/Yahoo! Singapore)--Senior officials from several East Asian countries & territories are meeting in Hanoi to discuss bottlenecks in poverty alleviation programs. Delegates from Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia and Vietnam
• Cigarette producers capitalise on ASEAN free trade plan to expand (AFP/Yahoo! Singapore)--Cigarette manufacturers are finding a new haven in Southeast Asia as they take advantage of a regional free trade plan which shields them from steep tobacco taxes and high production costs. Faced with shrinking Western
• UNICEF reports on child prostitution (AP/Yahoo! or backup)--UNICEF said the surveys found that 30-35 % of all sex workers in the region, which comprises Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos & Yunan & Guangxi provinces of China, are between 12 and 17 years old.

Le 08 Décembre 2001

• Pas de news pour cette date

Le 09 Décembre 2001

• Hmong Americans: University Avenue festival proposed (Pioneer Planet)--St. Paul Mayor-elect Randy Kelly told the Hmong Chamber of Commerce on Sat. night that he hopes to hold a summertime street festival along University Avenue next year that would celebrate the area's cultural attractions
• Sex Trade: A major growth industry (Bangkok Post/FT)--Surveys indicate that 30 to 35% of all sex workers in the Mekong sub-region (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma, Laos and the southern Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi) are between 12 and 17 years of age.

Le 10 Décembre 2001

• South Korean business group seeks investment in Laos (Laos NA or backup) --Investment in small and medium size hydropower stations in the southern provinces and agricultural production for processing industries were key points of interest for a group of visiting business people from South Korea. 
• America: In St. Paul, "segregated" Hmong see a village (Pioneer Planet) --But in a city where the Hmong account for most of the Asian population -- a city that is home to one of America's largest concentrations of Laotian refugees -- community activists and city officials said the segregation
• Corporate Focus: Switch in focus pays off (Bangkok Post)--Wholesaling now provides 56% of the revenue, or about 310 million baht. Exports through a dealer in Laos total 120 million baht, sales to Thai state agencies 30 million and retail sales 90 million. Mr Lek said the switch to
• Technical symposium on Mekong fisheries opened in Phnom Penh (Xinhua NA/Northern LT) --Four lower Mekong countries -- Cambodia Laos, Thailand & Vietnam -- would review issues of ecology, fisheries, environmental impact, multiple uses of resources & associated socio-economic considerations of the river.
• ASEAN FTA with China will be major global shift (The Nation)--Something major is happening in the Asia-Pacific region. It is a bid to create a sprawling free-trade area (FTA) that has the potential to reshape the globe's geopolitics. Indeed, if you grant that economic integration can
• Travel Monitor: Buddhist sites now on tourism agenda (Bangkok Post)
  The promotion of Buddhist tourism in Asia has been given a major lift with the conclusion of a major seminar designed to bring together the regional countries which share this common heritage. But the seminar also heard
• For some, deportation takes years -- Jail is only home to those whose nations refuse to take them (NY Times/Deseret News)
  That decision, in Zadvydas v. Davis, has led to the release of hundreds of detainees from Cuba, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, countries that have no repatriation agreements with the United States. But it has been less help to

Le 11 Décembre 2001

• Laos: Japan to fund construction of 700 schools (Laos NA or backup)--Experts from the Japan ICA are completing a survey for the construction of 700 primary school buildings & one Laos-Japan FP Center in Laos, to be funded by the Japanese govt, said PM Bounnhang Vorachit during
• GMS business associations launch the virtual GMS Business Support Centre on trade and investment promotion with UN and ADB (UN ESCAP) --The Greater Mekong Subregion Business Forum, in collaboration with the United Nations ESCAP and the Asian Devt. Bank will organize the second annual meeting in Vientiane, Laos, on 13-14 December 2001. It is expected
• Mekong Sub-region: Anti-drug efforts get boost -- Four countries to step up co-operation (Bangkok Post) --Four countries in the Mekong sub-region will co-operate more in their fight against drug trafficking along the Mekong river, a seminar was told. Some 50 representatives from Burma, China, Laos, & Thailand joined a workshop
• America: Hmong meat market burns in Potter (Post-Crescent)--Fire investigators are working to determine what caused a fire that destroyed a longtime meat market Tuesday. The Hmong Wisconsin Meat Market, 300 Main St. caught fire late Tuesday morning.

Le 12 Décembre 2001

• Laos: Foreign investment reaches US$ seven billion (Laos NA or backup)
  Since 1988 foreign investment in Laos has reached approximately US$ 7 billion of which over US$ one billion has been invested by the Lao Govt and the remainder by foreign investors, according to statistics compiled by
• Child trafficking takes new forms in Southeast Asia -- Next week, Japan hosts a conference on sexually exploited children -- Some say it ignores other problems (Christian Science Monitor/Northern LT)
  The Mekong region of Southeast Asia has seen rapid growth in the past five years of children trafficked from poorer countries - Cambodia, Laos, Burma and Vietnam - into relatively wealthy Thailand for purposes besides sex.
• Time for a rethink of Buddhism's values (The Nation)
  Although the Buddha never made his religion subject to any king or any state in India, Buddhism in every country in Southeast Asia is under state regulation. For hundreds of years, the hierarchies of monks in these

• UN to feed 70,000 malnourished children in Laos (United Nations WFP or Reuters/AOL)
  The United Nations WFP on Thurs. launched a 3 year effort to feed some 70,000 malnourished Laotian children. More than 2 million of the landlocked Communist country's 5 million population live on less than one dollar per day
• Meeting of Greater Mekong Subregion Forum opens in Vientiane (Xinhua NA/Northern LT)--Over 100 delegates from various business associations in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) kicked off their two-day annual meeting in the Lao capital of Vientiane Thursday to promote regional business-partnership
• Laos: Farmers suffer from low price rice sales (Laos NA or backup)--The order stated that the sale of rice should not be lower than 900 kip per kilogram... Despite this, the Vientiane Foodstuff Enterprise is purchasing rice from farmers at 700 kip per kilogram, 200 kip below the price control
• Mekong Region: Waterfalls and ruins (Bangkok Post/FT)--Enfinate Travel is offering a 3-day/2-night package to Ubon Ratchathani province in the Northeast. Visitors can experience the Kon Papeng waterfall & Wat Phu Khmer Ruins in Laos. Starting in Ubon Ratchathani, participants

• Oxiana gains ground; Sepon project robust (Dow Jones/Yahoo! Singapore)
  Investors continue to back Oxiana Resources, up 1.5 cents, 7.0%, at year high of A$0.23... Investors clearly like robust nature of Sepon gold/copper project in Laos. Oxiana plans to produce gold at annual rate of 125,000
• UNESCO adds 13 more sites to heritage list: [Wat Phou is one of them] (AFP/Yahoo! Singapore)
  The UN added 13 new "World Heritage" sites to its prestigious list, bringing to 31 the total number of new sites added...one of them is the Wat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within Champasak province in Laos.
• America: St. Paul segregation / Choice, racism or discrimination? (Star Tribune)
  In many ways, Hmong migration to Minnesota mirrors the typical American immigrant experience. Southeast Asian refugees began arriving in St. Paul in the late 1970s in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Since then, they have
• Child sex exploitation forum to focus on IT, trafficking (Kyodo NS/AOL)
  She said there are now children from areas such as Cambodia, Laos and Yunnan Province in southern China winding up in brothels in Thailand. She also mentioned how organized crime cashes in on the lucrative child sex

Le 15 Décembre 2001

Le 16 Décembre 2001

Le 17 Décembre 2001

Le 18 Décembre 2001

• Communist Laos to allow private ownership of media (Reuters/Yahoo! Singapore or backup)---Laos plans to introduce a new law early next year to permit private ownership of news media -- as long as owners pledge to uphold the policies of the Communist Party & the government, Laotian officials said on Tuesday
• Youth volunteers help create IT awareness in Cambodia, Laos (Channel NewsAsia/Yahoo! Singapore)---Nearly 50 youths, involved in Project INitiate, brought back valuable experience & memories from their community service stints in Cambodia & Laos recently. Project INitiate is a program aimed at creating IT awareness
• Laos: Company won US$17m contract to design and build 340 km power transmission line, complete with 282 km power distribution network. ABB Ltd (Extel Company News/FT)---Contract is part of ongoing initiative to upgrade Laos' rural electrical infrastructure. Order was placed by Electricite du Laos, state-owned utility, and is set for completion within 2 years. Project is financed by ADB.
• America: Area Hmong join together to ring in their New Year (Green Bay Press-Gazette)---More than 200 Hmong from northeast Wisconsin turned out for their annual New Year's celebration at St. Jude Parish in Green Bay on Sunday. This was the first year that Hmong from so many different areas congregated in
• Clean up your lethal leftovers (International Herald Tribune)---According to governments & clearance organizations, unexploded munitions have killed or injured more than 11,000 people in Laos since 1973 & 13,000 people in Poland since World War II. The IC of the Red Cross documented

Le 19 Décembre 2001

• Laos kids to get food for thought (OneWorld/Yahoo!) ---Thousands of impoverished children in Laos will get food in return for going to school as part of a project that seeks to raise both nutrition and literacy levels in the Southeast Asian nation. The WFP has launched a US$6 million
• Thailand sees golfing paradise in minefield (Reuters/Yahoo! Singapore or Reuters/Lycos)
  Thailand... plans to turn a landmine-infested area bordering Laos and Cambodia into golfing paradise... Thailand was working on a project to build a 27-hole golf course linking Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.

Le 20 Décembre 2001

• Laos: Traffice police coping with wreckless drivers (Laos NA or backup)---In response to a proposal of the Mayor of Vientiane, the Traffic Police Dept. is stepping up measures to control road accidents, which last week alone occurred 42 times in the capital resulting in four deaths & dozens of injured
• Ho Chi Minh City boosts co-op with Laos' Vientiane capital (Vietnam NA)---Ho Chi Minh City will help Vientiane build six projects, including a plastic plant, an entertainment resort, a medical centre, a hospital, a seafood processing plant, and a school, at an estimated total cost of VND 4 billion.
• EGCOMP to invest 4 bln baht in 2002 (Reuters/AOL)---Thai power producer Electricity Generating Plc (EGCOMP) said it planned to spend about four billion baht ($91.36 million) to expand its capacity next year... The funds would be invested in its Nam Theum II dam project in Laos
• Indochinese Health Ministers meet on long-term co-op (Vietnam NA) ---The Health Ministers of Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia began a 3-day co-op conference this morning, Dec. 20, in Hue city, Vietnam's central coastal province of Thua Thien-Hue. The three Health Ministers and medical experts

Le 21 Décembre 2001

• Thailand plans for golf course across Laos, Cambodia border (AFP/The Age)---Thailand hopes to build the world's 1st "three country" golf course across its borders with Cambodia & Laos in an area currently strewn with landmines, officials said today. Cabinet secretary Vissanu Kreu-ngarm told reporters
• Program helps Hmong elders bridge traditions and American family law (Star Tribune) ---The Hmong community has an unprecedented divorce rate after virtually no divorces in its native Laos. Hmong men are serving prison sentences for marrying girls in their early to mid-teen years, a Hmong tradition.
• French singer, composer Becaud dies (AP/Yahoo!) --French crooner Gilbert Becaud's wife, American Kitty Saint-John, right, walks their adopted daughter Noi, from Laos, as they arrive for Becaud's funeral at La Madeleine church in Paris on Friday. Becaud, who wrote songs that inspired international stars like Frank Sinatra and Edith Piaf died Tues. in Paris. He was 74.
• Harmonizing telecoms policy in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (Asian Devt. Bank) ---ADB is providing a US$700,000 technical assistance grant to harmonize telecommunications sector policies in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The grant is from its Japan Special Fund, financed by the Japanese Govt.

Le 22 Décembre 2001

• Three countries, one destination (The Nation) ---Thailand, Laos, & Vietnam are to launch a joint tourism promotion campaign entitled “Three Countries, One Destination” early next year during the Asean Tourism Forum in Indonesia. Cambodia will be invited to join the promotional

Le 28 Décembre 2001

• Shiokawa to visit Laos, Cambodia (Japan Today or From VT) ---Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa is to visit Laos... Shiokawa will leave Osaka on Jan 6 and arrive at the Lao capital Vientiane on Jan 7. He will meet with Lao President Khamtay Siphandone and FM Soukan Mahalat.
• Laos: Garment industry makes US$ 110 million (Laos NA or From VT) ---Last year’s revenue of the Garment Group, made up of 53 companies, was US$ 60 million, and the total revenue between 1995-2000 reached at US$ 110 million, disclosed the President of the Lao National Chamber of 
• Vietnam-funded technical house handed over to Lao military hospital (Vietnam NA) ---A ceremony to hand over a technical house to the Hospital No. 101 of the Lao People's Army as a gift from the Vietnam People's Army was recently held in Vientiane, Lao capital. Work started on the construction of
• ADB grants Mekong region US$700,000 for telecom upgrade (Asia Pulse/Yahoo! Singapore)---Asian Devt. Bank has provided a US$700,000 technical assistance grant to the Greater Mekong Sub-region countries of Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam to help bring telecommunications sector up to international standard.
• America: Vet wounded by disability rules -- Suffering from traumatic stress syndrome, the Osterville man looks to legislation for a fair shake on pay (Cape Cod Times) ---Albert "Bud" Krapf spent part of the Vietnam War flying Special Forces troops out of Vietnam and into Laos and Cambodia. "I was under fire every day on the Ho Chi Minh Trail," said Krapf, 67, of Osterville. He knew he was
• ST. PAUL: City works to redraw its ward boundaries (Pioneer Planet)--Ya Yang and his wife, Houa, moved from Brooklyn Park to St. Paul's North End last year in search of a better neighborhood. The couple, who live near Rice Street, say they've found one and are here to stay. "We moved here

Le 29 Décembre 2001

• Net surfing in Luang Prabang (The Nation) --Wired society in the small ancient city of Luang Prabang is growing fast, although its citizens are barred from connecting to websites that the communist authorities consider improper and so most browse only Thai
• America: Kelly announces two more appointments (Star Tribune) --As head of the criminal division, he will supervise a staff of 17 attorneys. Lo said he believes that he is the first Hmong attorney in the country to head a prosecuting office. "I am grateful and honored to be asked by City Attorney
• America: Kelly names city clerk, top criminal prosecutor (Pioneer Planet)--Kelly's office also announced the appointment of Sia Lo, the first Hmong-American appointment to his administration and the first Hmong-American to hold such an office anywhere in the nation.