This page was updated: Saturday, May 12, 2007 04:55 PM -0400






March 31, 2007


Tourism threatens fragile beauty of former Lao royal capital (AFP/Yahoo!)
World heritage status has turned the former Lao capital from a ghost town into a tourism hub, but too much of a good thing could soon prove the kiss of death, say experts and residents. In recent years a trickle of backpackers
Thai: In search of a new homeland in Laos (Bangkok Post)
They certainly are masters of satire, those men & women with sun-scorched faces. The lead picture on Page 3 of our trustworthy newspaper of yesterday shows a group of villagers protesting in front of Parliament, announcing they are ''packed and ready to move to Laos''. The reason given was the Govt's 
Banpu Power seeks partner for Lao plant (Nation)
Banpu Power, a subsidiary of the country's largest coalminer Banpu, is seeking a partner to invest jointly in the Hong Sa Lignite mine and power plant project in Laos. The firm expects the project will need more than Bt80 billion in investment. "We're expecting to conclude a study of the possibility of



March 30, 2007


Lao History and Culture Week Celebrated in Seattle (VOA)
The city of Seattle in the northwestern state of Washington has honored and thanked the Lao community for its contributions to the society, economy, and cultural diversity of the city by proclaiming the week of March 19 – 25, 2007 to be Lao History and Culture Week. The Lao-American community of all
UXO Day to be marked in Laos (VientianeTimes)
UXO Lao, in cooperation with other sectors, will organise an event to mark International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, on April 4. National Programme Director of UXO Lao, Mr Bounpone Sayasenh, said the celebration will be held next week in Vientiane. There will be an
Members of FdL's Hmong community express fears, hope (FdL Reporter)
Blia Tong Vang sometimes doesn't feel welcome in his house. He was one of several Hmong community members who met recently with local leaders at the Rolling Meadows Meeting Room in Fond du Lac to express concerns and
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... The Bachelor: An Officer and a Gentleman (ABC)
... Phongsavanh bank opens for business in Laos (VT)
... Laos: Multi-grade classes to provide education for all (VT)
... Front leader receives Laos ethnic affairs delegation (VN)
... Laos wants to learn Fatherland Front's experiences (ND)
... Cambodia, Laos to take part in central Vietnam heritage festival (TND)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA




March 29, 2007


Lao Royal Armed Forces Day (AAP)
More than 50,000 soldiers of the Royal Lao Army died during the War in Southeast Asia. There were also 30,000 Lao soldiers & government officials detained after the war in 1975, and thousand more fled Laos for their lives. These fallen heroes and fewer than 50 living Lao veterans now living in
UNDP, UNFPA support Laos (VientianeTimes)
The UNDP and the UNFPA have granted more than US$64 million to implement cooperative activities between Laos and the two agencies. The UNDP will give more than US$54 million, while UNFPA will provide US$10.5 million, according to the Country Programme Action Plans for 2007-2011
2.5 kilograms of marihuana from Laos seized in Ubon Ratchathani (Thai News)
Thai police seized 2.5 kilograms of marihuana in Ubon Ratchathani province. The narcotics were smuggled from Savannakhet, Laos to Khemarat district of Ubon Ratchathani through Mekong River. The drug trafficker was a
4 Corners in Laos & Australia (Amplifier)
4 Corners will be performing in Vientiane, Laos in South East Asia on the 6th and 7th April 2007. Telecom Company Millicom Laos are re-branding their product to Tigo which is throughout Africa and South America. Their slogan for their re-branding campaign is "Open up Your World" hence employing
Proposal to aid Hmong victim of maneuvering (Star Tribune)
Before passing a $123 billion bill to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Senate stripped out a provision Thursday aimed at easing the effect anti-terror laws have had on Hmong refugees. Minnesota Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, who supports the provision, said he's optimistic a resolution
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Laos PM visits Luang Prabang (VT)
... Laotians: Free Cuban Antiterrorists (Prensa Latina)
... Laos: Minister praises work of Information, Culture officials (VT)
... Co-ordination committee for Cambodia-Laos-VN Triangle set up (ND)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA




March 28, 2007


Lao People in Remote Areas Still Face Rice Shortage For Up to 6 Months a Year (VOA)
Lao officials acknowledge that a large number of their population in remote areas face rice shortages for up to 6 months a year, although Laos is now able to produce more rice than is needed to meet its domestic demand,
Indebted farmers threaten to go to Laos (Bangkok Post, TN)
More than 300 debt-ridden farmers dispersed Wednesday after a week of failed attempt in getting assistance from the government in settling their debts. The protesters gathered in front of the Government House since last Monday to ask the government to give concrete measures to help them settling debts
UN grants US$1m for governance reform in Laos (VT)
THE UN Development Program, UN Volunteers & the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) have granted more than US$1 million to governance & public administration reform (GPAR) in Xekong province. The four-year project from 2007-2011 is aimed at improving access to services for the multi-ethnic
MIA in Laos: 'It’s time to accept that he’s dead and bring him home’ (Star Tribune)
An old Air Force pilot's sidearm. A set of dog tags. A survivor's recollection of enemy shouts, gunshots, a friend's scream from across a river in Laos, then silence. A single fragment of bone. It's enough, the son says. A family and a
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Building the future of Lao children (VT)
... Laos: Wetlands programme cut short (VT)
... ADB predicts brisk economic growth for Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam
... Laos, Vietnam press groups to improve mutual support (VN)
... North Korea: Day of Sun to Be Commemorated in Laos (KCNA)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA




March 27, 2007


Con artists cheat public in banknote scam in Laos (VT)
The Economic Police Department has warned people to be wary of a gang trying to scam local people by selling them fake banknotes in get-rich-quick schemes. The department arrested two of the scam artists in possession of fake banknotes bearing an apparent value of US$2.6 million last month, but
Laos Has Made Tremendous Progress in Reducing Opium Cultivation (VOA)
The 2007 U.S. State Department International Narcotics report says In 2006, Laos moved into what seemed a final stage in its battle against opium, in no small part due to U.S. counter narcotics funding and assistance from other
Lao Deputy PM: Huay Nam Khao Hmong Issue Can Be Resolved (VOA)
Amnesty International says Laotian troops are still hunting Hmong people who live in hiding in the jungles of Laos. In a report issued last Friday, the human rights group says those jungle-dwellers, numbering some 3,000 people, are
Thailand seeks Burmese, Lao co-op to end haze crisis (BP)
Thailand will seek official cooperation from Burma and Laos to alleviate the haze in the North, Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham said yesterday. Mr Paiboon, who heads the government team tasked with solving the haze problem, said international cooperation was needed.
India to impart advanced computer training to Lao nationals (Zee News)
As part of Indian technical and economic cooperation programme with Laos, India will impart advanced computer training to Lao nationals. "So far, over 600 Lao participants have been trained in India under ITEC.
Oxiana sees copper output up a third, boosts gold (Reuters/Y)
Copper ore mined by Oxiana is turned into cathode ready for fabricating into wire and rod at the company's Khanong project in Laos, 600 kilometres (375 miles) southeast of capital Vientiane, to supply buyers mainly in Vietnam and Malaysia. "We have two new significant resources at Thenkam North and
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Luang Prabang suffers day-long power cut (VT)
... Private educators in Laos look to the future (VT)
... Restaurant: [Thai] Isaan Special (East Bay)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA



March 26, 2007


Lao Christians facing persecution (MNN)
Christians in a small village in Laos are facing increasing amounts of persecution, according to a French-based Lao exile group. They accuse officials in a remote village in central Laos of seeking to evict Christians who refuse to renounce their faith, but the Lao Foreign Ministry denies the charge
Rights Groups Report New Chemical Poison Used to Eliminate the Hmong Hiding in Jungles of Laos (HNN)
According to a spokesman for the U.S.-based organization Lao Human Rights Council, Laotian military forces used a so far unknown chemical poison against hundreds of ethnic Hmong people, who have been hiding for
Laos Government approves salary increases (VT)
The government will raise the base salaries of officials, particularly those who work in remote areas, it announced last week. This was one of the outcomes of the government's three-day monthly meeting, from March 20-22. At the meeting, officials reported on plans to improve salaries and social welfare
Change in anti-terror laws sought to aide Hmong (AP/LE)
A Senate spending bill for the Iraq war includes a provision aimed at easing the impact that anti-terrorism laws have on Hmong refugees. The provision states that the Hmong and some other groups are not considered terrorists. Under provisions of the USA Patriot Act and the Real ID Act, the Hmong who
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... President returns from Myanmar (VT)
... New eco-tourism site slated for Champassak (VT)
... Challenge Program on Water and Food recommends MUS (IRC)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA




March 25, 2007


Trek in northern Laos about culture, nature (CCT or TU)
Laos remains an unadulterated enigma. It's the ideal asylum for fugitives from urban routine, with the majestic curves of Luang Nam Tha province offering the best refuge of all. Hemmed in by the mighty Mekong to the west and China's great girth to the north, this province devotes almost a third of its
Lao tradition in Anchorage (Anchorage Daily News)
One afternoon in February, Andrew Sekasin, 11, kicked through the snow in a parking lot outside the Lao Buddhist temple in Mountain View. A "novice" in religious training with monks, Andrew wore marigold robes, an adult-sized orange parka and a pair of large white tennis shoes. A boy his age breezed
Restaurant: Beware the Larb (Orange County Weekly)
Larb is the national dish of Laos, but many local Thai restaurants also offer the salad. Unfortunately, many also mitigate its intensity for American taste buds, meaning that most of the larbs in Orange County are mild at best, vanilla at worst. Not so at Diho Siam, a Thai-Chinese restaurant in Costa
MIA in Laos: Woman accepts medal on behalf of late brother (Register Citizen)
Forty years after being shot down over Laos and declared missing in action, Air Force commando Andre R. Guillet was awarded the Silver Rose through his sister Doris Maitland. "No one has ever received the award as an MIA,"



March 24, 2007


Japan urged to push for halt to 'attacks' on Hmong (Kyodo)
Japan should press Laos to end its alleged attacks on an ethnic minority group, Amnesty International said Friday. The comments came as the rights group released a report claiming the Lao army mounts attacks on people from the Hmong ethnic grouping which lives in the country's mountainous
Hmong: Gang fight may lead to charges against teens (LCT)
Felony charges are pending against a La Crosse teen accused of taking part in the gang-related beating of a Holmen, Wis., teen Thursday evening. The injured 16-year-old told police he was attacked by several members of the gang “Crazy Hmong Boys” while walking in the 1000 block of South Ninth
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Oxiana addressing skills shortages at copper/gold operation (Minebox)



March 23, 2007


Amnesty report spotlights desperate plight of Hmong in Laos (AP/BH, AP/State or AP/CT)
Amnesty International appealed Friday for attention to one of Asia's least-publicized human rights crises: the plight of thousands of Hmong tribespeople it said are being hunted down by the communist Govt of Laos.
Laos: Destitute jungle-dwellers living on run from military (AI)
Thousands of men, women and children from the Hmong ethnic minority are living on the run from the military in Laos' mountainous jungle, according to a new report from Amnesty International. The Lao army continues to mount violent attacks on them, even though the jungle-dwellers' military capacity is
Environment: Lost in Laos (Web Diary)
Visitors hoping to see how the world looked before mass tourism packaged and sanitized it flock in particular to Lao, home to some of the regions last wild herds of significant endangered species. However the fight to save Lao's environment is being quietly lost and the disappearance of a significant local
Bird flu damage estimated at 6 billion kip [~US$ 600,000] (VT)
The government has announced that the cost of the damage wrought by bird flu in Laos will be about 6 billion kip, following outbreaks this year in Vientiane and three other provinces. The Director General of the Department of Livestock and Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Laos: Ethnic groups display their culture (VT)
... ADB funds basic education in Laos (VT)
... Vietnam firm grows industrial crops in Laos, Cambodia (TNN)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA




March 22, 2007


Christians Allegedly Persecuted in Laos, Ministry Denies Charges (RFA)
A French-based Lao exile group is accusing officials in a remote village in central Laos of seeking to evict Christians who refuse to renounce their faith, but the Lao Foreign Ministry denies the charge. The Lao MHR charged
Lao army still hunting Hmong, Amnesty says (Nation)
Scattered groups of ethnic Hmong remain in hiding in the Lao jungle in a bid to evade ongoing attacks from the communist country's military, Amnesty International said in a report released Friday. Army troops in the poor and isolated Southeast Asian country "regularly attack their temporary
Laos: A road out of the wilderness with WFP's help (Reuters)
The contrast between Luang Prabang city and Phoukhang village, both in Laos, couldn’t be more striking. Luang Prabang caters for tourists with its restaurants, internet cafes and boutiques. Phoukhang, on the other hand, doesn’t even have running water or electricity. Few visitors ever see
Laos’ Assurance to Reunite 21 Hmong Girls with Families in Thailand Questioned (FFC)
At the latest formal bilateral meeting between Lao FM, Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, & Thai FM, Mr. Nitya Pibulsonggram, the Lao minister told his Thai counterpart that 21 out of the 26 Hmong teenagers have been found, & they
Laos To Build a New International Airport in Vientiane (VOA)
Authorities say the present Wattay International Airport has no room for expansion and will not be able to accommodate the two-millon passengers expected in the next five years. The new international aiport will be built at KM 17 on Route 13 South in Xaythani district on a 2 km-wide and 4 km-long lot
Coffee exporters call for better tax system in Laos (VT)
The Lao Coffee Association has asked the government to help solve the problem of double taxation & other tax-related issues, to allow the association to export more coffee overseas. At the second Lao Business Forum, held in Vientiane last week, the association focused on issues related to the tax rate
Land-locked Communist Laos Doubles Its Diplomatic Missions Abroad (DPA/Playfuls)
Laos has doubled its diplomatic missions abroad since going communist in 1975, national media announced Thursday on the 52nd anniversary of the Lao Communist Party. "The Lao Communist Party has won universal support
ADB finances Laos to develop education (People's Daily)
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has funded Laos nearly 21.6 million U.S. dollars to help the country develop its education sector, Laos' news agency KPL reported Thursday. Under agreements signed between the ADB and Lao finance ministry in the country's Vientiane capital on Wednesday
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Laos President leaves for Myanmar (VT)
... Preserve trees to maintain water sources (VT)
... LAWA Promotes Lao Women's Rights in the DC Area (VOA)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA



March 21, 2007


Laos ecotourism activists 'missing' (Eco Club)
The world may be celebrating Earth Day today, but in Laos, award-winning Ecotourism activists Sompawn Kantisouk & Bill Tuffin will not be celebrating, as they are reported missing! Melody Kemp, a journalist living in Laos has just revealed that witnesses had seen Sompawn being escorted by "men in
Lao-American: Fresh Basil (Nashville Scene)
Born in Laos, Charles, 32, moved to the U.S. as a small child with her mother, Onesy Manivong. During 30 years in Nashville, her mother worked in many eateries, even places of her own that served cafeteria-style food. But Manivong always hoped to open a restaurant where she could showcase her
Lao-Thai Joint Border Commission Agrees to Complete Land Border Demarcation by 2008 (VOA)
The Joint Border Commission of Laos and Thailand has agreed in a meeting recently held in Luang Prabang to resolve their remaining differences and complete the demarcation of their land border by the end of 2008.
Road linking Laos, Thailand and China to be finished (IM)
Final work on construction of a road linking Laos, Thailand and China is undergone for opening to traffic in June. The road from China’s Kunming to Thailand’s Bangkok via two provinces of Laos is being built with jointly investment by the three countries at a total of 1 billion baht (28.6 million USD)
Japan donates rice worth 320m yen to Laos (VT)
The government of Japan has agreed to donate food aid worth 320 million yen (about US$2.6 million), to help Lao people whose rice harvests failed last year. The Exchange of Notes for the Kennedy Round 1 (KR1) Assistance Project under Japanese Grant Aid for 2006 was signed yesterday by
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... French learners need more funding (VT)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA




March 20, 2007


Egypt, Laos Report More Human Cases of Avian Influenza (U.S. Dept. of State)
As the number of human cases of avian influenza confirmed by the WHO rises to 281, with new cases reported in Egypt & Laos, WHO & international experts are meeting in Turkey to discuss how best to treat people who
Laotian American Women Take Charge of the Future Financial for Laotian American Community (VOA)
Young Laotian-Americans who grew up here in this new era have discovered that financial investment is a new way to make fortune for long-term financial security for their families. Many have taken up a career in life insurance and
Bokeo skies clouded by forest fires (VientianeTimes)
The airport in Houayxai, Bokeo province, has been closed for three weeks due to poor visibility caused by forest fires in Myanmar and Thailand . Planes cannot take off and land safely because of reduced visibility in the area. The Head of Bokeo Provincial Forest Department, Mr Sibounhuang Phanthoulack
Chinese, Lao DMs hold talks, vowing to enhance exchanges (China Economic Net or Xinhua)
Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan held talks with Douangchay Phichit, Lao deputy prime minister and defense minister, exchanging views on bilateral military ties, regional and international security situation and other
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Interest in learning French grows (VT)
... Laos President to visit Myanmar (VT)
... Laos to Increase Compensation to Poultry Farmers (VOA)
... 2nd Friendship Bridge has no effect on Ubon Ratchathani (TN)
... New bird flu outbreak in Mukdahan (Nation)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA




March 19, 2007


Destitute Hmong Still Running From Military in Laotian Jungle, New Amnesty International Report Reveals (US Newswire/AOL)
Thousands of men, women and children from the Hmong ethnic minority are living in the mountainous jungle to avoid abuses by the Laotian military, according to a new Amnesty International report, Laos: Hiding in the Jungle
Laos: Slow and breezy (Australian)
WALK through the streets of most Asian cities and you'll be besieged by taxi drivers clamouring for fares and traders desperate to sell their wares. In Vientiane, things are starkly different. In a queue of three-wheeler tuk-tuk cabs in the centre of the city, all the drivers are asleep in hammocks strung
After years of searching, Laotian man finds brother (PB)
While living in a refugee camp in Thailand in the 1970s and early 1980s, Todd Thap Phanchan waited for word about his oldest brother. Years earlier, when the family was still in Laos, Munt Phanchan went to fight against the North Vietnamese forces. He was in his 20s by that time and the only son in
EU helps 19 villages out of poverty in Laos (VientianeTimes)
The European Union (EU) assisted 19 of the 26 target villages in Viengkham district, Luang Prabang province, to advance from poverty during its five-year mission from 2002-2007. Governor of the district, Mr Bouathong Phaengsavanh, gave an interview at the conclusion of the EU-funded
Man pleads not guilty in killing of Hmong hunter (AP/ST)
A white man pleaded not guilty Monday to fatally shooting and stabbing a Hmong hunter in woods near Peshtigo, Wis., in a slaying that rekindled racial tension in northern Wisconsin. Marinette Circuit Court Judge David Miron set James Nichols' trial on first-degree intentional homicide to start Oct. 1.
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Laos, Vietnam to complete border demarcation (VT)
... 30 years on, VN-Laos border complete (VNB)
... Thailand confirms new bird flu outbreak [near Laos' border] (AFP/Y)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA



March 18, 2007


Lao-Thai: Bird flu distracts from real killers (Bangkok Post)
The death of a 15-year-old Lao girl from bird flu at the Nong Khai provincial hospital last week marked a tragic and unwanted first for her country. She apparently contracted the H5N1 virus from infected poultry in a suburb of Vientiane in January. Despite their lack of experience, the Lao authorities
Vietnam, Laos agree on border demarcation (VNB)
Vietnam and Laos have completed the demarcation of their common borderline which is 2,000 km in length. At one end is the Vietnam-Laos - China border and at the opposite end is the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia border. The demarcation of the last section of the two countries' border, which is
Reunited -- Father travels from Laos to see daughter he hasn’t seen in 32 years (WCM)
On Feb. 19, Soua Moua of Decatur went to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and she waited patiently for an airplane carrying a very special visitor to arrive. When she saw him, Soua began to cry. Tears streamed down her
Hmong artifacts find a home on the plains (N&O)
Tucked away amid basement boxes and bookshelves in a handsome St. Paul, Minn., house is a treasure trove that scholars say is rapidly becoming the world's largest repository of Hmong books, artifacts, photographs and recordings. There's a valuable qeej, a traditional Hmong instrument that looks
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Lao president to visit Myanmar (People's Daily)




March 17, 2007


Laos Sees Possibility of Tourism in Caves Used During the ‘Secret War’ (NY Times)
A network of caves promises to further illuminate the “secret war” the United States waged in Laos against the North Vietnamese, but may also help open a region in need of tourism revenue. The five caves, in the Viengxay district
Vang Pao's Wife: Farewell, 'Mother To All' (The Fresno Bee)
A traditional multiday, around-the-clock funeral for Xia Thao Vang, the wife of Gen. Vang Pao -- leader of the Hmong people -- began Friday in southeast Fresno. The Hmong knew Thao Vang as "Mother To All." Her funeral is expected to draw thousands of people to Fresno from across the country




March 16, 2007


Tests confirm second bird flu death in Laos (Reuters/AN)
Tests have confirmed the H5N1 bird flu virus killed a 42-year-old woman in Laos who possibly had contact with an infected duck, the Lao Health Ministry and World Health Organisation said on Friday. The woman, the second confirmed bird flu death in landlocked Laos, fell ill in late February and died
Lao-Thai: A bridge too soon (The Nation)
The second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, which connects Mukdahan province with Laos's Savannakhet province, was opened for traffic in January amid high hopes that it would promote regional trade, boost tourism and encourage economic and social integration of the ASEAN in a significant way.
LBF advances Govt, private sector cooperation (VT)
The Second Lao Business Forum met on March 15 to discuss progress in resolving issues facing the private sector and government plans to improve the business environment. The half-day meeting, which was organised by the Committee for Planning and Investment (CPI), in collaboration with
Oroville man played big role in blocking Lao-Hmong refugee deportations (Chico ER)
When a band of desperate Hmong refugees in Thailand locked themselves in their cell to prevent being deported back to communist Laos recently, one of the few outsiders aware of the situation was a young man in Oroville.
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Laos Concerned about Dwindling Forest Areas (VOA)
... Lao-Thai brothel is shut down by police (IC South London)
... Truck weight checks help to maintain roads in Laos (VT)
... Venezuela Deputy Foreign Minister visits Laos (VT)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA



March 15, 2007


Laos: Monsoon whips up amazing waterworld (NZH)
A water buffalo saved me from getting lost in the jungle which surrounds the magnificent Kuang Xi waterfall in Laos. I was sloshing along a muddy track at the top of the falls when suddenly a huge black shape with huge black horns loomed out of the greenery right in front. Sure, water buffalo are supposed to
Laos In Brief: More Foreign Assistance Needed to Cope with Bird Flu (VOA)
Lao authorities say foreign assistances, both financial & technical, are much needed to help them cope with bird flu. Even though Laos already recieved more than 8 million dollars in foreign aids, officials say at least US$ 50 million
Air Force pilot's remains returning home 38 years later -- Waukesha brother of man killed in Laos (GMT)
A sliver of shoulder bone has shed some light on the mystery surrounding the death decades ago of Dennis Danielson's brother. Capt. Benjamin F. Danielson was a 26-year-old Air Force pilot when his plane was shot down
Laos: Authorities heed the public's complaints (VientianeTimes)
District and village authorities are reviewing the implementation of their proposal to cull all poultry in 211 villages of Vientiane , in response to complaints by people who will lose their birds. Complaints among local residents this week spread faster by word-of-mouth than through the media
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Rules change at southern border crossing (VT)
... TM exploring Indochina opportunities (Edge Daily)
... With bridge across Mekong, China seeks trade route (WPW)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA



March 14, 2007


Laos losing its iconic elephant (AFP/G&M)
The elephant population of Laos is shrinking fast, a decline ecologists blame on habitat loss and a trend all too familiar to many humans -- too much work, not enough play.  Ancient Laos was known as Lan Xang, the "Land of One Million Elephants" but today fewer than 2,000 of the animals survive & about
French Agency grants EUR1 million (VientianeTimes)
The Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) has agreed to grant EUR1 million, or about US$1.2 million, to improve the technical advisory project on irrigation in Laos . The agreement was signed yesterday by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Phongsavath Boupha, the French ambassador to
Hmong in U.S.: Shooting victim: I'm not afraid to die (WDH)
Pao Chang bears three permanent reminders of an attempt on his life last fall. The 41-year-old Wausau man is scarred on both arms and on his lower torso, remnants of the day Chor Xiong opened fire on his estranged wife, Padalina Thao, and on Chang with a 12-gauge shotgun. 
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... New private bank to open soon in Laos (VT)
... World Bank supports youth development in Laos (VT)
... Kind Looks to Help Hmong Immigrants (WIZM)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA




March 13, 2007


EGAT board backs study of Bt14-bn Lao plant (Nation, BP)
The Nam Ngieb power plant will be located in Laos and has a capacity of 261 megawatts. It will supply electricity to Thailand in 2014. Japan's electricity generator Kansai has initiated the project, which is estimated to cost US$400 million (Bt14 billion), and invited Egat to participate. Kansai plans to hold
Vientiane uses law in battle against bird flu outbreak (VT or PD)
Vientiane authorities announced yesterday that they would be taking legal measures against poultry owners who do not cooperate with officials in culling their chickens. The announcement was made after officials faced various difficulties when trying to carry out their jobs last week.
Laos, Vietnam further cooperation in telecom and IT (VNB)
The Ministry of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction of Laos and the Ministry of Post and Telematics of Vietnam held a workshop to exchange experiences in the field in Vientiane on Mar. 12. The workshop entitled "State management of post, telecom and information technology"
Laos: Life is a jumbo (Bangkok Post)3/8/07
Senior mahout Thongpetch's eyes turn misty when he speaks about his feelings for Kham Peng, a 23-year-old elephant with lots of personality. "He has been part of our family since he was a baby. I love him just like my own child," said the mahout grooming his charge for the Elephant Festival in
In Brief: Laos Sets Up Special Task Force to Monitor Mining Industry (VOA)
The Lao Govt has set up a special task force to monitor mining investors' compliance with the rules & regulations specified in the contracts. Lao officials say they have so far approved some 118 projects to explore & mine
Hmong say Patriot Act labels them as 'terrorists' (CT)
Leaders of Madison's Hmong community say that the most serious insult against the hundreds of families here is not the words of a University of Wisconsin law professor, but the language of the Patriot Act. Far more damaging than an alleged slur made in a classroom against their culture
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... ASEAN nations to beat extreme weather (VT)
... Laos and Singapore cooperate in education (VT)
... Vietnam, Laos ink protocol on military cooperation (VNB)
... Hmong farmers need home gardeners’ help (King County)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA



March 12, 2007


Students donate computers to schools in Laos (CNA)
Students in Singapore have lent a hand to their fellow learners in Laos. Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) has contributed 100 laptops & desktops to 10 primary schools there, to help make the learning of English a more enjoyable experience for the children. The beneficiaries are part of the Quality School
Laos, Thailand reach agreement on Hmong immigrants (VT)
The Lao and Thai governments will work together to resolve the issue of illegal Lao Hmong migrants in Thailand.  This was according to a joint statement by the Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, and the Thai Foreign Minister, Mr Nitya Pibulsonggram, following
U.S.: Radio station lets Hmong hear news (Herald Times)
Va Yee Hang's radio does not get turned off until he sleeps. Va Yee Hang, 56, of Manitowoc is one of about 19,000 listeners of Hmong Wisconsin Radio in Northeast Wisconsin. "It's a resource to help (the Hmong) out," said Kor Xiong, founder and president of Hmong Wisconsin Radio. "I hear everything
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Laos PM joins ladies on Women's Day (VT)
... Laos, Cuba Parties strengthen cooperation (VT)
... Brunei Officers At 9th ACDM Meeting In Laos (Brunei Direct)
... Vietnamese defense minister visits Laos, Cambodia (PD)
... Hmong: Wiley, law professors react to controversy (Badger Herald)
... Hmong history finds a home (Star Tribune)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA



March 11, 2007


Health: Laos Is On the Bird Flu Map (IPS News)
A spell of good fortune that South-east Asia's poorest country enjoyed for three years ran out this month. Laos has become the 11th country in the world to record a human death from the bird flu virus. The reaction from Vientiane, soon after the death of a 15-year-old girl from a suburb of
Group bringing smiles to Laos (York Daily Record)
The York County Medical Foundation wants to start a fund to repair children's smiles in Laos. In November and early December, 12 doctors and nurses, most from York County, & one trip administrator, traveled on the foundation's first international trip. They went to the landlocked country slightly larger than
Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Devpt. Committee to meet (ND)
The first conference of the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Development Triangle Joint Co-ordination Committee will be held in Pleiku, Central Highlands province of Gia Lai either at the end of March or early April, 2007. According to the Governmental Office's dispatch released on March 8, the expert level




March 10, 2007


Laos: Follow the sacred chant (Gulf News or backup)
The chanting from the Buddhist temple cut through the tranquil evening air. Intrigued, I approached the ornate façade. I saw dozens of young novice monks sitting on the carpeted floor inside. One of them got up and invited me in. I sat spellbound, watching them at song. Once in a while, a couple of them
'Missing' Lao-Hmong girls to be sent back to families (Nation)
Laos has told Thailand that 21 out of the 26 Hmong teenagers who went missing after being secretly deported in December 2005 have been found. Laos Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told his Thai counterpart Nitya Pibulsonggram during a meeting in the Lao capital yesterday that all of
Joint border committee to handle Lao-Hmong problem (Nation)
Thailand and Laos agreed to assign a joint border committee to handle problems of more than 7,000 Hmong migrants being sheltered and detained in Thailand, Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram said Friday. The issue of Hmong illegal migrants become controversy for the two neighbors as
Hmong: Xiong gets some flak for tie votes in his absence (FB)
Fresno City Council members who found themselves deadlocked on several issues at their meeting this week jokingly chided their new colleague, Blong Xiong, for calling in sick when he could have been the deciding vote. The seven-member council registered four 3-3 votes on issues ranging from new
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Vietnamese and Lao procurators increase co-operation (ND)



March 09, 2007


Laos bird flu spreads south (Reuters/TVNZ, BP or  Radio Australia)
The deadly bird flu virus is spreading into southern provinces of impoverished, landlocked Laos after outbreaks near Vientiane, a government spokesman said on Friday. Officials planned to cull up to 200,000 fowl to stamp out confirmed and suspected outbreaks in the southern provinces of
Bird flu suspected in Savannakhet (VientianeTimes)
Authorities in Savannakhet province announced yesterday that they would cull 35,000 poultry within two days, after samples taken from dead poultry tested positive for the H5 type of bird flu. They began the culling in four areas of 25 villages in Kaysone Phomvihane district marked as red zones, and
Illegal logging continues in Laos (Vientiane Times)
Illegal logging has become a critical issue in many provinces of Laos, creating obstacles for the country's efforts to balance its development process with the need to protect the environment. Authorities have confiscated some illegally obtained timber, & sentenced offenders according
Lao explorers reach Vietnam on Italian Scooters (NM)
The Vientiane Scooter Club recently conducted its annual rally from Laos to Vietnam, a journey which saw many of its members rediscover their origins. A group of urban middle class Lao nationals of Vietnamese and Chinese descent, the club members are driven by a desire to find their own authentic
Laos says 21 missing Hmong youth repatriated from Thailand found with relatives (AP/AOL or AP/IHT)
Almost two dozen ethnic Hmong youths unaccounted for since being repatriated from Thailand to Laos 15 months ago have been found with their relatives, a Laotian foreign ministry official said Friday.
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Thailand and Laos announces joint border agreement (TN)
... Laos: Ladies spend Women's Day with their families (VT)
... Huay Nam Khao Lao-Hmongs Call For Help (VOA)
... U.S.: Some shine, others don't in Hmong-prof dispute (Capital Times) 
... Hmong cultural exhibit captures interest of District 196 students (WO)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA



March 08, 2007


Laos teenager dies from bird flu (BBC News or AOL/AP)
A 15-year-old girl from Laos has died from the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu, becoming the country's first official fatality from the disease. The Laos health ministry said the girl, who lived near the capital Vientiane, died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in neighbouring Thailand. 
Laos confirms first human death from H5N1 bird flu (AFP/Y)
Laos on Thursday announced its first confirmed human death from the H5N1 bird flu strain, a 15-year-old girl, days after reporting that the virus was believed to have killed an adult woman. The Lao health ministry "has confirmed the death of the first person announced positive for the H5N1 avian
Laos wipes out poppy farming (New Straits Times)
In 1998, Laos was the world’s third largest producer of illicit drugs, which included heroin and opium. The same year, the government began its battle against the farmers and traffickers to eradicate the problem at the source. Laos had 26,800ha of poppy farms. Last year, it had just 1,800ha.
Elephants carry hopes of Lao eco-tourism (France 24)
The elephant population of Laos is shrinking fast, a decline ecologists blame on habitat loss and a trend all too familiar to many humans -- too much work, not enough play. Ancient Laos was known as Lan Xang, the "Land of One Million Elephants" but today fewer than 2,000 of the animals survive and
Laos: EU announces further development grants (VT)
The European Union (EU) will grant EUR32 million (US$38.4 million) for development in Laos through its Multi Annual Indicative programme for 2007-2010.  The grant was announced during the 4 th Session of the Lao government and European Commission Joint Committee Meeting, held
Asia Foundation Opens First Shelter for Women, Children in Laos (U.S. Dept. of State)3/1/2007
The first safe shelter in Laos for women and children who are victims of domestic violence and trafficking opened in January 2006, with support from The Asia Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization devoted to Asia's
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Laos: Women approach summit of success (VT)
... Lao-Hmong returnees urge friends in Thailand to return (VT)
... Lao-American Society of Atlanta held 3rd annual charity ball (VOA)
... Viet, Lao Provinces Cooperate In Agriculture (AsiaPulse)
... Hmong refugee students teach Einstein seventh-graders about their ...
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA





March 07, 2007


Lao border talks progressing (Nation)
Thailand and Laos have made progress on the demarcation of land boundaries and hope to complete the task by the end of next year, ministers of the two countries said here yesterday. The two countries also plan to finish the demarcation of the 1,100-kilometre Mekong River boundary by 2010.
More grants from Japan to Laos (VientianeTimes)
The Japanese government agreed on Tuesday to grant about US$2.4 million via the Asia Development Bank (ADB) to implement two projects in Laos. The grant comes from two sources - the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction for Catalysing Micro-Finance for the Poor, which is contributing US$1.98 million
Breaking with tradition - Stout’s 2007 Outstanding Woman of Color blazes new trails for Hmong women (DCN)
In the sunny Office of Multicultural Student Services at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Mai Kao Xiong sits at her computer, a calm, articulate, confident young woman, who is awed by the honor recently bestowed upon
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Laos: Bird flu control needs public cooperation (VT)
... Laos: One-stop service for SME to begin (VT)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA



March 06, 2007


Laos to open guerrilla caves to tourists (AAP/Age or AP/AOL)
Laos has opened up to tourism a complex of caves that once sheltered communist guerrilla leaders from the most intense bombing campaign ever unleashed by the United States. Initially only five of the caves will be open to the public, the Laos National Tourism Administration (LNTA) said.
Laos border problems slowly being fixed (Nation)
The Joint Boundary Commission meets tomorrow and Thursday at the ancient Lao capital of Luang Prabang to review remaining border disputes. Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram and counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith jointly chair the commission. The commission must determine unsettled
Laos: Companies now able to file taxes online (VT)
Company accountants in Vientiane will now be able to use the Internet to submit their taxes online, as the Vientiane Finance Department declared the new service officially open yesterday. The Division of Finance of Vientiane hosted an opening ceremony for the e-tax filing service for medium and large
Lao-American: Woman died with love, thanks (Fresno Bee)
From seed to harvest, Boaphan Douangmeechit grew rice and vegetables in Laos until war and repression forced her family to flee to Thailand.She wound up living in Fresno, a city unknown to her in the years she worked her family's small plot in Laos. Mrs. Douangmeechit, 63, a homemaker in Laos
Chinese by birth, Thai by culture; Laotians are his passion (BP)
The 57-year-old Siengsukon, director of the Lao School of Ministry at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., also is an Asian missionary strategist and church planter for the North American Mission Board and the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists.
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... British express interest in oil exploration in Laos (VT) 
... Laos: Bird flu suspected in woman's death (VT) 
... Vietnam Gets More Lands to Plant Rubber Trees in Laos (VOA)
... Laos, Vietnam strengthen ties (VNB)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA



March 05, 2007


Woman dies from bird flu in Laos (BBC News or Reuters)
A 42-year-old woman has become the first person to die from avian influenza in Laos, officials have said.  Authorities said they were awaiting further tests to see if the woman was infected with the H5N1 strain.  The woman lived in a village near the capital, Vientiane, where the H5N1 virus has been found in
Laos confirms 1st human death from bird flu (Kyodo NS)
Laos confirmed Monday that a woman who died Sunday was infected with the H5N1 strain of bird flu virus, marking the country's 1st human fatality from the virus. FM spokesman Yong Chanthalangsy said laboratory tests done in Vientiane, the Lao capital, confirmed that the 42-year-old woman who
Laos: Newspaper reports fresh outbreak of bird flu in poultry in south (AP/News)
A fresh outbreak of bird flu in poultry has been discovered in Laos, a newspaper reported Monday, just one day after a woman believed to be the country's second bird flu victim died. More than 1,200 chickens died in
French designer weaves past and present in Laos textile workshop (AP/IHT)
French textile designer Anou Thammavong left his birthplace of Laos when he was only a child. When he returned there six years ago, he was hoping to find his roots. To his surprise, he discovered his calling: to revive his
Hmong: Kaplan's remarks need clarification (Badger Herald)
A veritable Pandora’s Box of ethnic strife has been opened in the wake of law professor Leonard Kaplan’s comments. It seems that on one side of the rather salacious argument are those who would insist that Kaplan’s comments — while brutish and inelegant — are innocuous and pertinent remarks that
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Asia debates development goals (VT) 
... Second case of human bird flu suspected (VT) 
... Asean seeks to narrow development gap (VT)Laos bird flu spreads south 
... Hmong in U.S.: Three injured in rollover crash (SP)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA



March 04, 2007


Bird flu victim dies in Laos (AFP/Yahoo!)
A 42-year-old Laos woman believed to have contracted the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus died in hospital in the capital Vientiane on Sunday, the World Health Organisation said. "The patient passed away at approximately 14:30 today," the WHO said in statement issued jointly with the Laos health ministry.
Suspected second human case of bird flu in Laos (Nation)
Laos may have suffered its second human case of the deadly H5N1 virus after a 42-year-old woman was hospitalised for bird flu-like symptoms, the World Health Organisation said on Sunday. "It is very likely it is H5N1," said Dida Connor, a WHO spokeswoman. On Friday, tests at the National Centre
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... Laos says sick woman probably country's 2nd known bird flu victim (AP)
... Are you the winner from the Laos Survey Incentive? (eTB)



March 03, 2007


Thailand, Laos step up anti-drug fight (Bangkok Post, MCOT)
Thailand and Laos must step up their cooperation on fighting drug trafficking along the shared border as drug-related crimes are on the rise, Thailand's supreme commander Boonsang Niempradit said Friday. Speaking after returning from the Thai-Lao border town of Chong Mek in the Northeastern
Lao-Thai: Savoring the view from Southeast Asia (IHT/BG)
Tourism is Thailand's chief hard currency earner. And nominally communist Laos sees no harm in luring farangs of any ideology to this otherworldly green land of meandering rivers and golden temples & relieving them of some currency that's worth more than the local kip. Southeast Asians also enjoy
Hmong in U.S.: Large family did more than necessary for its new Habitat home (Wausau DH)
A home built by Mosinee High School students and Habitat for Humanity volunteers will be dedicated Sunday. The 6-bedroom home at 533 Grossman Drive in Schofield will be the new residence for Yee Xiong Lao, her husband
Professor tells colleagues he was misquoted on Hmong comments (WBAY)
A University of Wisconsin law professor says he's preparing a written response to the criticism he's received over comments in a class that were seen as disparaging Hmong people. Professor Leonard Kaplan told




March 02, 2007


Laos PM rallies defence of protected forests (VT)
Cutting trees outside of the quotas is dangerous, as it tips the balance the government tries to measure out between forestry and ecology, Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh told a national forestry meeting on Thursday. Logging is a big concern in our country,” he said. “Our protected areas are
Hmong taking their place at the table (Wisconsine SJ)
Second-generation Hmong and those known as the 1.5 generation - they were born in Laos and moved to the United States at a young age - are becoming increasingly vocal and visible in standing up for their heritage and demanding respect. "(The older generation) is beginning to pass the torch on
Laotian American Writers Series (AAP)
Join in on an exciting evening with the final reading of the highly successful Hmong and Laotian American Writers Series on Friday, March 9th at 7:00pm at the Loft Literary Center, 1011 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis. The event is free, and includes refreshments and other surprises. Donations are accepted but not necessary. Noukou Thao and Ka Vang will perform “Hmong
Rest of stories about Laos from other sources
... ANZ banking group buys stake in VCB (VT)
... One-way system fails to materialize (VT)
... VN, Laos, Thailand trade ministers plan conference (VN)
... Hmong youth meet with Mayor Rybak (AAP)
... Other stories from VientianeTimes  Need Subscription
... Other stories from Laos NA



March 01, 2007


Laos Denies US Report of Clashes (VOA)
Laos denies reports of fightings in the US embassy travel warning issued last week, but acknowledges it has reinforced troops in the Vang Vieng area as a security precautionary measure. In a travel advisory posted on the US embassy web site in Vientiane, the State Department last Friday warned
Australian bank set to acquire Laos bank (RA or Reuters/Y!)
Australia's ANZ Bank has announced it will acquire a majority shareholding in Vientiane Commercial Bank Limited in Laos. The acquisition follows negotiations lasting 15 months. ANZ will pay $US9 million for a 60 per cent stake in the bank, which is the only privately owned commercial bank in Laos
Laos: Police welcome public's grievances (VientianeTimes)
The Ministry of Public Security has punished several police officers found guilty of misusing their powers, in response to people's grievances. “Some of them have been ordered to leave their jobs, and others have been moved to new positions after they were found gui