YOU NOT COMPARE LAOS TO ANOTHER COUNTRY OK . LAOS IN POOR COUNTRY U KNOW THAT. U THINK THE SATELLITE IS FREE. PUTO. YOU STILL DON'T HAVE EDUCATION EVEN U LIVING IN THE RICH COUNTRY U STILL HAVE LOW EDUCATION. I TELL U BEFORE 1975. I DON'T SEE ANNY LAOS GOVERNER FINISH COLLEGE, BUT, SEE SOME FINISH HIGH-SCHOOL. FROM HANOI OR SAIGON. IF U DON'T WANT TO WATCH LAO TV DON'T WATCH,BUT DO NOT BLAME ON THEM OK. OLD MAN. THANK YOU !.
YOU NOT COMPARE LAOS TO ANOTHER COUNTRY OK . LAOS IN POOR COUNTRY U KNOW THAT. U THINK THE SATELLITE IS FREE. PUTO. YOU STILL DON'T HAVE EDUCATION EVEN U LIVING IN THE RICH COUNTRY U STILL HAVE LOW EDUCATION. I TELL U BEFORE 1975. I DON'T SEE ANNY LAOS GOVERNER FINISH COLLEGE, BUT, SEE SOME FINISH HIGH-SCHOOL. FROM HANOI OR SAIGON. IF U DON'T WANT TO WATCH LAO TV DON'T WATCH,BUT DO NOT BLAME ON THEM OK. OLD MAN. THANK YOU !.
http://freelao.tripod.com/id72.htm KHAMSAY SOUPHANOUVONG AND A REVOLUTION THAT NEVER CAME By eDemocrat
The nostalgia that the Lao people have for the royal family and members of the aristocracy ... remains strong as ever. Despite Khamsay Souphanouvong's ideological attachment and allegiance to the Communist party in Lao, many Lao expatriates seems to be willing welcome the new defector amongst its fold. Any defector from Vientiane now tends to expose the cruelty of the regime, while at the same time exposing the frailty of the ruling elite. After his return from the Soviet Union, Khamsay climbed to the pinnacle of the political structure of communist Lao. He became a Member of the Central Committee of Lao People's Revolution Party (LPRP) and held a ministerial post that oversaw millions of dollars. In the mid 1980s, when Kaysone Phomvihane instituted the reform campaign known as "chintanakan mai" or new thinking, Khamsay fell out of favor among the oligarchs. The case of Khamsay's loss of power and influence is nothing special in Lao politics. After the death of Khaysone Phomvihane, his wife---Mrs. Thongvinh Phomvihane---was immediately embroiled in lawsuits and allegations of trafficking narcotics between Lao and Vietnam. Thus, when Khamsay lost his post, it appeared to be more than a political reshuffling. Khamsay was found to be in the wrong side of the equation. Having been educated in the Soviet Union, he might have thought that by taking a pro-Russia stand would secure his political foundation among the communist cadres. After all, Russia was the superpower of the eastern block. By all account Khamsay's political thinking was sensible at the time. However, after the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1980s, Russia became increasingly less influential over the politics of Lao. Foreign aids were cut. Not having sufficient fund to keep its contingent of advisers in Lao, many Russian military advisers were recalled home. Foreign aids from Russia were dwindling while the Lao Communist Party increasingly turned to Hanoi for guidance and protection. Many Lao intellectuals who had been educated in Russia or the former Soiviet Unions appeared to be more moderate and forward looking in there thinking. Khamsay would not have been an exception. It would not be surprising if Khamsay had indeed foreseen the impending doom of the Soviet Unions while he was studying there, and thus aligned his political thinking accordingly upon his return to Vientiane. If that had been the case, it is more of an irony than fate that the oligarchs in Vientiane beat him to the race by seizing the opportunity of the day and quickly turn to Hanoi for support and guidance fearing that Vientiane will follow Moscow. The Bangkok Post and The Nation wrote that Khamsay left Lao incognito probably because he could not take the embarrassment after having lost his influence and power in Vientiane. That may be true, but such reasoning does not tell us the whole picture of politics in Lao. Recall that Mrs. Thongvinh Phomvihane became immediately embroiled with lawsuits alleging that she stole millions of dollars from some government cooperative enterprises. Moreover, there were also allegations of drug trafficking against her. In the case of Khamsay, there is more to it that just having lost his job at the Central Committee of Party. This is a case of an ex officio who fled from failed reform efforts. Politics in Lao very much depends on its allies. During the 19060s and 1970s, the leadership in Vientiane, so too in Sam Neu, closely watched every move made by the US. In particular, the secret negotiations between Le Duc Tho of North Vietnam and Henry Kissinger concerning the Vietnamization process and the eventual domino falling of Indochina. In the late 1990s, this domino mentality remains etched in the thinking of all Lao intellectuals. Khamsay would probably thought----and sensibly so---that the down fall of communism in Moscow would spell similar chapters in Vientiane and Hanoi. After all Lao s neighbor to the south, Cambodia, had changed almost overnight with the restoration of democracy---albeit tenuous, and the return of the monarchy. However, this time proxy politics of Indochina is no longer dominated by bipolar politics of the late 1970s. The fall of the Soviet Unions and other fraternal countries of the eastern Blocs did not deter the socialist commitment of the die hard revolutionaries of Indochina. It appears that China and Vietnam remain two influential countries holding Lao under its ideological spells. In this case of Khamsay, the day of student uprising and younger intellectuals, including those from the west and those in Lao and had been educated in the Eastern Bloc, never came. Lao students in Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, etc. who saw political dissidents unfolding the tricolors over a tank in front of the Russian Dumas had high hope that the three white headed elephant in red back ground would once again be flown in Vientiane. However, this hope was quickly dashed when the oligarchs in Vientiane tighten their reign. The day of the nouveau revolution in Vientiane never came. That that dream for a better for Lao shall never die. The cry for freedom must be heard. The call for liberty must be answered. Be it dissident by choice or defector by circumstances, the Lao people must work toward restoring democracy to Lao and its people. Come, my Lao compatriots. Awake from your long nights of lumbering sleep and look at what is going on in your country today. Communists are fighting among themselves. Some of the diehard revolutionaries cannot even sleep in their own house and must seek shelter in far-flung quarters of the globe. The current situation in Lao must remind some of us of the old days of the 1960s 0r 1970s of communist China when chaos replaced order. Listen. Can you hear it? Can you hear the humming cries of our people to bring those who flee from justice to the bench and bar of law to be judged for their transgressions? You will almost hear it if you allow yourselves to listen for these cries are louder than the call of the million elephants of Lao. Speak. Speak amongst yourselves about the destiny of your country and people. The killing has long ended, but the raping and plundering are in earnest. We all hope that communism will fall in Lao and when it does, what will be left for us to see. Billions of dollars in foreign debts. Decayed physical infrastructure. Dilapidated institutional framework. More than 70% of our rain forest destroyed. These pressing issues deserving your utmost attention will go unnoticed and questions go unanswered unless you speak up and make known your love and concerns for your country and people. Think. Yes, think about your future and the future of your country. Every Lao expatriates has his or her future inextricably tied to Lao. It is unthinkable to think that communism is a victimless crime against the Lao people. In the course of our history, we had made conscious decision of which path to take. Many had chosen to follow the path to Socialism. For them, to kill a thousand for the sake of saving the seat of a few is worth doing. There are also those among us who chose the road to democracy. As the night of tyranny began to hover over Lao, we fled to safety and had been since sheltered by the free world. Despite having lived in relative security of the free West, we must not forget those who we left behind. We must listen to their cry for freedom. We must speak for them when their ability to cry in protest has been muted by brute force. We must think of their plight because their destiny and ours are inseparable.
The ADL at CERD Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination The ADL at the 80th Session of United Nations Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination by Marcus Wiese(CERD) On February 27– 29, 2012 the Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination of the United Nation on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) invites several Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) includi...ng the Alliance for Democracry in Laos (ADL) to discuss the report of the government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) on the human rights situation in Laos. : The meeting took place at the Palais Wilso in Geneva, Switzerland. The ADL delegation included: Mrs. Dr. Bounthone Chanthalavong- Wiese, President of the ADL, Mr. Dr. Khamlay Mounivongs, Vice–President, Chief-Secretary Mr. Oun Saypharath,Vice-President : Mr. Marcus Wiese, Public Relations & Press Affairs, Mr. Hoth Douangvichith, Political Committee, Mr.Olivier Douangvichith, Committee on International Relations, Mr. Tiao Sisgna Nachampassack, Senior Advisor, Mr.Bouakèo Phengphachanh The meeting took place at the Palais Wilso in Geneva, Switzerland.
The ADL delegation included: Mrs. Dr. Bounthone Chanthalavong- Wiese, President of the ADL, Mr. Dr. Khamlay Mounivongs, Vice–President, Chief-Secretary Mr. Oun Saypharath,Vice-President, ADL France Mr. Marcus Wiese, Public Relations & Press Affairs, Mr. Hoth Douangvichith, Political Committee, Mr.Olivier Douangvichith, Committee on International Relations, Mr. Tiao Sisgna Nachampassack, Senior Advisor,Mr. Bouakèo Phengphachanh The delegation of the government of the Lao PDR numbered 13 people including: Mr. Chaleun Yiapaoheu, Minister of Justice, Mr.Yong Chanthalangsy, Ambassador of the Lao PDR to the UN offices and other int. Organizations in Geneva, and from various legal, human rights, and ethnic agencies and offices, Mr. Khamsao Kaysong, Mr. Ouan Phommachack, Mr. Khonepheng Thammavong, Mr. Sosonephit Phanouvong, Mr. Nalonglith Norasing, Mrs. Yangxia Lee, Mr. Vongvilay Thiphalangsy, Mr. Douangmany Ngotsyoudom, Mr. Phasouk Nanthalangsy, Mr. Sengpraathid Snoukphone, Mrs. Xayprani Chanthalangsy.
The ADL delegation was led by the ADL- president, Dr. Bounthone Chanthalavong-Wiese. During the meeting, CERD members held separate sessions with. The ADL produced and presented a detailed report about the Situation in Laos. The ADL pointed out that, the Lao PDR government has made and continues to incur violations against several Articles of the International Covenant on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). On the basis of its findings relating to violations of human rights in the Lao PDR, ADL provides in its as an alternative report to that of the government, ADL detailed the major violations that have been very significant for the population in general but particularly serious in terms of racial discrimination ADL stressed for the Committee that there is no political freedom in Laos. There is still an authoritarian regime in Laos with only one communist party, known as the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party which has been ruling the country since 1975. There are no free elections. There is no freedom of expression in Laos. All civil rights were mentioned in the 1991 National Constitution but in practice the Lao authorities apply them arbitrarily, differently and discriminately. The ADL complained to Committee about the Lao government’s repression and suppression of different ethnic groups, Lao-Hmong in particular and others. The right for housing is restricted by the special treaties, long-term contracts and leases with foreign interests and powers and by the dictates of the special economy-zones. These treaties are made by the government without the people’s participation in the decision-making process. In this connection, ADL cited the special treaties with Vietnam and China. These treaties provide the guaranty for Vietnam to control Laos and give lands to China and Vietnam for a complete exploitation. Ethnic expulsions from ancestral homes and ethnic cleansing are the result. Following the ADL President’s statement before the committee, Mr. Oliver Duangvichith, provided information on the serious unemployment and the prostitution problem in Laos. Dr. Khamlay Mounivongs then reported to the Committee on the worsening problem relating to the trafficking Lao women and young girls to Thailand. In addition, the ADL brought to the attention CERD violations against several articles. Article No 4 a: To prohibit the superiority of a race. Vietnamese are given priority to Lao people in in key areas public administration and policy. This is a result of the political tactic of the Lao communist party to hold on to power. To maintain good relationships with Vietnam they sacrifice their own people. Article No 5 d: Right to civil rights. There is no freedom of expression in Laos, this is ‘guaranteed’ in the Constitution but in practice those who have tried to peacefully make their voice heard still remain in imprisoned for long years now. The ADL informed CERD that it would stand ready as a witness to testify for these violations.
On Tuesday 28 the delegation of the Lao government has to come to the committee to stay for answers. An attempt of intimidation of the ADL delegation by a photographer of the Lao authorities unfortunately failed! The delegation of the Lao PDR gave a report about the situation in Laos, but because of ADL’s intervention the Committee, the report does not correspond to the facts of what really has happened and continues to happen in the Lao PDR. The government’s delegation had to answer the serious and probing questions the ADL has raised with the CERD members. In particular, the questions about corruption, ethnic cleansing and the special treaties made the delegation noticeably nervous. An Expert regretted the lack of definition of racial discrimination in the legal system. This same question was submitted by the ADL to the experts. The ethnic minority schools were referred to by another Expert, who requested assurances that those schools did not hide an attempt to assimilate ethnic minorities. She asked how the subject of history and the multi-ethnic nature of the country were taught to children. Regis de Goutte, Country Rapporteur for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, regretted the long period since 2005 when the State party had not submitted any periodic reports. He also noticed that the basic freedoms in Laos have to be more developed as necessary. CERD recommends the Government of Laos to establish a national human rights commission. The NGO’s are not the enemies of the Lao PDR, they are observers and critics. The UN will support the Lao PDR to reach these aims. CERD will observe Laos by their own employees
Official report of the CERD:click here ADL report for CERD:click here