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First Chinese Language Newspaper Soon to Be Launched in Laos

KPL Director General Sounthone Khanthavong (left) next to President of Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Vientiane Boulapha Santikhongkha (photo credit: KPL)
KPL Director General Sounthone Khanthavong (left) next to President of Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Vientiane Boulapha Santikhongkha (photo credit: KPL)

The Lao News Agency (Khaosan Pathet Lao or KPL) has signed a joint agreement with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Vientiane to co-operate the first ever Chinese-language newspaper.

The newspaper will be published twice a month to facilitate access to reliable and accurate information for the numerous Chinese nationals living in Laos, especially in the capital city.

KPL Director General Sounthone Khanthavong (left) next to President of Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Vientiane Boulapha Santikhongkha (photo credit: KPL)
KPL Director General Sounthone Khanthavong (left) next to President of Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Vientiane Boulapha Santikhongkha (photo credit: KPL)

A signing ceremony for the Chinese newspaper took place on the 2nd of February in Vientiane Capital on the sidelines of the Laos-China Belt and Road Cooperation Forum, Feb 2-3, between the Director General of the Lao News Agency Sounthone Khanthavong and President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Vientiane Boualapha Santikhongkha.

Source: KPL

Lao Casino Operator Zhao Wei Rejects US Sanctions

Zhao Wei, the Chinese national who operates the Kings Romans Casino in Laos, has rejected the US Treasury Department’s claims that his organization is involved in illegal activities.

Zhao issued a statement in writing and by video on Saturday in both Chinese and Lao languages, calling the US stipulation “a unilateral, extraterritorial, unreasonable and hegemonic act of ulterior motives and malicious rumor-mongering.”

“This action has severely mislead international public opinion and created unnecessary worries among some investors and tourists,” the statement went on.

“As an investor, all of my own activities and those of my staff and companies in all countries and areas are legal, ordinary business operations supervised by the legal authorities of the relevant countries that have not harmed the interests of any country or individual,” said Zhao.

The response by Zhao comes after a designation by the US Treasury Department on January 30 declaring the Zhao Wei network a “transnational criminal organization.” The department then imposed sanctions on Zhao himself, alongside three of his partners and companies in Laos, Thailand, and Hong Kong.

“The Zhao Wei crime network engages in an array of horrendous illicit activities, including human trafficking and prostitution, drug trafficking, and wildlife trafficking,” said Sigal Mandelker, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence when the sanctions were imposed.

zhao wei response Chinese
Zhao Wei official response in Chinese

 

Source: Tholakhong News Agency

Buffalo Kills Two in Phonhong District

buffalo kills two in phonhong

A buffalo has killed two residents of Phonhong District, Vientiane Province, in a sudden and unprecedented attack.

The incident occurred as two farmers attempted to herd the buffalo into its enclosure yesterday.

Residents say the animal, which had always been quite docile, was agitated for unknown reasons, refusing to enter its enclosure. The buffalo became aggressive and gored both its owner and another nearby resident who had come to his aid.

The animal has since been destroyed to avoid further incidents or loss of life.

buffalo kills two in phonhong district

Photo: Latsamy Thongsavath

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laos Borrows Money from Hungary for Development Projects

Last Tuesday, the Lao government and the Hungarian National Bank signed a USD$160 million loan agreement.

The loan will be used to develop three projects: a population management ​project that will involve ID issuance modernization (USD$25 million), an agricultural development project to promote land management, grass farming and technology application for agricultural purposes, and food safety improvement among others in Vientiane Capital, Luang Prabang, Vientiane Province, Xaysomboun, Xayaboury and Xieng Khuang (USD$35 million) and a water source protection project that will promote the treatment of waste water released by households and industrial factories (USD$100 million).

The signing ceremony was attended by Finance Vice Minister Thipphakone Chanthavongsa and Hungarian Export-Import Bank Deputy Director Nemedi Varga. Vice Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Phouangparisak Pravongviengkham, and Deputy Mayor of Vientiane Capital Keophilavanh Aphaylath were also in attendance.

Source: KPL

Lao Inmates Break Out of Cambodian Prison

Lao Prisoners Break Out Stung Treng Prison

Five Lao prisoners made an attempted escape from Stung Treng provincial prison on Saturday, but were recaptured before venturing far.

Security guards fired warning shots into the air as the five prisoners, all from Laos, broke through an exit gate. The inmates made their escape attempt during shower time as guards were not paying close attention, according to reports.

“They ran from the prison at 2:45PM and took their chance to make an escape when we let them have a bath,” said prison director Chhim Thida. “There were a total of five inmates. All of them were from Laos and had committed drug-related offences. Three have already been convicted, while the other two inmates are awaiting trial.”

Security guards fired warning shots into the air which stopped the escapees in their tracks.

Laos year a Lao national and four Cambodian inmates were also caught attempting to escape from the ceiling of their cell.

Photo: Khmer Times

Calling Mekong Citizens to Participate in the International Conference Ahead of 3rd MRC Summit

Since the launch of its official website for the 3rd Summit and International Conference, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) has so far seen a high number of registrations.

The Summit, to be held on 5 April 2018 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, will bring together the Prime Ministers of the member countries namely Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam as well as high-level delegations from MRC Dialogue Partners, China and Myanmar, to address the prevailing challenges and optimizing opportunities facing the Mekong River and its people.

The Summit aims to strengthen cooperation and understanding under the slogan ‘One Mekong, One Spirit.’

Before the Summit, a major International Conference will be held on 2-3 April.

“The Conference will provide an opportunity for the Mekong stakeholders from NGOs, academia, the private sector, and other river basin organizations in the region and around the world to exchange perspectives, best practice, and cutting-edge ideas which will be delivered to the Summit of leaders,” said Anoulak Kittikhoun, MRC’s Chief Strategist and spokesperson.

To maintain the spirit of open dialogue, the MRC is calling for papers and presentations from international and regional partners and stakeholders.

The Mekong River Commission was established with the signing of the Mekong Agreement in 1995 to manage the Mekong River basin in a sustainable and equitable manner through dialogue and cooperation. It is a treaty-based inter-governmental body, with over 60 years of Mekong cooperation history, that serves as a unique platform for water diplomacy through basin-wide strategies, procedures, guidelines and extensive knowledge base for sound decision making. Its uniqueness also lies in its long history of openness, stakeholder engagement and partnerships from around the world.

The 3rd MRC Summit therefore will focus on the theme of ‘Joint Efforts and Partnerships to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the Mekong River Basin.’

Laos Golden Triangle Casino Hit with US Sanctions

Kings Romans Casino Laos

The US Treasury officially placed the Kings Romans Casino based in Laos on its organised crime sanctions blacklist on Tuesday, naming it a hub for the trafficking of humans, drugs, and wildlife.

The sanctions involve a group based in Hong Kong, the Kings Romans Company, which operates casinos.

One of the sites operated by the company is a well known casino located in Laos, in its Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, on the Mekong River near Thailand and Myanmar.

“The Zhao Wei crime network engages in an array of horrendous illicit activities, including human trafficking and prostitution, drug trafficking, and wildlife trafficking,” said Sigal Mandelker, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

Tourists who have visited the casino report a menu full of protected species at the casino’s restaurant, including bear, tiger, and pangolin.

The US Treasury named four individuals as key players:

Abbas “Basu” Eberahim, 29, an Australian who owns residences in Kooringal in Australia, Chiang Rai, Thailand, and the Golden Triangle Economic Zone in Laos.

Nat Rungtawankhiri, a Thai national aged 41 and resident Chiang Rai.

Guiqin Su aka Zhao Su, or Madame Su, 69, a Hong Kong resident with Chinese nationality.

Zhao Wei, 66, a dual Chinese-Macau national and husband of Madame Su.

“All assets of those designated that are under US jurisdiction are frozen, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them,” it said.

“Since 2014, Thai, Lao, and Chinese authorities have seized large narcotics shipments that have been traced to the Kings Romans Casino.”

Photo: Chiang Rai Times

Manivone Vorachack Awarded French National Order of Merit

French Ambassador Present French Order of Merit to Vorachack
French Ambassador Present French Order of Merit to Vorachack

Earlier last week, the French government awarded Manivone Vorachack, the national order of merit.

Committed to the development of Laos

For more than 20 years, Manivone Vorachack has been working to reduce poverty and develop rural areas in Laos through her work with the “Cooperation Committee with Laos” (CCL) and has progressively risen through the ranks of the association to take over the management of the NGO in 2005. As a recognized partner in the development of Laos, since its creation, the NGO has carried out projects of agricultural development, health or nutrition in nearly 300 villages for the benefit of more than 100,000 people.

Manivone Vorachack (center)
Manivone Vorachack (center)

A model for the younger generations in Laos

On the occasion of the ceremony, the French Ambassador to Laos Claudine Ledoux welcomed Manivone Vorachack as “a model for the younger generations in Laos and especially for young women.” Committed to gender equality in Laos, Manivone Vorachack has participated actively in several international conferences on this issue. Anxious to impart her skills and knowledge, she founded the local association SLKA (supported financially by France) dedicated to sharing knowledge in development.

Training in French language and skills

Ambassador Ledoux recognized Vorachack’s excellent mastery of the French language. Following her language courses at the University of Laos, Vorachack has strengthened her skills in the field of humanitarian and development by following diploma courses in France and Switzerland. At the end of her appreciation speech, Vorachack expressed her attachment to the French language.

About CCL

A French NGO based in Vientiane, the CCL works to reduce poverty in Laos.

Since 1980, CCL has been conducting rural development programs in mountain areas in northern Laos to improve the livelihoods of farming families by targeting, in particular, minority ethnic groups and isolated women.

Currently CCL is implementing projects in the provinces of Phongsaly (Nhot Ou District), Luang Namtha (Sing and Long) and Oudomxay (La, Nga and Namor). The projects aim to improve the food and nutrition security of the upland populations of these districts, mainly composed of Khmu, Akha, Yao and Kheu communities.

Through these projects, the CCL works specifically to improve the management of natural resources, develop sustainable agro-ecological systems and develop the commercial channels of non-timber forest products in particular, wild tea and cardamom.