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National Assembly Opposes Sole Judge Court Proceedings

court
court

The National Assembly has voiced their opinion, opposing just one solitary judge presiding over court cases, big or small.

During the ongoing NA session on Wednesday, National Assembly members declared their stance at the debate on the amendment, emphasizing that having a solitary judge overseeing a case is an easy path to unjustified judgments.

The draft amendment stipulates that only one judge is required to sit for deliberation on small cases – those cases relating to minor economic value or cases in which the plaintiff or defendant pleads guilty – however, the draft does not stipulate what constitutes a “small” case.

Assembly member for Phongsaly province, Mr Chansy Sengsomphou, declared that he would like a minimum of three to five judges to sit in court, with a maximum of five to seven judges.

“To ensure this theory complies with the actual circumstances, I would like many parties to participate in the process, to give their views and opinions so this will be more scientific and there will be clear translations of the law and the issues,” he stated.

Mr Chansy reminded participants in the debate, that mistakes have occurred in past judgments and court rulings, while insufficient personnel has been claimed by the sector as the cause for these decisions every time.

To prevent loopholes from being created by other officials, National Assembly member for Vientiane province, Ms Buavanh Thammavong, asked for clarification on what was considered a “small case”.

She was also in full support of Mr Chansy’s notion of collective decision making, agreeing that the current number of personnel was inadequate and suggesting that number should increase as personnel development continues.

An Assembly member for Oudomxay province, Mr Khamsaphon Xayavong, stated that he wanted the entire components of the court to be in place for any lawsuits, regardless of being ‘big’ or ‘small’.

He explained that people would be uncertain as to which cases would be classified as small, pointing out that even though three judges have sat for previous lawsuits, rulings were still sometimes in doubt.

“A single judge will bring public criticism and will cause people to distrust the justice system,” he said, adding “I propose that we remove this stipulation, which allows a single judge, from this law.”

NA member for Attapeu province, Mr Leth Xayaphone, spoke about the development of the law and regulations to facilitate the justice process and ensure justice for all parties.

However, he added that the new stipulation that allows a solitary judge, was against the concept of collective decision making and other principles of trial procedures.

Tourism Unites Cambodia-Laos- Myanmar-Vietnam plus Thailand

CMLV+T

On Wednesday, May 3rd, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism hosted the Regional Workshop on Methods and Strategies in Implementing Public Private Partnerships in the Tourism Sector for Cambodia-Laos- Myanmar-Vietnam plus Thailand (CLMV+T) in Vientiane Capital.

The workshop was organized to gather representatives to discuss various struggles in the tourism industry and for the first time, allowed both public and private sectors of the CLMV+T countries to participate in the discussion.

The Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Savankhone Razmountry, spoke at the workshop and stated that tourism has developed into a significant economic sector for developing countries worldwide.

He explained that due to their abundance of unique cultural attractions, rich natural beauty and relatively developed tourist infrastructure, the CLMV+T countries have a great potential for tourism.

In 2016, visitors from CLMV+T countries visiting Laos reached over 3 million, with 16,000 visitors coming from Cambodia, over 3,000 from Myanmar, 900,000 from Vietnam and 2 million visitors from Thailand. The total number of tourist arrivals reportedly reached 4.2 million, generating more than US$724 million dollars in income.

“This was an outstanding achievement that certainly indicated existing cooperation between the public and private sectors for the common benefit of all sectors,” Mr Savankhone stated.

Based on the vast potential and infrastructure for tourism, all relevant sectors were urged to collaborate in developing tourism systematically, to maximise the full potential of a Public-Private Partnership.

“This form of business cooperation, if applied properly, can have considerable benefits for sustainable tourism development for economic growth,” he added.

A Public-Private Partnership can increase community development, generate stable incomes for communities, boost sustainable tourism development through well-preserved cultural identity and heritage, and raise the socio-economic status of involved communities through the participation of various sectors.

[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”23″ override_thumbnail_settings=”1″ thumbnail_width=”100″ thumbnail_height=”75″ thumbnail_crop=”1″ images_per_page=”20″ number_of_columns=”0″ ajax_pagination=”0″ show_all_in_lightbox=”0″ use_imagebrowser_effect=”0″ show_slideshow_link=”0″ slideshow_link_text=”[Show slideshow]” template=”/home4/laotiantimes/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/products/photocrati_nextgen/modules/ngglegacy/view/gallery.php” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_thumbnails”]A CLMV Tourism Ministerial Meeting took place in 2016, themed ‘Four Countries, One Destination’ in Yangon, Myanmar.

The meeting highlighted the importance of strengthening the partnerships among CLMV Member States, to develop joint packages of tourism products, facilitate travel, and enhance capacity building.

Promoting public, private and community cooperation is one of the top priorities under the work plan of the CLMV and Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy.

Also present at the workshop, German Ambassador to Laos, Mr Michael Grau stated that

tourism is a sector of growing importance in many national economies, providing growth and jobs for developed, as well as developing countries. Middle class households  grow on a worldwide scale, and so does tourism expenditure.

The ambassador also indicated that international tourist arrivals to the five countries had nearly tripled over 10 years, from 18 million visitors in 2005 to over 50 million arrivals in 2015.

Annual tourism receipts exceed US$60 billion for the five countries combined.

Officials Follow Through; 15 Concessions Revoked

mining
mining

After failing to achieve their end of the agreement, fifteen mining operations have had their concessions rescinded by the government due to unsuccessfully demonstrating any advancement in the projects that had been proposed to officials.

During the ordinary session of the National Assembly last week, Minister of Energy and Mines, Dr Khammany Inthirath simply stated, “some companies just held [concessions without implementing them] purely in order to resell them.”

As previously reported by The Laotian Times, government officials have asserted that they will begin to firmly regulate concession projects by withdrawing land if no advancement is made on the proposed project.

Wanting to improve on regulations in the mining industry, the government suspended consideration on all new mining projects a few years ago, after discovering that several projects had failed to comply with the agreements that they had signed.

As of 2016, an estimated 657 companies had been granted authorization to perform surveys and excavation as part of 942 projects. Of these, 226 companies had been sanctioned by the central government to undertake 392 projects.

From 2003, when investment in mining began, until 2016, the sale value of mineral commodities exceeded US$13 billion, with an estimated US$2 billion in taxes and royalties paid to the government.

Dr Khammany explained that from 2011-2016, the mining sector had thrived and generated massive revenues driven by the spiralling of commodity prices on the world market, especially gold and copper, in 2012.

However, the sale value of minerals took a dive in 2016, when commodity prices on the world market slumped. In the first nine months of 2016, the sale value was just US$964 million, generating only US$41 million in taxes.

Laos and IRRI Maintains Partnership in Food Security

rice
rice

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Lao government have reinforced their three decade long partnership in research by expanding the institute’s role in increasing Laos’ food and nutrition security.

An agreement was signed in Vientiane on Monday by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr Phouangparisak Pravongviengkham, and IRRI’s Director General, Mr Matthew Morrell.

The agreement will allow for continued collaborative research between the two bodies that will contribute significantly to the development of the sector.

“This strong partnership is now further solidified with the signing of the Host Country Agreement between our two parties,” the Deputy Minister stated.

Mr Morrell added, “we are elated by our renewed partnership with Laos; our work in Laos over the decades has yielded great results and we look forward to continuing that work,”.

The longstanding partnership between Laos and IRRI was formed in 1987, when the first memorandum of agreement was signed. With the agreement intensifying in the 1990’s, Laos’ rice sector transformed from being pure subsistence to commercial production.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Laos achieved rice self-sufficiency when total rice production hit more than 2 million tonnes in 1999. In 2012 and 2013, rice production exceeded an astounding 3 million tonnes.

Current initiatives between Laos and IRRI include the Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments (CURE), which aims to reduce risks and improve livelihoods within the country, as well as neighboring countries in Southeast Asia, specifically Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Myanmar.

CURE aims to empower farmers in challenging environments, to improve their rice production and livelihoods by introducing climate-ready technologies that will raise rice productivity in less than ideal  environments, especially in areas where crops suffer from torrential downpours.

Laos is one of the major rice producers amongst the Asean countries, with annual rice exports to Vietnam, Thailand, China and other countries around the globe.

However, Lao rice varieties are still in need of increased standards and productivity compared to other Asean countries, especially Thailand and Vietnam.

 

Dongdok Campus Market Engulfed in Flames

On Saturday morning at approximately 3:30am, the Dongdok campus market at the National University of Laos (NUOL) was engulfed in flames.

According to initial reports from the Industry and Commerce Office in Xaythany district, the inferno is believed to have originated from a jewelry repair shop, setting 158 shops and 15 stalls ablaze causing an estimated 373 billion kip in damage.

Seven fire engines from Xaythany district and central Vientiane, attempted to extinguish the flames and took troops about two hours to gain control of the blaze.

Vendors who lost goods and other property are reporting their losses to the district Industry and Commerce Office, and the office will reassess the extent of the damage after all the vendors have registered their deficits.

With many stalls selling clothing, shoes, mobile phones and other goods, the Industry and Commerce Office intends to help vendors whose products were incinerated by the fire.

Fortunately, not all of the shops were consumed by flames, the campus market is covered by four large metal roofs. Three were completely destroyed but one roof was only partially damaged.

Security officials from Xaythany district, along with officials from Dongdok village, NUOL and the Dongdok campus market, are protecting what remains of the market and are keeping guard over those shops that are still intact.

Although, no official announcement has been made on what sparked the fire, many markets and buildings have repeatedly fallen victim to the jumbled electrical power lines that hover just above the streets of Vientiane. Xaythany district’s electricity sector plans to replace the electricity system at the market.  

Champa Meuanglao Inflight Magazine Reaches the Skies

Champa Meuanglao Magazine

Champa Meuanglao, the official Lao Airlines inflight magazine, has undergone a drastic change as part of a reboot that now showcases a modern and sophisticated Laos.

With a newly designed logo, backed by an impressive team of editors, designers and photographers, the revamped, bi-monthly publication reflects an evolving Laos, showcasing the country’s arts and culture scene, world-famous cuisine and enduring popularity as a travel destination.

Champa Meuanglao now also focuses on business innovation and the rapid development of Laos as a commercial hub in the region. This is happening at a time when Lao Airlines is also making both small and large scale organizational improvements in attempt to enhance its competitiveness.

The revamped first issue cover features The Walking Street, a bustling part of the riverside in Vientiane that shows a vibrant night market teeming with delicious food stalls, eclectic music and the hippest of Vientiane youngsters.

On the topic of the Walking Street, CML Managing Editor Sally Pryor writes, “No, this is something different. It’s a strange sensation, alighting from a car (you can’t really walk until you get there) and making your way through the narrow space between the buildings at Vientiane New World, a new shopping district facing the river. If night has fallen, the lanes and courtyards between the buildings will be filled with pop-up food stalls, funky open-air bars and racks of vintage clothes. Clusters of people – mainly hip young Lao, savvy expats and a smattering of tourists who probably can’t believe their good fortune – mill around on crates, benches and avant-garde seating. Many of them are holding drinks that actually glow, and settle in for several hours. Welcome to Walking Street, the unexpected – and yet, when you think about it, completely inevitable – sensation lighting up the pristine, darkened facades of what would otherwise be a dead space after dark. It’s the brainchild of Anouza Phothisane – AJ to his friends – a local entrepreneur who, in his words, just wanted “to create a new chill-out space for people to hang out – not too fancy”.

Champa-Meuanglao-Magazine-Cover
View the May-June edition here!

The magazine also features Naked Espresso as the burgeoning coffee empire that has hit Vientiane by storm, TOHLAO co-working space’s role in the fledgling startup community, 108 Jobs launch of the country’s first job app, LTH’s affirmation as Apple’s only trusted official authorized reseller, and a story on Laos’s entry into the global Slow Food Movement.

In addition to the editorial content, readers have come to rely on the advertisements in the magazine as an easy, time-efficient way to find about products and services in Laos and in the destination countries to which Lao Airlines flights travel. In a peaceful, serene environment such as an aeroplane seat, adverts stand the best possible chance for recall.

Champa Meuanglao Magazine is the nation’s prime vehicle for getting an advertiser’s message in front of the people that matter.

The benefits that advertisers can expect include:

–        a captive audience of over 900,000 passengers a year

–        distribution to hotels and ticketing offices throughout the country and in the region

–        a two-month shelf life making it more cost-effective than daily or weekly advertising vehicles

–        quality advertising production

–        ad sizes and styles to meet various budgets

For more information, contact RDK Group by email at info@rdkgroup.la or by phone at  +85620 55555521, +856 20 55285580, or  +85620 55731717.  The magazine is now open for advertising for the July-August edition.

Champa Meuanglao
View the May-June edition here!

HUAWEI P10/P10 Plus Official Launch

This Facebook link thumbnail image template was created by Christian Karasiewicz, owner of www.christiankonline.com

On 22 April 2017 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Vientiane Capital, Huawei Technologies Lao held a launch ceremony for its new product, the HUAWEI P10/P10 Plus, a smartphones that comes equipped with new innovations. The product was presented by Mr. Sujinyong, Director of Communications Equipment at Huawei Lao, and invited guests, as well as the media.

Mr. Sujinyong addressed the attendees, saying “just four years ago many people may not have known that the Huawei brand from China would become a point of interest in the present, and in 2016 the high quality premium Huawei p9 smartphone would help Huawei rise to third from the top among smartphone brands around the world. Now, in 2017, Huawei has developed something that surpasses all others in the Huawei P10/P10 Plus, which is a smartphone that includes the professional-quality Leica camera lens.”

Mr. Vankong Sisavath, Product Manager, explained the special features of the Huawei P10/P10 Plus phone as well as the rear camera that was produced in cooperation with Leica, and is the first time a Leica lens has been used for a front camera, with quality close to that of a professional camera. The camera has many special features, including portrait and Hybrid Zoom that assists focus. Huawei has worked with Pantone, world leader in color technology, to ensure vibrant color, such as Dazzling Plus, Dazzling Gold, Prestige Gold, and Graphite Black.

Professional photographers from Laos attended the event and showcased their work and shared their experiences using the Huawei smartphone, as well as demonstrating how to take professional-style photographs with the Huawei P10/P10 Plus handsets.

Advance reservations for phones opened in mid-April as part of a promotion that offered free items such as Lao Telecom free call and data packages, Laosat Satellites, lucky phone numbers, and gift boxes.

Huawei offers excellent after-sale service to its customers, including a three-month warranty against screen breakage, no matter the cause, and will even collect the broken item from customers’ houses for repairs. Repairs can be completed within two hours.

This Facebook link thumbnail image template was created by Christian Karasiewicz, owner of www.christiankonline.com

Laos Struck by 4.9 Magnitude Earthquake in Hongsa

earthquake hongsa laos

An earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale struck central Laos yesterday at 5:10am, according to a report by the Lao Post. The earthquake hit close to Hongsa, in Xayabouly Province, affecting nearby townships and villages including Ban Thasuang, Ban Kieusala, Ban Thanoune, and Ban Huaylai.

There have been no reports of damage or injury caused by the earthquake, although tremors were felt by some residents.