Why Laos is still poor or moves too slow?

Date: Sep 16, 2007

Why Laos is still poor or moves too slow?

Date: Sep 16, 2007

Why? because the people who are admisterring the Lao country are mostly grade 4 grauated from Vien Dong school and that's why Laos is still one of the poorest country on earth. Arh arh arh arh arh arh

FOREVER

samakomlao · Guru

Laos is still poor because Lao people never think they are rich!
Laos is actually very rich in natural resources and culture.
Laos is richer than many countries in Africa

If we think we are rich and happy with what we have, then we are rich.
If we think we are poor and never satisfy with what we have, then we are always poor! biggrin

Date: Sep 16, 2007

We are human being, we can not understand "Sieng nok, sieng ka" If I voice my opiniion here then I am a Nok or ee ka.

FOREVER

Date: Sep 16, 2007

Sabaidee all

I agree with TSP in views of LAO was even worst before 1975, not poor but dirt poor. I think we are in the same generation. Before 1975 LAO was not even have TV, I used to walk to Lycee, a kind of High school now. Each day I spend nearly one hour to get to school, dirt poor but now students have motorbikes.
The reasons of LAO is still being poor, is because of THE POVERTY CIRCLE, if your family was poor then your children were likely to succed...and staying poor. In the point of lao people did not work hard enough, if you chose to live simple, relax life style then that's what you have to pay, being not rich. But I saw many lao men and lao family work hard and they seem to be okay.
If you live in Vientiane you must know AI TUI his family makes sweets all kind of sweets and sell them in the evening and they are doing fine....
No matter what you think but I believe LAO now is far more better then the time I was still in Lycee. A motorbike for me at that time was just a dream, but my parents could not afford to buy one for me.

In the future if LAO has OIL like arab countries then LAO can become rich quickly, many arab countries because of Oil the population of those countries did not work hard but their life is fine because of Oil. They hired labours from asian countries to work for them, to be in the construction works. They exchanged oil for shopping centres, for high rise buildings etc...nice streets and high ways all come from Oil revenue, oil money.

Date: Sep 16, 2007

I like this discussion that you have started very much. The issues you put forward are very important.
May I say that Souphanouvong was never king. He was the first president but renounced his royal lineage for the socialist system.

I think Singapore is an interesting example to raise, but surely it cannot be compared to Laos. Singapore is a tiny city-state that has been historically well positioned as a regional sea port and has used its own wealth and foreign investment to develop key high-tech industries. It was never, ever in the same situation as Laos, so colonialism has nothing to do with poverty or wealth.
I dont agree that singapore is perfect either. There are problems of corruption and transparency there and there are many people who would say that the strict government control over media fuels these problems.
Laos may also have a government controlled media but the difference is that the Lao media is almost completely un-trained and simply does not have the capacity to produce international-standard media, along singaporean or any other lines.
I think with a media that is supported by law (Laos does not have) and one that has professional ethics and employs investigative journalism independently of government is a very valuable tool for stopping corruption. Of course this ideal is not realised anyway, and supposedly 'free' countries have very biased media. But the space to question the accountability and the actions of rulers is a very important space, and it is a space missing in Laos. This is not the same as suggesting the government should be changed. The old men in America who want this to happen are just bitter because they were the corrupt elites once upon a time and they lost power. Their American masters abandoned their country but allowed them to run away with them. I would be bitter if I had lost all my wealth. But that doesn't mean they deserved their wealth, and they surely have no understanding or appreciation for how far Laos has advanced since then, despite there still be very real problems with the country.

Date: Sep 16, 2007

Do forgive me there are some mistakes inside the the posted article. However, I could not change them.

For example as someone mentioned Souphanouvong had never been King. That is true. In Laos we got used to call Chao Souphanouvong. Then I translated Chao into King. That was mistaken and some other typo errors.

Here, I do not remember that I want to take Singapore as idol for Laos, but I just wonder how they develooped it. Yes, you are right, but we still follow something that may be usefull for our Laos. Lots our officials come to learn and know many things from Singapore. And Singaporean people are also keen to help our officials such as how to cope with corruption and making system transparent and so on.

To person who claimed that there are problems of corruption and transparency in Singapore. That was mistaken. I think we are educated people cannot do just simple blaiming. It is not fair for Singapore, if you claim without providing any data. Below is data of Singapoe about the corruption evaluated by international agengy,which is considered Singapore as a free corruption state, please have look.
" Abstract :Singapore's economy is 85.7 percent free, according to our 2007 assessment, which makes it the world's 2nd freest economy. Its overall score is 2.8 percentage points lower than last year, partially reflecting new methodological detail. Singapore is ranked 2nd out of 30 countries in the Asia–Pacific region, and its overall score is much higher than the regional average. Singapore is a world leader in all 10 areas of economic freedom. Virtually all commercial operations are performed with transparency and speed, and private enterprise has boomed. Inflation is low, and foreign investment is welcomed and given equal treatment. There are no tariffs. Singapore's legal system is efficient and highly protective of private property, and corruption is almost nonexistent. The labor market is highly flexible, and dismissing workers is costless.Singapore could do slightly better in financial freedom, which at 50 percent is the only one of 10 economic freedoms below 80 percent. It is a world leader in foreign exchange transactions, and the government is promoting Singapore as a global financial hub, but state influence in the banking system persists". and detail please have a look on below website.http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/country.cfm?ID=SingaporeTo my respected person in Astralia, yes you are right. Lao people are hard working. That was an opinion of group of people what I have heard. I also disagree with that. I myself also hard working, oh! kidding

Regards,
TSP

paris_vientiane · Guru

samakomlao wrote:

Laos is still poor because Lao people never think they are rich!
Laos is actually very rich in natural resources and culture.
Laos is richer than many countries in Africa

If we think we are rich and happy with what we have, then we are rich.
If we think we are poor and never satisfy with what we have, then we are always poor!

I agree with you.... For me, Laos is not poor. it's a very rich country, but Laos richness is not in it's economy, that is not very developed yet.

I'm happy to see Laos developping it's economy, but i hope the consequece won't be to destruction of current lao richness: nature, culture, values... because in this case, the overall benefit for lao people would be negative.
I'm very affraid when i read that a big part of lao development is based upon copper or gold mines, because mines can cause very heavy environment destructions: treatment used can pollute water, destroy land, etc... This can be dramatic for local people living around the mines. I hope the mines built in Laos are "clean" (if it's technicaly possible).

About economy, i think the real reason of the low lao economic development is probably a mix between all the causes mentionned by TSP , and you can add the fact that Laos don't have any access to the sea.... this is a big big drawback concerning economic developement: look at most of the biggest and richest cities in the world: they are all close to the sea.

-- Edited by paris_vientiane at 10:15, 2007-09-16

Date: Sep 16, 2007

to samakom lao webbord ,, kue bor sai sue wa samakom -english news about laos si di koua , u r kon lao kien pen pasa lao dae , read pasa english bor kao jai
from kon lao ti huk pasa lao and check dis website everyday aww

Date: Sep 16, 2007

Yes, I would love to imagine that I am a rich man but I cannot do. My wife always ask me what should we eat tomorrow, I cannot answer. Our bugget is limitted.

Yes, I do agree person who said that when you are you have no room to act much.If your family was poor then your children were likely to succed...and staying poor. Just like you have only land for planting rice, but have no grains, no buffalo you would end up with nothing to eat. That would be nothing different with our government, lots of natural resouces but cannot do anything because we have no capital, eventhough we have manpower. We therefore end up just look at it. Last time, before we open our country, I remember there was a western cartoon comparing Lao people like beggars sitting in golden stuff, not knowing how to use the stuff. It is really sad.

Thanks to our new government policy, now nobody can dare to tell that we are the beggars. Now we can work with them as a bussines partner based on muttually benefits. I am really proud of my country

Date: Sep 16, 2007

1. Laos is poorer in camparing with many country richer
2. the answer is in Laos brife history shown above you you can not find some reason hiding in Laos history
3. Laos natural conditions can make Lao to be slow because Laos has a very good condition with no heavy storm, no big flood, small population...so do not need to be serious with life, no need to be busy

Date: Sep 16, 2007

Laos is not slow so laos is not poor in practise why i can say that?
1. 20 years ( 1986 - 2006 ) ago GDP Laos increase 6,2% per year. That is avery good rate ( safety rate ) even it is the rate in dream of almost country in the world, too fast or too slow can occor badly to the society and country too, sorry i can explan detail here, but in the recent years Laos can perform better
2. Laos is still rich in natural resourses, let see Vietnam damaged the forest perfactly since long ago, they sold alot of natural resourses, in 2006, income per capita of Laos 665$, when vietnam is just a little bit higher ( around 700$ ).
3. Chinese people say you had better to be a thief if you just want to be the rich in one day.
Now let pay attention in THE STABLE DEVELOPMENT the fast or slow.
In concluding, Laos is not slow inpractise but just not as much as someone's expectation

Date: Sep 16, 2007

I agree with you. you said what I want to say too

regards

Date: Sep 16, 2007

It is easy guys if Laos don't want to be one of the poorest country any more, get rid off that stinking goverment. ARH ARH ARH ARH ARH ARH ARH ARH

FOREVER

Date: Sep 16, 2007

hey, person who named " forvever", you should be better called " studpid and mad forever" because you said without brain.

Date: Sep 16, 2007

All very good posts, its good that we all can talk without thinking too wildly.

I'm sure I'm a lot younger than all of you, but heres my take.

China has one of the world's strongest economies right now. What is holding them back is the lack of freedom for its citizens, and the huge gap between the rich and poor. My history teacher said that if the Chinese government were to fix these problems somehow, China would overcome America. Studies have shown that initially, free economy and society equals to improvements. Think of it as a water hose. You put your finger over it, building up pressure. Limitations on the economy and society build up some pressure, don't you agree?

Laos' position in the middle of SE is a good one. Tokyo/Narita Airport is a major stop for Asia. Bangkok is the major stop for SE Asia, going to Kuala Lampur and Singapore, Jakarta, other big cities. Why can't Vientiane or Laos be that stop, instead of Bangkok? Its smack dab in the middle, and if ever regional cities like Phnom Penh or Hanoi or HCM City reach a regional/internation status, it would make sense to stop in Laos rather than an hour more to Bangkok. Sure Vientiane doesn't have the capability to become a Paris, or New York, or Tokyo, but it can definately become a regional player along with Bangkok or Singapore or Hong Kong. Don't forget, Switzerland is landlocked also, and they have a fine ecomony and Society. In Switzerland, once you turn 18, you are issued an army assault rifle. With that, their murder rates are WAY less than the United States.

The blame isn't on one single thing, say the Communist government, or Education, or the suppose laziness of the Lao people (it can't be true, I mean who built Wat Xieng Thong and the Klongs of Bangkok? Lao People!).

What I can say it this. To bridge the gap between the rich in the poor is to equalize Education. I really want to start a program to bring Lao abroad to come to Laos to teach English. There are Children of Lao Refugees in America that speak and understand more English than Lao and have never been to Laos. It would be a positive outcome for Khon Lao, or even Khon Hmong on each side.

Date: Sep 16, 2007

Lao is still poor because lao peoples are not industrious and don't want to get rich. We are happy just to have enough to eat day by day. Surwe, we are rich in natural resoures but that will not last long. Our children will still be poor. We don't know how to get rich and don't want to strive hard. We are as Lao lao as the same.

paris_vientiane · Guru

poor or rich is not important.. feel happy and respect each other (including next generations) are the only important things

-- Edited by paris_vientiane at 20:37, 2007-09-16

Date: Sep 16, 2007

Get lost boy

FOREVER

Date: Sep 16, 2007

Hello everybody

I would like to see Lao government's distribution more in rural areas where poor families are located. Good clothes and basic things in life should deliver from them as least once a year, particularly clothes for children. In that way the gap between the have and have not is not too wide, too big. By doing that LAO will be seen as a fair society, distribution is fair and square.

On the other hand government must mining so it could bring more revenue for the country, because we all know TAXATION of LAO won't be good enough or the amount of tax money is not great, not much, so exploit our resources carefully selected will benefit LAO a lot. Example don't just destroy rainforest, or cut down all the trees....avoid doing that, but mining in the area of oil and gaz and other resources keep the balance of nature.

LAO is not rich like First world countries but we also do not see extreme sceneries like in AFRICA where people are dead because of hunger, not yet, so that's good thing for LAO. Each time western tourists take photos of young kids in country side, it seems that they are all happy, it means they are okay, there is enough food for our young children even their families are not rich.

Date: Sep 16, 2007

Believe it or not guys, in the next 30 years, the Chinese will be the most powerful country in the world. For Laos, I don't know about it, probably it is still going to be one of the poorest country in the world. Here is my advice to the Lao people, hai hai hai hai hai, get rid off that stinking goverment and Laos will be Okay with the economic. Hehehehehehehehehehe

The Lao dang communist regime is not thing but a crook.

FOREVER

Date: Sep 17, 2007

Based on my experience, the guy whose name is FOREVER is a mad or crazy man. So, I hope everyone knows. Don't boder him let him talk nonesence.

Date: Sep 17, 2007

It is a public opinion you dumb ass. Arh arh arh arh arh arh arh arh

FOREVER

Date: Sep 17, 2007

Yes, I do agree with the author of this article, the transparency is the most important for our system. No wonder, our government is doing now. According to Vientiane Times, there is law to improve transparency that is going to approve soon. So, I hope for the best. The reason Laos moves a bit slow could be because Laos has learned from other country too slow. That is my opinion.

Date: Sep 17, 2007

why all of you only think about economics when life has more than that, you have your own opinion, your own conditions, your own choice...and need to be repected by people right? so every country has its own thing too, please pay respctation

Date: Sep 17, 2007

Have you guys ever heard about the GNH?
GNH is the Gross National Happiness that set up by the king of Bhutan.
and GNH is an attempt to define quality of life in more holistic and psychological terms than Gross National Product.

I don't want Laos to consider much about GDP because it is just a statistic,
But emphasis more on GNH, where our people can live in a truely (not fake) happy life.

paris_vientiane · Guru

yeah! GNH is good concept... much more convenient than GNP to try to measure quality of living conditions in a country!

Date: Sep 17, 2007

GNH or GPD I think Lao people don't mind because there are no many businessmen (capitalists) in Laos or in other word we have no millionaire people there, unlike in Thailand or other countries. So, I understand the person who suggested the idea of GNH. In other countries it could be a problem as the gap between poor and rich is not counted in GPD. By the way, I think Lao people have the GNH already and long time ago. We Lao people live with fresh nature. If we need to each a fish then we go to river, if need vegetable or fruit then we go the forest. Yes, it's really easy life and no need to rush. No employers who would force us to work for them, we menage our life by ourselves. If we want to dress the good clothes we also can do by ourselves. That's a life of ordinary people life.
However, we also want to enjoy the product of world civilization like we also want ride motobike, whatch TV and the like what we cannot product by ourselves. That would need money to buy. Yes, in our coutry probably we hope to get both GNH and GPD.

paris_vientiane · Guru

hehehe... your words make me feel as if i were in Laos...

Maybe this is an illustration of my dream: i would love to live 6 months/year in France and 6 months/year in Laos (for now, just France)

maybe live in france to get the good GNP and live in Laos to get the good GNH!!!!

Date: Sep 17, 2007

That's a great idea. Welcome to Laos.

Date: Sep 17, 2007

lao people are not poor if you look back before 1975 how many people you know are millionaire now if you have 100 dollar you are millionaire!! think about it ha?

paris_vientiane · Guru

Anonymous wrote:

That's a great idea. Welcome to Laos.

hehehe... not easy to find 2 good jobs , each for 6 months/year...
But since i've discovered your country, and so many good things you have there that are wrong in mine (even if my country is not bad too), i really want to share my life between the 2 countries and culture. I just hope Laos people will preserve in the future all the good thing they have in their country and that we cannot find any more in our "modern" countries.

For now, i found a lao wife who joined me in France one year ago, that's another way to share my life between France an Laos... maybe one day we would move togather to Laos. If we had more money, i think that's what we would do.

And i have to learn lao language before thinking seriously about moving to Laos... this will be a big big work!!!!

-- Edited by paris_vientiane at 13:28, 2007-09-17

Date: Sep 17, 2007

Yes, I have seen you with your wife in your website. You are really great for each other. Wish you lots of happinesses in France and sometimes come to visit Laos.

paris_vientiane · Guru

we will try to go to Laos next january for one month... but not sure yet

Date: Sep 18, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Laos is not slow so laos is not poor in practise why i can say that?
1. 20 years ( 1986 - 2006 ) ago GDP Laos increase 6,2% per year. That is avery good rate ( safety rate ) even it is the rate in dream of almost country in the world, too fast or too slow can occor badly to the society and country too, sorry i can explan detail here, but in the recent years Laos can perform better
2. Laos is still rich in natural resourses, let see Vietnam damaged the forest perfactly since long ago, they sold alot of natural resourses, in 2006, income per capita of Laos 665$, when vietnam is just a little bit higher ( around 700$ ).
3. Chinese people say you had better to be a thief if you just want to be the rich in one day.
Now let pay attention in THE STABLE DEVELOPMENT the fast or slow.
In concluding, Laos is not slow inpractise but just not as much as someone's expectation

1: Based off of what it was before, which was nearly dead beat poor before 1975? One could argue that any government could change it from 0 to 6% easily. Percents don't mean anything unless there are numbers behind it.

2: Vietnam also has 10 times the population that Laos does, the distrubution of Income per capita wouldn't really mean anything, if the populations are drastically different.

3: Stable development is good, but is it worth running over human rights? And it took 30 years for the government to finally grow at a 7.2% increase in GDP in 2006?

I'm not criticising the government, I mean no one can blame them for the outcome of the country after the war, but your post makes them look better than they are, which they aren't.

Date: Sep 19, 2007

It would not be good, if I posted the article but I do not read. Thank you very much all of you for taking your time to read and post your comments. I really appreciate your contribution. I must accept that in the article that I had posted there were lots of mistakes, I knew them after posting, because my eyesight is not good and my English is poor. No wonder people in America want to teach us with English American standard. It would be great if you can do. Lao people would welcome the move.

The big mistake that I had made was I said that some of our officials don’t like to listen to “voice of bird- Sieng Nok Sieng Ka”, In fact I should have written: “Some of our officials did not like to listen to …….”. Now, they have changed already. I think, they changed their mind after opening our country to the world. As we all know that every time before our parliament session opened, Lao people can send letter, email, expressing their opinion to the session. And the great thing is they even provide telephone number for hotline. I know we love to participate to that forum. It’s kind of we feel happy that our opinions also can be heard in that parliament meeting. Even in some developed countries their people cannot do like Lao people do. I remember once I also sent my opinion through email to our parliament. I felt that it was a really great honor for me when they replied me my opinion was received and even thanked to me. Here, I wanted to say that is a kind of democracy in our society, although it’s still not as perfect as in first world countries, but at least we move to the point, I am really proud of the move. Thing cannot be done overnight. We would need time to go the point. I remember former President of France, the land where first revolution or democracy was born, once said “Democracy cannot be imposed from outside, but it will develop inside the community and its people”. That is the always truth. It’s like you don’t want get married with this lady, but someone forces you to do that. Like that you would suffer until you die or you would die, although you still can breathe “Tai Thang Pen”. Oh God, don’t let me face such a case. No doubt, all of us don’t want the case that has been happening in IRAQ. Lao people really don’t want such a case, from such a case we had suffered for long time, no wonder we are poor. We have no opportunity to develop our country. That’s really sad for our past time.
Yes, the first person who responded to me was Mr. FOREVER. And probably the most active person who participated in this topic, even some words which most people don’t like, if I remember, he commented twice. Unfortunately, some could not help annoying with that and said something bad to him. I understand that they could control themselves. By the way, I do agree with him the fact that Laos moved too slow was because some of our people had low education. That’s really right reason, which is a part of good governance. However, I don’t think that I can agree with other his comments. I also do understand that his environment might be different with us. He could be a person who closes to old Lao people, who had power before 1975, that’s why he thinks different from us. I would advice him think on them again. If our foreign Lao people are clever enough, I think, they would not need to do war; they should come to Laos to do business in Laos. Our government always welcomes all kind of businessmen. They would have even more advantages than other foreigners because they can talk in Lao language. And then our government will depend on them, and of course they will also depend on Lao people. That’s a great idea. That would mean we help each other.
The second person who responded to my topic was Mr. Webmaster. It’s really a great honor for me and I appreciate it. His comment is a kind of Buddha’ teaching “Our happiness is our satisfactory with ourselves. Please have a look again I really like it:

“Laos is still poor because Lao people never think they are rich!
Laos is actually very rich in natural resources and culture.
Laos is richer than many countries in Africa
If we think we are rich and happy with what we have, then we are rich.
If we think we are poor and never satisfy with what we have, then we are always poor!”

No wonder, he is the only person who created this website for us so that we can communicate to each other. He might often go to the temples in Laos with his wife or his girlfriend to say the least. To this comment lots people like it, including one educated French person who has Lao wife and stay together in France. Thank you for your comment. I appreciate it.
Here, I am glad that he agreed with my opinion. At least, I know someone also like I do. Although I don’t know this person well, probably I can say something about him. Do forgive me, if I were wrong. This person is really concerned about our culture and environment, and surprisingly he did not mention any thing about politic, although he is a French gentle man. He also knows history of Laos quite well, especially the history of LaoKingdom. I am proud that French gentle man wants to enjoy our GNH saying he may visit Laos with his wife on next January. That means our country is not that bad. Even gentle man from France wants stay in Laos for one month. That’s a great idea and we all Lao people should be proud of our country.

The forth person who responded to my article is the respected Lao person of mine who has Australian citizen. Probably I should call him Eloung KL, please do forgive me if I spell your name wrongly. He is a person who really helps me in all field, especially he is a really positive about Laos. No wonder, I feel that our Lao people living in oversea also love Laos. Living abroad doesn’t mean anything that they do not love Laos. They just seek for a better life. I presume that they can help Lao people in the sense that they can talk and explain to foreigners so that the foreigners can understand Lao people well, at least let them know that we really love peace, we don’t want war. And I agree with his comment as I said earlier on. “If your family was poor then your children were likely staying poor or cannot be rich easily. That’s a true”. I also agree that Lao people now cannot be lazy anymore. Except planting rice, Lao people still do other thing for selling. And some are good in doing business. The number of Lao businessmen is also increasing. The lazy matter could be meant for the past time Lao people already. Thank you very much for your thought, I repeat the comment which posted by someone.

Thank you to person who posted about GNH saying that this GHN set up in practice by King Bhutan. In fact, I would say the GNH is related to philosophy of Thai King, what is called “Sed tha kid pho phieng”. I really appreciate it. I assume that this person is a Thai citizen and educated. And he might have meet with Lao people before or he is about to visit Laos. Thank you for your comment.
Yes, I think, Lao people need to learn from GNH as well. While welcoming investors from outside, our government needs to look on our law and regulation, makes it fair for all sites both our people and investors. Otherwise our people will become poorer, instead of richer. You may remember the case of the salary of 80000 kip/month. Like it or not, that is a real exploitation.

Thank you to person who said that our country conditions have made Lao people to be lazy or easygoing life style. That’s partly true. But if we work hard like other nations do, I think, definitely, we would be richer them.

Thank you to person who said that our economic growth is normal. Probably he is an economic or at least studying in economic or finance. I understand his point. That if we go to fast Lao people may not be able to adapt to that condition, but he just compared from 1986 -2006, but he forgot to compare from 1975-2006. Anyway, I appreciate his opinion as well.

Thank you to all people who I could not mention, who participated in this topic both positive and negative. People can have their own opinions. But I am sure that our readers will make the judgment by themselves. When we, as well as our officals, listen to someone, we of course will make the conclusion by ourselves. It is not good also when you listen to me and you believe me without thinking. That’s a kind of critical thinking. When we listen or hear someone says something, we need to put question “Why or how to find the reason for that? That is a good way for us to be the good readers and listeners.

Date: Sep 19, 2007

Chinese people say you had better to be a thief if you just want to be the rich in one dayNot always true. Chinese business people are some of the best in the world. They succeed through honesty, hard work, and quality. Just like everyone else.

IfindthediscussionaboutSingaporeandthiswholethreadinteresting. BestthreadI’veseenonSamakomlaoyet. AlongtimeagowhenIfirstcametoLaosIwentforalongdriveintothecountrysidewithanoldofficial. Hewasfromthatgenerationofthewar, educatedintheSovietUnion. Onthewaybackwhilemanyweresleepingheaskedme (usingoneofhisdaughterstointerpretation) manypointedquestionsaboutSingapore. IthoughttomyselfwhyisheinterestedinSingapore? NowIknow, theyareacountryLaoswouldliketoemulate.

OnethingtorememberaboutLee, therulerofSingapore, whenhestartedhewasruthlessaboutcorruption. Thepolicewouldlookeverywhere. Youarecorruptyougotojailforyears.

Inoticedonewritersuggestedafreeandopenpressasagoodwaytostopcorruption. TheChinesearedoingthistoanextent. DengXioPingbeforeheretiredlistedcorruptionasoneofthebiggestdangersfacingChina. Ibelievetheyhaveyettofigureouthowtogetridofit.

Perhapsbesidesafreepress, Laoscouldfigureoutawaytoencouragepoliticalcompetitionwithintheonepartysystem. IthinkeveryonehopesforthebestforLaos. Evenifwearen’tcitizensofcoursewewishforthepeopletobefinanciallycomfortableaswellasmaintainingaqualityoflifeandtopreservetheculturalheritage. Goodluck.

Date: Sep 19, 2007

Sorry, must be a problem with my cut and paste editor. Samakomlao could you remove both of these posts please.

Thank You