Thai media destroys Lao-Thai relations !!!

Date: Oct 24, 2007

Thai media destroys Lao-Thai relations !!!

Date: Oct 24, 2007

Why is it destroying Lao-Thai relations? Laos is used as a major route in the drugs trade, this is a FACT. The Lao government is very childish. Every time it hears news that is critical of Laos it complains about 'destroying relations'!! The drugs problem NEEDS to be discussed, not covered up. If the government reacts like this to such news people will think it is because senior Party members are involved in the drugs trade, which may or may not be true, but again, we don't know because they are not being transparent.

Date: Oct 24, 2007

I believe Lao Authority must investigate about this issue, particularly Lao Police if Lao Police is unable to do so then, the whole Lao Police Department must go back to school to learn about Investigation Lessons, otherwise Lao Police is a backwards Corp.

Date: Oct 24, 2007

I disagree.

Date: Oct 24, 2007

I think when someone claim on you about something, normally if that claim is true, you may give a consideration for it. contrary if not, you should clear or defend your self. Ex when Mr. A accused Mr. B for selling or tradeing drugs.
this case will go to the court. because Mr. B never admit that he do if in fact he did not do. so that the court will give them a just.

but between country and country is a little bit different, since there are no organizations or courts that completely have right to judge all cases conflicted between those countries. in the present, although there are international laws and courts, and conventions. but in the reality, the relationship between countries is laid on an international custom.this custom is hard to explain, but it is easy to be understood from a simple word:" what you done to me has given me the righful to do to you or to defend my self.

Ex: country A attacked country B, country have the right to attck country A or defend himself. or if country A burnt the flag of country B, B is rightful to do so
to country A.... and so on.

therefore, it is not suprising when newspaper of Thailand said something to Laos, Lao newpaper is rightful to say something to thaindland or defend themself. if thai say good thing to Lao, Lao can say good thing to thai, and contrary.

therefore, it is correct thing that lao newspaper has said back.

Normally one country should never say something make other dislike.

if Thai see that Laos central of drugs trading, they can come to gather with Lao to do investigate and solve the problem. no need to write down on the news, or shout loudly to many other people.

when Thai said Laos is central of trading drugs, personerly I want to say that because Thailand is the central of drugs consumer make Laos become central of selling.

so do not feel ashame to defend yourself and say or attack back who did to us.

and should understand saying is saying, and attack is attack, and sovling is solving.

so when they said, we should say or respone, they attack, we attack or defend
they want to help us to solve, we accept.

my opion

Date: Oct 24, 2007

sorry, I wanted to write ( my opinion)

Date: Oct 24, 2007

The question is does The Manager Newspaper have the strong evidence or just made allegation?
If not, definitely the newspaper served somebody' purpose, no doubt. This newspaper could do anything as long as they get money. As we all know that this newspaper told a lie about Thaksin until he could not live in Thailand. The best and right way that Lao government can do is to sue the newspaper.

I know the first two comments are written by Thai people, if not the editors of that newspaper. Talking about investigation, what should Lao polices investigate? If they have known that where are the drug dealers and producers, no doubt, they would have arrested these bad people or even kill according to our law.

Date: Oct 24, 2007

Yes, some Thai people never have a good intention to Lao people. That is a fact. Even Lao baby also knows that.

Date: Oct 24, 2007

This is NOT an argument between 'countries'. It was not a statement made by the government of Thailand to the government of Laos, it is a report made by an independent media organisation to a public readership.

It is a news article alleging that Vientiane is a major crossroad for the drugs trade in South East Asia. There are regular reports about drug trafficking through Laos in media from all over the region and the world. I remember one from Vietnam not long ago, and I remember one from Associated Press.

It is widely known that Laos is a transit point for drug trafficking in Asia because it is at the crossroads from China to Southeast Asia. The government may not like this, but it is a fact.

To 'politicize' it and turn the issue into a 'diplomatic' problem between Laos and Thailand is what GUILTY people do who want to cover up a problem. The Lao government should show it is not guilty by making a statement about the drug problem, instead of trying to prevent information from being circulated.

Date: Oct 24, 2007

Some of you people should consider the idea that there are actually high-ranking members of the Lao government who are involved in the production and trafficking of drugs. It might not be true, but then again, it might be true. We DONT KNOW because the government is not transparent about its activities. We do know that there is alot of corruption in the Lao government, because it says so itself all the time. There are also rumours about the Lao military trafficking drugs. Of course, they are just rumours, there is no evidence to substantiate them because nobody can investigate these rumours without getting killed. Instead of arguing about whether Laos or Thailand is right or wrong like little children fighting over candy, you should ask for more information from the government. You should demand that independent investigations be allowed. You should not accept and defend the refusal to talk about this problem. It is no good for Laos. It hurts Laos even more by not talking about this problem and exposing those who are involved in drugs in Laos and there are almost certainly some powerful people involved in drugs, or at least complicit in the drugs trade in laos.

Date: Oct 24, 2007

Yes, be careful with Thai media. They are ready to do anything for discrediting Lao image. That is a part of serving their bosses who made war with Laos not so long ago. As long as they can get money they can do even without evidences, just make it up. Definitely they never care about Lao-Thai relationship. Some even still think that Lao should be part of Thailand.

Date: Oct 24, 2007

I think we should say thank you to Manager, thai newspaper for warning us about this issue. If nobody speak up or comment, then we will always think that we are perfect and there is nothing to improve.

Date: Oct 24, 2007

Really? You think that we also need to say thank you to Thai people for the fact that there are lots of bombs left in Laos which came from American army based in Thailand (Oudon Thany and Korath).

You think we also need to say thank you to Thai people for that Siam invaded Laos 100 years ago. Just wait until your next life.

Date: Oct 24, 2007

Onother stupid topic.
I'm the last one. Please do not reply anymore. STOP IT RIGHT HERE!!!!!!!!!!!

Date: Oct 24, 2007

Can we just discuss about the merit of the current event instead of digging up the dirt and the dead from a long time gone. Go ask the thai paper if it has any proof at all - or is it its big padaek mouth at work like usual ....I wonder.
I want to see the proof and/or the dirt behind the closed door of the lao government as well. If this is a real government or just a bunch of thieves....
I don't give a crap about this relationship.....

Zorro

Date: Oct 24, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Really? You think that we also need to say thank you to Thai people for the fact that there are lots of bombs left in Laos which came from American army based in Thailand (Oudon Thany and Korath).

You think we also need to say thank you to Thai people for that Siam invaded Laos 100 years ago. Just wait until your next life.

Past is past and present is present,
We can not go back to the past and correct things.
Thing we can do now is to cooperate with our neighboring countries and the world to make world, a better place to live.

Lao's people democratic republic, you see there is a word "democratic" in our country's name. So, we should listen to other, and find out if it is true of fake. Sitting in the office and just angry to other without putting efforts in finding the fact is useless.

Date: Oct 24, 2007

Democratic bull**** !! Democratic my @#$%.

You know damn well !!! It's ONLY THE NAME !!!

Date: Oct 24, 2007

Democratic doesn't mean that one can blame my mother without any evidence. What happens if I say something bad for you.

In fact there is a Lao-Thai ommitee to control the drug trafficking which has established long time ago. I don't know the people who posted their comments would about this or not. Lao government always cooperate with Thailand and other countries.

Laos also get some funding from USA to cope with this problem.

The thing is the newspaper just wanted to discredit Lao image blaming Lao without any evidence.

Date: Oct 24, 2007

Yes, if there is a Lao-Thai commitee in charged of drug trafficking, why this newspaper should have acted like that.
Who don't know that in Thailand this problem is also huge after Thaksin government was overthrown. Why did not the newspaper blame Thai government for that matter too? Or because their government is junta they have no right to criticize?

Date: Oct 24, 2007

ສື່ມວນຊົນໄທ ຍັງບໍ່ລົດລະຄວາມພະຍາຍາມ ລາຍຄວາມສຳພັນ ແລະ ການຮ່ວມມືທີ່ດີ ລະຫວ່າງ ລາວ-ໄທ
ຂໍ້ມູນຈາກ ນ.ສ.ພ ວຽງຈັນໃໝ່ - 24 ຕຸລາ 2007 10:31 .

ຫວ່າງບໍ່ດົນມານີ້ ໄດ້ມີສື່ມວນຊົນໄທ ໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນຫນັງສືພິມຜູ້ຈັດການຂອງໄທ ໄດ້ລາຍງານຂ່າວຈຳ
ນວນຫນຶ່ງ ເຊິ່ງຖືເປັນການເສກສັນປັ້ນແຕ່ງເລື່ອງທີ່ບໍ່ມີມູນຄວາມຈິງ ໃສ່ຮ້າຍປ້າຍສີ ສປປ ລາວ ຂອງພວກເຮົາ ໂດຍສະເພາະນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ ຫນັງສືພິມຜູ້ຈັດການສະບັບລົງວັນທີ 10 ກັນຍາ 2007 ໄດ້ລາຍງານຂ່າວ ໂດຍອ້າງແຫລ່ງຂ່າວຈາກສູນຂ່າວຂອນແກ່ນ ໄດ້ກ່າວຫາວ່າ: ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ ເປັນສູນກາງການຄ້າຢາເສບຕິດແຫ່ງເອເຊຍ ເປັນຈຸດນັດພົບຂອງພວກພໍ່ຄ້າ ແລະ ຜູ້ຜະລິດຢາເສບຕິດຈາກຫລາຍປະເທດ ແຕ່ຢາບ້າ-ກັນຊາແຫ້ງ ຈະເກັບພັກໄວ້ໃນພື້ນທີ່ຈະລຳລຽງຈາກແຫລ່ງຜະລິດໃນມຽນມາ ຜ່ານ ສປປ ລາວ ສົ່ງຕໍ່ລູກຄ້າໃນປະເທດທີ 3 ແລະ ຍັງໄດ້ເວົ້າອີກວ່າ: ກຸ່ມນັກຄ້າລາຍໃຫຍ່ໃນວຽງຈັນ ມີທັງກຸ່ມຫວຽດນາມ ແລະ ຫວຽດກຽວ ກຸ່ມຄົນຈີນ-ມາເລເຊຍ ຂະນະທີ່ກຸ່ມຜູູ້ຄ້າຢາເສບຕິດ/ຄ້າມະນຸດ ຈາກລາວເຂົ້າໄທອັນຕະລາຍ ເພາະມີເປົ້າຫມາຍສົ່ງຢານະລົກເຂົ້າໄທໂດຍກົງ ນອກນັ້ນ ຫນັງສືພິມສະບັບດັ່ງກ່າວຍັງ
ລະບຸວ່າ: ພື້ນທີ່ເຂດເມືອງສັງທອງ ເມືອງສີໂຄດ ເມືອງຫາດຊາຍຟອງ ເມືອງປາກງື່ມ ເມືອງໄຊທານີ ແລະ ອື່ນໆ ເປັນຈຸດແວ່ພັກຂອງຢາເສບຕິດ ການເສກສັນປັ້ນແຕ່ງເລື່ອງທີ່ບໍ່ມີມູນຄວາມຈິງ ຂອງກຸ່ມຄົນຜູ້ບໍ່ຫວັງດີເຫລົ່ານັ້ນ ມີເຈດຕະນາແລະ ຈຸດປະສົງຫຍັງກັນແທ້ ? ຂໍ້ມູນຕ່າງໆທີ່ກ່າວມາ ກໍລ້ວນແຕ່ບໍ່ມີຄວາມເປັນຈິງ ເຊິ່ງມັນໄດ້ເຮັດໃຫ້ປະຊາຊົນໃນຂົງເຂດດັ່ງກ່າວ ທີ່ທຳມາຫາກິນດ້ວຍຄວາມສະຫງົບສຸກ ມີຄວາມເປັນຫ່ວງ ກັງວົນ ແລະ ຢ້ານກົວ ເຈດຕະນາ ດັ່ງກ່າວນີ້ເຊິ່ງນອກຈາກຈະເປັນການທຳລາຍຊື່ສຽງຂອງ ສປປ ລາວ ແລ້ວ ມັນຍັງເປັນການສ້າງຜົນເສຍຫາຍໃຫ້ແກ່ສາຍພົວພັນອັນດີລະຫວ່າງລາວ ແລະ ໄທ ນຳອີກ ໃນໂຕຈິງແລ້ວ ພວກເຮົາອາດຈະໄດ້ເຫັນໄດ້ຟັງສື່ມວນຊົນຂອງໄທລາຍງານຂ່າວຕະຫລອດມາວ່າ ມີການຈັບກຸມພວກພໍ່ຄ້າຢາເສບຕິດ ເຊິ່ງເຫດການກໍເກີດຢູ່ໃນປະເທດໄທ ແລະ ກໍແມ່ນຄົນຂອງປະເທດເຂົາ
ເຈົ້າເອງເປັນຜູ້ກະທຳຜິດ ແຕ່ຊ້ຳພັດໃສ່ຮ້າຍປ້າຍສີ ໂຍນຄວາມບໍ່ດີໃສ່ຜູ້ອື່ນ ເຊິ່ງມັນກໍບໍ່ຕ່າງຫຍັງກັບຄຳບູຮານທີ່ວ່າ: ຜູ້ໃດກິນປູນ ຜູ້ນັ້ນຮ້ອນທ້ອງ ຫລືວ່າໂຈນຮ້ອງຈັບໂຈນນັ້ນເອງ ຕາມຂ່າວຍັງໃຫ້ຮູ້ວ່າ ເມື່ອເຈົ້າຫນ້າທີ່ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງກັບການຄວບຄຸມຢາເສບຕິດປະຊຸມກັນຢູ່ຂອນແກ່ນ ຍັງອະນຸຍາດໃຫ້ນັກຂ່າວໄປເກັບກຳເອົາຂ່າວຕ່າງໆນຳມາອອກໃຫ້ສື່ມວນຊົນຮູ້
ພວກເຮົາທີ່ເປັນເຈົ້າຫນ້າທີ່ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງຂອງລັດບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈວ່າ ການກະທຳແບບນີ້ຂອງຝ່າຍໄທ ແມ່ນຢາກໄດ້ຫຍັງກັນແທ້ຫລັກການທີ່ໄດ້ຕົກລົງກັນຢູ່ແຂວງຫລວງພະບາງ ໃນວັນທີ 19 ກໍລະກົດ 2005 ໄດ້ເວົ້າວ່າ: ພວກເຮົາບໍ່ຄວນເອົາເລື່ອງຂອງອີກຝ່າຍຫນຶ່ງມາເປີດເຜີຍໃນລັກສະນະໂຈມຕີກັນ ຖ້າເຈົ້າຫນ້າທີ່ຝ່າຍໄທຍັງສືບຕໍ່ອັນທີ່ເວົ້າວ່າ: ຢາກຮ່ວມມືກັນຢ່າງສ້າງສັນ
ນັ້ນ ຍັງເປັນແບບນີ້ຕໍ່ໄປ ພວກເຮົາກໍຢູ່ໃນຄວາມຫຍຸ້ງຍາກທີ່ສຸດ ທີ່ຈະເຊື່ອໃນຄວາມເວົ້າທີ່ບໍ່ກົງກັນກັບການກະທຳ.

Date: Oct 24, 2007

ຫວ່າງບໍ່ດົນມານີ້ ໄດ້ມີສື່ມວນຊົນໄທ ໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນຫນັງສືພິມຜູ້ຈັດການຂອງໄທ ໄດ້ລາຍງານຂ່າວຈຳ
ນວນຫນຶ່ງ ເຊິ່ງຖືເປັນການເສກສັນປັ້ນແຕ່ງເລື່ອງທີ່ບໍ່ມີມູນຄວາມຈິງ ໃສ່ຮ້າຍປ້າຍສີ ສປປ ລາວ ຂອງພວກເຮົາ ໂດຍສະ
ເພາະນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ ຫນັງສືພິມຜູ້ຈັດການສະບັບລົງວັນທີ 10 ກັນຍາ 2007 ໄດ້ລາຍງານຂ່າວ ໂດຍອ້າງແຫລ່ງ
ຂ່າວຈາກສູນຂ່າວຂອນແກ່ນ ໄດ້ກ່າວຫາວ່າ: ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ ເປັນສູນກາງການຄ້າຢາເສບຕິດແຫ່ງເອເຊຍ ເປັນ
ຈຸດນັດພົບຂອງພວກພໍ່ຄ້າ ແລະ ຜູ້ຜະລິດຢາເສບຕິດຈາກຫລາຍປະເທດ ແຕ່ຢາບ້າ-ກັນຊາແຫ້ງ ຈະເກັບພັກໄວ້ໃນພື້ນທີ່
ຈະລຳລຽງຈາກແຫລ່ງຜະລິດໃນມຽນມາ ຜ່ານ ສປປ ລາວ ສົ່ງຕໍ່ລູກຄ້າໃນປະເທດທີ 3 ແລະ ຍັງໄດ້ເວົ້າອີກວ່າ: ກຸ່ມນັກຄ້າ
ລາຍໃຫຍ່ໃນວຽງຈັນ ມີທັງກຸ່ມຫວຽດນາມ ແລະ ຫວຽດກຽວ ກຸ່ມຄົນຈີນ-ມາເລເຊຍ ຂະນະທີ່ກຸ່ມຜູູ້ຄ້າຢາເສບຕິດ/ຄ້າມະ
ນຸດ ຈາກລາວເຂົ້າໄທອັນຕະລາຍ ເພາະມີເປົ້າຫມາຍສົ່ງຢານະລົກເຂົ້າໄທໂດຍກົງ ນອກນັ້ນ ຫນັງສືພິມສະບັບດັ່ງກ່າວຍັງ
ລະບຸວ່າ: ພື້ນທີ່ເຂດເມືອງສັງທອງ ເມືອງສີໂຄດ ເມືອງຫາດຊາຍຟອງ ເມືອງປາກງື່ມ ເມືອງໄຊທານີ ແລະ ອື່ນໆ ເປັນຈຸດ
ແວ່ພັກຂອງຢາເສບຕິດ ການເສກສັນປັ້ນແຕ່ງເລື່ອງທີ່ບໍ່ມີມູນຄວາມຈິງ ຂອງກຸ່ມຄົນຜູ້ບໍ່ຫວັງດີເຫລົ່ານັ້ນ ມີເຈດຕະນາ
ແລະ ຈຸດປະສົງຫຍັງກັນແທ້ ? ຂໍ້ມູນຕ່າງໆທີ່ກ່າວມາ ກໍລ້ວນແຕ່ບໍ່ມີຄວາມເປັນຈິງ ເຊິ່ງມັນໄດ້ເຮັດໃຫ້ປະຊາຊົນໃນຂົງ
ເຂດດັ່ງກ່າວ ທີ່ທຳມາຫາກິນດ້ວຍຄວາມສະຫງົບສຸກ ມີຄວາມເປັນຫ່ວງ ກັງວົນ ແລະ ຢ້ານກົວ ເຈດຕະນາ ດັ່ງກ່າວນີ້
ເຊິ່ງນອກຈາກຈະເປັນການທຳລາຍຊື່ສຽງຂອງ ສປປ ລາວ ແລ້ວ ມັນຍັງເປັນການສ້າງຜົນເສຍຫາຍໃຫ້ແກ່ສາຍພົວພັນອັນ
ດີລະຫວ່າງລາວ ແລະ ໄທ ນຳອີກ ໃນໂຕຈິງແລ້ວ ພວກເຮົາອາດຈະໄດ້ເຫັນໄດ້ຟັງສື່ມວນຊົນຂອງໄທລາຍງານຂ່າວຕະ
ຫລອດມາວ່າ ມີການຈັບກຸມພວກພໍ່ຄ້າຢາເສບຕິດ ເຊິ່ງເຫດການກໍເກີດຢູ່ໃນປະເທດໄທ ແລະ ກໍແມ່ນຄົນຂອງປະເທດເຂົາ
ເຈົ້າເອງເປັນຜູ້ກະທຳຜິດ ແຕ່ຊ້ຳພັດໃສ່ຮ້າຍປ້າຍສີ ໂຍນຄວາມບໍ່ດີໃສ່ຜູ້ອື່ນ ເຊິ່ງມັນກໍບໍ່ຕ່າງຫຍັງກັບຄຳບູຮານທີ່ວ່າ: ຜູ້ໃດ
ກິນປູນ ຜູ້ນັ້ນຮ້ອນທ້ອງ ຫລືວ່າໂຈນຮ້ອງຈັບໂຈນນັ້ນເອງ ຕາມຂ່າວຍັງໃຫ້ຮູ້ວ່າ ເມື່ອເຈົ້າຫນ້າທີ່ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງກັບການຄວບ
ຄຸມຢາເສບຕິດປະຊຸມກັນຢູ່ຂອນແກ່ນ ຍັງອະນຸຍາດໃຫ້ນັກຂ່າວໄປເກັບກຳເອົາຂ່າວຕ່າງໆນຳມາອອກໃຫ້ສື່ມວນຊົນຮູ້
ພວກເຮົາທີ່ເປັນເຈົ້າຫນ້າທີ່ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງຂອງລັດບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈວ່າ ການກະທຳແບບນີ້ຂອງຝ່າຍໄທ ແມ່ນຢາກໄດ້ຫຍັງກັນແທ້ຫລັກ
ການທີ່ໄດ້ຕົກລົງກັນຢູ່ແຂວງຫລວງພະບາງ ໃນວັນທີ 19 ກໍລະກົດ 2005 ໄດ້ເວົ້າວ່າ: ພວກເຮົາບໍ່ຄວນເອົາເລື່ອງຂອງອີກ
ຝ່າຍຫນຶ່ງມາເປີດເຜີຍໃນລັກສະນະໂຈມຕີກັນ ຖ້າເຈົ້າຫນ້າທີ່ຝ່າຍໄທຍັງສືບຕໍ່ອັນທີ່ເວົ້າວ່າ: ຢາກຮ່ວມມືກັນຢ່າງສ້າງສັນ
ນັ້ນ ຍັງເປັນແບບນີ້ຕໍ່ໄປ ພວກເຮົາກໍຢູ່ໃນຄວາມຫຍຸ້ງຍາກທີ່ສຸດ ທີ່ຈະເຊື່ອໃນຄວາມເວົ້າທີ່ບໍ່ກົງກັນກັບການກະທຳ

Saffron · Senior Member

Anonymous wrote:

A senior drug control official yesterday admonished The Manager newspaper, a Thai publication for making allegations unjustly accusing Vientiane as being a centre for the drugs trade and a meeting point for drug dealers and producers in Asia, report Vientianetimes newspaper.

Do you agree or disagree with this news?

If you going to post anything like this. Atleast put a source of your topic. You need to post a link or webaddress.

I want to discuss this topic too but I can't make comment because you said it. Anyone can do that. That how rumor get started and that how Thai-Laos got upset at at each other in the past.

Saffron · Senior Member

Anonymous wrote:

Why is it destroying Lao-Thai relations? Laos is used as a major route in the drugs trade, this is a FACT. The Lao government is very childish. Every time it hears news that is critical of Laos it complains about 'destroying relations'!! The drugs problem NEEDS to be discussed, not covered up. If the government reacts like this to such news people will think it is because senior Party members are involved in the drugs trade, which may or may not be true, but again, we don't know because they are not being transparent.

Admin (Samakomelao) said I can't make accusation or redicule Laos government at all. I have to treat them with respect. :(

Date: Oct 24, 2007

Popular food menu for foreigners in Vang vieng city

Date: Oct 25, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Popular food menu for foreigners in Vang vieng city

There is no indication that this menu available in Vang Vieng. It could be in Chieng Rai or else in Thailand.

Date: Oct 25, 2007

Thai media destroys Lao-Thai relations

A senior drug control official yesterday admonished The Manager newspaper, a Thai publication for making allegations unjustly accusing Vientiane as being a centre for the drugs trade and a meeting point for drug dealers and producers in Asia .

Head of Office of the Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision, Mr Ounseng Vixay, said at a press conference in Vientiane that The Manager had failed to substantiate its information, which was published on September 10, 2007. The newspaper stated its source as the Khon Kaen provincial news agency of Thailand .

The newspaper said drugs including amphetamines and dried cannabis were being trafficked from production areas in Myanmar through Laos , for export to clients in third countries. It also claimed that major drug dealers in Vientiane included Vietnamese and Chinese-Malay groups. As well as trading in drugs, the paper said, these groups had engaged in human trafficking, sending Lao people into Thailand to carry dangerous drugs to that country.

In addition, the newspaper claimed that the districts of Sangthong, Sikhottabong, Hadxaifong, Pakngum, Xaythany and other areas were points of transfer for the drug trade.

Mr Ounseng said “What is the precise objective of these ill-intentioned groups in creating such a baseless story?”

He said the information and accusations contained in The Manager were groundless and caused people living peacefully and contentedly in these areas to be concerned and frightened.

The intentions of this group had not only damaged the reputation and credit of the Lao PDR, but had also damaged the good relations between Laos and Thailand , he added.

“We often watch and listen to Thai media reports, which publicise the arrest of groups of drug dealers in Thailand , who are trading in narcotics and are themselves Thai, but in this c ase they are accusing a neighbouring country and making false accusations,” he said. “It seems that it's a case of ‘if the shoe fits' or ‘if you eat limes, your stomach will get hot'”.

“We, Lao government officials, don't understand what Thailand wants to achieve by this,” he said.

“Agreements between the Lao and Thai governments signed in Luang Prabang province, Laos , on July 19, 2005, state that we, Laos and Thailand , will not publish stories about the other country that are inflammatory and create misunderstandings.”

If Thai officials insist on sticking by the story, Mr Ounseng said, “We want to continue creative cooperation but what you say and do are two different things. It is very difficult for us to reconcile what you have said with what you do in practice”.

http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/Previous_250/Current/Current_Thai%20media.htm

Date: Oct 25, 2007

Saffron wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Why is it destroying Lao-Thai relations? Laos is used as a major route in the drugs trade, this is a FACT. The Lao government is very childish. Every time it hears news that is critical of Laos it complains about 'destroying relations'!! The drugs problem NEEDS to be discussed, not covered up. If the government reacts like this to such news people will think it is because senior Party members are involved in the drugs trade, which may or may not be true, but again, we don't know because they are not being transparent.

Admin (Samakomelao) said I can't make accusation or redicule Laos government at all. I have to treat them with respect. :(

Where does it say you cannot make accusations or ridicule the Government of the Lao Party's Dumb Republic? There are alot of accusations being made against the Lao government and a lot of ridicule against a lot of people in this discussion. That is the whole point of an internet debate - we say things here that we cannot say in other places. Sure Samakomlao can censor the debate if they want to but that when they do that it makes them look really stupid.

Date: Oct 25, 2007

In the article they mention "Chinese-Malay groups" - the Chinese-Malay consortium that owns the Dansavanh Casino, and the Done Chan Palace Hotel are the most influential "Chinese-Malay group" in Laos. Their casino and their hotel were approved directly by the politburo without any consultation of government or international agencies. This "Chinese-Malay group" are very powerful, they have direct connections to the politburo and no law will stand against them, and it is very possible that they are also dealing in drugs: as in other parts of the world, gambling and the drugs trade are often related. They get away with it because they are close to the top Party leaders. Who can stop them? Nobody. Can anyone prove they are dealing in drugs - of course not - because the laws in Laos are weak and the government's ability to enforce them is even weaker. The point is that anyone could be dealing drugs and we would never know because there is no accountability in government in Laos.

Date: Oct 25, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Popular food menu for foreigners in Vang vieng city

There is no indication that this menu available in Vang Vieng. It could be in Chieng Rai or else in Thailand.

I have seen this same menu in Vang Vieng. Come on, stop putting Lao problems onto Thailand - every time something goes wrong in Laos, people blame Thailand - they should take responsibility for problems instead of passing it on - all the time its just whinge whinge whinge - thai media this, thai government that, thai negative influence this, thai prostitutes that - stop acting like spoilt little children

Date: Oct 25, 2007

I am sick and tired of people "BLAH BLAH" about this nonsense and stupid topic. COME ON ALL MATURE ADULTS!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH !!!

Date: Oct 25, 2007

what have you got to say that is mature? What constructive imput do you have? What suggestions? What is your argument kon blah blah?

Date: Oct 25, 2007

Some evidence to prove that many of the restaurants in Vang vieng serve Opium for foreigners,

Date: Oct 25, 2007

This menu could be made up by ill intentioned group, no doubt. Just for argument. Who knows?

Date: Oct 25, 2007

Opium is legal in Laos. This one is acceptable.
More tourists will come to visit us and enjoy opium here

Date: Oct 25, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

This menu could be made up by ill intentioned group, no doubt. Just for argument. Who knows?

You are not saying this 'just for argument'!! You have a reason to try to deny that there are restaurants selling drugs in Laos despite photographic evidence and the testimony of just about anyone who has ever toured Vang Vieng. You should not hide your true interests. It is a common government strategy to blame issues that affect its image on anonymous 'ill-intentioned groups' as if there are evil ghosts out there trying to attack it for no good reason. This strategy is archaic and counterproductive and only serves to isolate the government. Instead you should be talking about ways in which restaurants selling opium in Vang Vieng can be shut down by the government, but you just deny that a problem exists ..

Date: Oct 25, 2007

If you are talking about agency selling drugs in society, I wonder there are also lots of drug agencies in Thailand which Thai police cannot arrest.

Is it Thai government involving in the matter of drug dealer or producers in Asia?

Date: Oct 25, 2007

Of course they are, and there is a lot of discussion about drugs in Thailand - just two years ago there was international discussion of Thaksin's so-called 'War against drugs' and whether it actually resulted in a decline in the drugs production and trade in Thailand or if it protected government involvement. It has also been argued that it actually increased the trade in laos and burma by chasing dealers away from Thailand, so what is your point? We are talking about LAOS. The difference is that in Thailand people DO talk and debate about these issues and the government, while it may have members involved in drugs, has actually done something quite public to stop the trade, but in Laos the government just tries to ignore the problem and, like you, blame it on Thailand.

Date: Oct 25, 2007

My Japanese friends just came back from Laos.
The thing that surprised them a lot was the youth in Vang vieng asked them whether they want to try and buy a small bag of opium.

Date: Oct 25, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Of course they are, and there is a lot of discussion about drugs in Thailand - just two years ago there was international discussion of Thaksin's so-called 'War against drugs' and whether it actually resulted in a decline in the drugs production and trade in Thailand or if it protected government involvement. It has also been argued that it actually increased the trade in laos and burma by chasing dealers away from Thailand, so what is your point? We are talking about LAOS. The difference is that in Thailand people DO talk and debate about these issues and the government, while it may have members involved in drugs, has actually done something quite public to stop the trade, but in Laos the government just tries to ignore the problem and, like you, blame it on Thailand.

If Thai officials insist on sticking by the story, Mr Ounseng said, “We want to continue creative cooperation but what you say and do are two different things. It is very difficult for us to reconcile what you have said with what you do in practice”.

http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/Previous_250/Current/Current_Thai%20media.htm

Date: Oct 25, 2007

Look at the layout MENU and the kind of ENGLISH that it was being used I believe it's in LAO not anywhere else, I want to say that I am also from LAO. But to tell you the truth for me I have not been to VANG VIENG yet but what I see from the pictures in this topic....MENU with OPIUM TEA...it is disguting, it sounds like LAO is a country without LAW. There are issues and problems with drugs in LAO and nothing wrong to point them out.
TO FIX IT OR TO LIVE WITH IT, and don't blame other to state that LAO is a DRUGS STATE.

Date: Oct 25, 2007

Yes, I had been in Vang Vieng 2 times, but never seen this kind of menu. I live in Vientiane City.

I must accept that there is a law in Laos. However, our officials cannot catch all the drug agencies. It would be not diffrent from the situation in Thailand and other countries around the world.

Only stupid people would think if Laos has a law, there would be no drug sellers. Look at in other countries there is a lot of drug dealers, although they have laws.

I don't know if you know how many cases our officials arrested them for the last few years. And some cases the drug sellers were even killed.

Date: Oct 25, 2007

Opium is light and taste like cigaret. It is legal in Laos.
if there is no ban for cigaret, then the opium would be ok.

Date: Oct 26, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Look at the layout MENU and the kind of ENGLISH that it was being used I believe it's in LAO not anywhere else, I want to say that I am also from LAO. But to tell you the truth for me I have not been to VANG VIENG yet but what I see from the pictures in this topic....MENU with OPIUM TEA...it is disguting, it sounds like LAO is a country without LAW. There are issues and problems with drugs in LAO and nothing wrong to point them out.
TO FIX IT OR TO LIVE WITH IT, and don't blame other to state that LAO is a DRUGS STATE.

Right on!

Date: Oct 26, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Of course they are, and there is a lot of discussion about drugs in Thailand - just two years ago there was international discussion of Thaksin's so-called 'War against drugs' and whether it actually resulted in a decline in the drugs production and trade in Thailand or if it protected government involvement. It has also been argued that it actually increased the trade in laos and burma by chasing dealers away from Thailand, so what is your point? We are talking about LAOS. The difference is that in Thailand people DO talk and debate about these issues and the government, while it may have members involved in drugs, has actually done something quite public to stop the trade, but in Laos the government just tries to ignore the problem and, like you, blame it on Thailand.

If Thai officials insist on sticking by the story, Mr Ounseng said, “We want to continue creative cooperation but what you say and do are two different things. It is very difficult for us to reconcile what you have said with what you do in practice”.

http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/Previous_250/Current/Current_Thai%20media.htm

Ummm, what? So Ounseng points out that Thailand also has a drugs problem and hints that because of this, if they keep talking about the Lao drugs problem then it may prevent good cooperation? As I said before, it is like watching an argument between two primary school children. Laos should accept its problem not blame Thailand for pointing out its problem.

Date: Oct 26, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, I had been in Vang Vieng 2 times, but never seen this kind of menu. I live in Vientiane City.

I must accept that there is a law in Laos. However, our officials cannot catch all the drug agencies. It would be not diffrent from the situation in Thailand and other countries around the world.

Only stupid people would think if Laos has a law, there would be no drug sellers. Look at in other countries there is a lot of drug dealers, although they have laws.

I don't know if you know how many cases our officials arrested them for the last few years. And some cases the drug sellers were even killed.

Impossible to tell exactly because the Lao media will not report cases in which the Lao Army are involved in trafficking, even though the government and army try to stop it. They don't want people to know that some army officers are corrupt and traffick drugs, so they don't allow the media to report. Its the same old problem. Senior Lao leaders are 'above' the law, and 'above' being accountable to the public through scrutiny of their actions by the media.

Date: Oct 26, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, I had been in Vang Vieng 2 times, but never seen this kind of menu. I live in Vientiane City.

I must accept that there is a law in Laos. However, our officials cannot catch all the drug agencies. It would be not diffrent from the situation in Thailand and other countries around the world.

Only stupid people would think if Laos has a law, there would be no drug sellers. Look at in other countries there is a lot of drug dealers, although they have laws.

I don't know if you know how many cases our officials arrested them for the last few years. And some cases the drug sellers were even killed.

Impossible to tell exactly because the Lao media will not report cases in which the Lao Army are involved in trafficking, even though the government and army try to stop it. They don't want people to know that some army officers are corrupt and traffick drugs, so they don't allow the media to report. Its the same old problem. Senior Lao leaders are 'above' the law, and 'above' being accountable to the public through scrutiny of their actions by the media.

I am surprised by the fact that someone claimed that the Lao media did not report cases in which the Lao Army are involved in trafficking. How would Lao media report the event which doesn't exist or happen? Personally I think that Lao medias have their own ethic, unlike Thai medias who can write not based on evidences or the thruth, but just make assumption. No wonder, in Thai society people hate each other. The society seems to be not so civilized. People try to accusse each other like in 18 century. I really feel sorry for Mr. Thaksin who did good for Thailand, but got bad. Some Thai media just accused him but no proof. It is so sad.

Date: Oct 26, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, I had been in Vang Vieng 2 times, but never seen this kind of menu. I live in Vientiane City.

I must accept that there is a law in Laos. However, our officials cannot catch all the drug agencies. It would be not diffrent from the situation in Thailand and other countries around the world.

Only stupid people would think if Laos has a law, there would be no drug sellers. Look at in other countries there is a lot of drug dealers, although they have laws.

I don't know if you know how many cases our officials arrested them for the last few years. And some cases the drug sellers were even killed.

Impossible to tell exactly because the Lao media will not report cases in which the Lao Army are involved in trafficking, even though the government and army try to stop it. They don't want people to know that some army officers are corrupt and traffick drugs, so they don't allow the media to report. Its the same old problem. Senior Lao leaders are 'above' the law, and 'above' being accountable to the public through scrutiny of their actions by the media.

I am surprised by the fact that someone claimed that the Lao media did not report cases in which the Lao Army are involved in trafficking. How would Lao media report the event which doesn't exist or happen? Personally I think that Lao medias have their own ethic, unlike Thai medias who can write not based on evidences or the thruth, but just make assumption. No wonder, in Thai society people hate each other. The society seems to be not so civilized. People try to accusse each other like in 18 century. I really feel sorry for Mr. Thaksin who did good for Thailand, but got bad. Some Thai media just accused him but no proof. It is so sad.

You might find alot of things surprising but the fact is that journalists who investigate stories and find out information are unable to report it because their editors are under direct pressure from government not to report sensitive issues. So in answer to your question, the Lao media DOES know it is happening. They DO get reports of drugs being smuggled using 'Lao army trucks' and by men wearing 'Lao army uniforms' but they are unable to report it because they will be shut down. You can think what you want 'personally' but the fact is that the Lao media does not even have a media law, whereas in Thailand they do have one. So the Lao media DOES NOT have its own ethic. It just has to follow its political masters. The Thai media is also under pressure, but there is a very definate journalistic ethic in Thailand, and not even a weak one in Laos.

And again, why is it that you have to blame everything on Thailand? "No wonder Thai people hate each other" - Lao people are split over the entire world due to a war that divided them between pro-americans and communists. You may not like it but there are still many anti-government Lao in the world - so who hates each other now? - and I bet you could try and blame that one on Thailand as well.

What is sad is Laos not accepting its problems and blaming them on Thailand.

Date: Oct 26, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, I had been in Vang Vieng 2 times, but never seen this kind of menu. I live in Vientiane City.

I must accept that there is a law in Laos. However, our officials cannot catch all the drug agencies. It would be not diffrent from the situation in Thailand and other countries around the world.

Only stupid people would think if Laos has a law, there would be no drug sellers. Look at in other countries there is a lot of drug dealers, although they have laws.

I don't know if you know how many cases our officials arrested them for the last few years. And some cases the drug sellers were even killed.

Impossible to tell exactly because the Lao media will not report cases in which the Lao Army are involved in trafficking, even though the government and army try to stop it. They don't want people to know that some army officers are corrupt and traffick drugs, so they don't allow the media to report. Its the same old problem. Senior Lao leaders are 'above' the law, and 'above' being accountable to the public through scrutiny of their actions by the media.

I am surprised by the fact that someone claimed that the Lao media did not report cases in which the Lao Army are involved in trafficking. How would Lao media report the event which doesn't exist or happen? Personally I think that Lao medias have their own ethic, unlike Thai medias who can write not based on evidences or the thruth, but just make assumption. No wonder, in Thai society people hate each other. The society seems to be not so civilized. People try to accusse each other like in 18 century. I really feel sorry for Mr. Thaksin who did good for Thailand, but got bad. Some Thai media just accused him but no proof. It is so sad.

You might find alot of things surprising but the fact is that journalists who investigate stories and find out information are unable to report it because their editors are under direct pressure from government not to report sensitive issues. So in answer to your question, the Lao media DOES know it is happening. They DO get reports of drugs being smuggled using 'Lao army trucks' and by men wearing 'Lao army uniforms' but they are unable to report it because they will be shut down. You can think what you want 'personally' but the fact is that the Lao media does not even have a media law, whereas in Thailand they do have one. So the Lao media DOES NOT have its own ethic. It just has to follow its political masters. The Thai media is also under pressure, but there is a very definate journalistic ethic in Thailand, and not even a weak one in Laos.

And again, why is it that you have to blame everything on Thailand? "No wonder Thai people hate each other" - Lao people are split over the entire world due to a war that divided them between pro-americans and communists. You may not like it but there are still many anti-government Lao in the world - so who hates each other now? - and I bet you could try and blame that one on Thailand as well.

What is sad is Laos not accepting its problems and blaming them on Thailand.

Wow!!! It seemed you are really confident about drugs being smuggled using 'Lao army trucks' and by men wearing 'Lao army uniforms'. Do you have any evidences? If yes, why Thai police did not catch them? Put them in jail or even kill them. But so far I never heard, the say the least.
Regarding the war, it was a past for Laos, even Thai media would try hard to make it happened. However, it will not happen anymore.
Regretably I only have heard that war is going on Southern part of Thailand.

chiip · Guru

if we are innocent, I wonder why don`t we take legal action against the " Manager media " to prove our innocence and at the same time to punish the media for growndless accusation ?

regards