I just come across this document and wish to share with this forum
U.S. national interests in Laos remain unchanged, focusing on five main issues: -- Reducing the cultivation of opium through law enforcement, crop substitution and infrastructure development; -- Finding the remains of U.S. citizens missing in action and assisting in the removal of unexploded ordinance from the Indochina conflict; -- Promoting respect for human rights, including religious freedom; -- Encouraging movement towards a market-oriented economy; and -- Countering global terrorism.
All of these issues continue to be important, with increased support for clearing unexploded ordinances (UXO) an Embassy priority for the years ahead. The long-term U.S. interest is to encourage a transition to representative government with a significantly improved human rights record and a viable, marketbased economy. The United States also has a humanitarian interest in addressing the effects of the country’s extreme poverty by providing assistance to improve health and generate income in rural areas. The aim is to help the impoverished people of Laos without helping or lending credence to the one-party Communist regime.
Just wonder how the US wants to help Lao people without helping or cooperating with Lao govt.
Anyone knows how much money the US govt provides each year for clearing their dirty belongings left over Lao land (UXO) Source: http://www.usaid.gov/policy/budget/cbj2005/ane/pdf/laos_cbj_fy05.pdf
If only 2 millions dollar for helping LAO to clear the bombs which they (the americans) dropped then it's not really generous isn't it?!!!! Remember they dropped more bombs in LAO than the World War 2. American does not not have big heart in this issue, very sticky.
The american can drop hip of bombs but their heart is too little when comes to helping matter. They don't have big heart. They are still spending billion dollars for war, but very small amount of money for repairing the damages done by the bombs and the war itself.
America gave 12 million us dollar to Laos last year. Thats is less than China, Thailand, Vietnam, Or even Sweden. They dont care about Laos. They are keeping a hush, because they dont want the world to know that they dropped all those bombs on a neutral country.
Its gonna take more than 2 million dollars to clean up their bombs. The area in which they dropped those bombs are in a remote mounteous areas. I wonder if they gonna clean up Irag, and Afghanistan too.
I dont think the last person's data is correct. Ypou should provide the source as well.
Here is the data from Landmine monitor's site: http://www.icbl.org/lm/2007/lao.html#footnote-2720-119
In 2006 international donations totaling $13,383,571 (€10,653,164) for mine action in Laos. Such amount is not only for UXO clearance but also for other mine action related programme in which from the US: $4,900,000, consisting of $3,400,000 from the Department of State and $1,500,000 from USAID/Leahy War Victims Fund.
No. of accidents and casulties in 2006 and first six months of 2007
First six months of 2007 Accidents Casualties Deaths Injured 38 79 21 58
Are you sure for that? Look again the american supported Pevez the dictator of Pakistan, and in the past Sadam Hussein. American only did things for their interest not just the word freedom or democracy as the person above stated. For me sometime it sounds like a farse. Why USA supported dictators around the world, because it served their foreign policy. Why the american helped to build up Sadam Hussein's army in the past? So Sadam Hussein could have war with IRAN ( american ennemy ). So much for democracy isn't it. Oh common.
What does human rights got to do with it. They (usa) dropped a bomb on a poor neutral country. And its their responsibility to clean it up, its the right thing to do. And its a human right thing to do.
I'm sure those bombs does not care wether he or she is a communist.
Hey Lao Nok where are you? give your comments on this issue of the dark side of the US. it seems that you are not interested in this topic of your part of the history and the destruction to your mother land caused by your worship US.
you are lao or not? base on your comment i think you are not lao, that why your comment is worse like that. if your parent got bite up, what you wil do? you will look at her without any help? if you say yes. that i know what type of person you are,
"They are keeping a hush, because they dont want the world to know that they dropped all those bombs on a neutral country." Thats funny a "neutral country". Prince Souvanna Phouma fought hard for Laos neutrality at the Geneva Conference. But North Vietnam broke the written agreement and invaded Laos. There they set up the "Ho Chi Minh Trail" to invade south Vietnam.Opps, I guess they didn't tell you that big brother Vietnam was the reasoning for the boombings.
Do you think that the US care about Laos? if it does it would not drop all those bombs and killed innoscent laotians. If it turns its attention to Laos then that means only one thing "TROUBLE". Laos mean nothing to America and vice versa. Laos should should make laws to help its small time lao economy and improve its standard of living. Keep thing simple. Keep corruption to its absolute minimum and do thing in its own pace/term. Japan has made its presence felt I don't understand why people keep bringing up America. If there is an issue then bring it up with the UN.
ASEAN is where Laos should seek assistance if needed for a start.
I have a document DVD which I bought in the shop here in Australia, the name of this document ' Descent to hell ' done by the americans themselve. The final comment of this document by Mcnumara the architect of Indochina war himself, he said ' The war in Indochina ' was wrong. There you are so secretly dropping bombs in LAO by american also wrong accordingly to Mcnumara ( the architect of the war in Inochina ). Nothing else but wrong, you can verify this statement is in this document ' DESCENT TO HELL ' about 3 hours. Common lao who live in USA, get the DVD and learn about the true picture of this matter. Common.
Whoa!! I think you guys need to take a deep breath and calm down. Grasping the past will not solve any problems. Many Lao Nai keeping asking us, Lao Nok, if we know Lao's history. I think many of us should know the tradegy by now since you guys are constantly shoving it up our throats. Are we proud of the bombing? Of course not; however, we can't go around terrorizing other people to satisfy your anger. Do we even care about Laos? If we don't care, we probably wouldn't be here on this discussion board in the first place. Most of us came here to learn more our heritage and culture, not to pick a fight. From my observation, it seems like most Lao Nai hold aggression against Lao Nok for many reasons uncleared and childish to me. Like I said before, holding to the past will not solve any problems. Life is short. Let go of the resentments and live your life to its fullest potential freed of anger and hostility.
I partly agree with your statement. HOWEVER, if one looks back various posts in the forum many of Lao Nok are very ill-minded towards Lao Nai and the current Lao government by critizing very negatively nothing is good with this govt. without giving constructive comments and open-minded attitude.
Some also praise the US and wants Laos to follow US democracy propaganda and values which I think are not that suitable for Laos which has its own values and practices.
I'd love to see positive contributions from every Lao-blood person both inside and outside the country. we can learn from the past and move forward towards a brighter future of our motherland and all lao people.
i've been thinking..... i wonder how long will all those countries continue donating $$ to laos?? soon... they will catch on.. saying enough is enough!!! i think it is time for laos to fly on their own.. as much as i love laos, i really hate to say that.... but at some point of time... laos need to do things on their own and stop depending on other countries funding.
Whoa!! I think you guys need to take a deep breath and calm down. Grasping the past will not solve any problems. Many Lao Nai keeping asking us, Lao Nok, if we know Lao's history. I think many of us should know the tradegy by now since you guys are constantly shoving it up our throats. Are we proud of the bombing? Of course not; however, we can't go around terrorizing other people to satisfy your anger. Do we even care about Laos? If we don't care, we probably wouldn't be here on this discussion board in the first place. Most of us came here to learn more our heritage and culture, not to pick a fight. From my observation, it seems like most Lao Nai hold aggression against Lao Nok for many reasons uncleared and childish to me. Like I said before, holding to the past will not solve any problems. Life is short. Let go of the resentments and live your life to its fullest potential freed of anger and hostility.
Lao in Laos does (Lao Nai) resent Laos who left the countries when commies took over. It is the educated and the elite of the Lao in Laos that have time to take snipe at Lao Nokk. The other Laotians don't care because they are too busy working to bring food to their family. Lao Nai think they are better now because they have the education, the mansion, and the car. I am happy that they have the education and living well. They should use that education to bridge the gap just as Lao Nokk trying to do. Lao Nokk is reaching out but Lao Nai is not even try.
