Encroachment on protected areas resulting from the planting of industrial crops has ranked as the biggest concern in National Assembly debates since Monday.
Members said the forestry encroachment occurred due to a lack of land surveys for commercial crop plantations, especially in Luang Namtha and Attapeu provinces.
Forestry loss was related to failure to monitor the implementation of investment projects, which affected the livelihoods of local villagers and potential hydropower development in Laos .
The second biggest concern of members was related to the violation of financial principles.
Some government sectors had spent the money they earned without informing the assembly.
According to the law, all income must be submitted to the national budget and all budget expenditure must be approved by the assembly. If not, the expenditure is considered illegal.
The assembly urged the government to invest more in social and cultural development, especially education, as members thought human resource development would have a long-term positive impact on development and poverty reduction.
NA member for Phongsaly province Mr Ousavanh Thiengthepvongsa said he agreed with the government's proposal to avoid slashing budget expenditure, but the budget needed to be better targeted to stimulate domestic productivity and export opportunities.
NA member for Vientiane province Mr Khammeung Vongthady said the implementation of the Party's policy to alleviate poverty was not sufficiently effective due to the scattered resettlement of some people.
“People relocate because they don't have land to earn a living. I want the government to have a clear plan and relocate villagers appropriately,” he said.
NA member for Huaphan province Mr Tongyeuthor said the government needed to invest more in rural areas and build roads and irrigation to encourage greater productivity.
The merging of villages for development lacked a clear plan and funding, while rural development was still behind schedule
Land and job allocation for those who had ceased shifting (slash and burn) cultivation had not caught up with the set plan.
The assembly also discussed administrative tasks that had gone over budget.
Members said the use of some state property and the operation of state-owned enterprises was not efficient enough. In addition, the government did not have a clear policy to promote family-run businesses.
They also said corruption had become a chronic issue in Laos and was related to the abuse of power, with some officials carrying out corrupt activities in groups.
The State Audit Organisation had identified budget leaks, but had yet to formally propose a solution to the issue, or identify whether the shortfall would be recovered.
Most agreed that law enforcement needed to be stricter, avoiding double standards, and that people who violated the law must face legal action.
"Legal action" This word sounds powerful, but who cares. Most high rang Government official are corrupted and they all are above the laws.Who would trial these corrupters, i gess nobody could. All the problem that Laos have are related to corruption and lact of laws enforcement.
NA member for samakomlao said the government need to control and crackdown the corruption of local areas of each provinces, crackdown the cutting tree and destoying the forest of local without any plans. crackdown the illegal logging and cutting the tree illegally in some areas.
Giving knowleges to the locals and more concern about the fire on the dry season.
