It's been 31 years now...I think it's time to remove the "Hammer & Sickle" flag...Or stop it from displaying or flying along side the national flag...The whole world knows that Laos is one of five remaining Communist counties still exist in this planet...
In my opinion, I think that the "Hammer & Sickle" flag will fly along with LPDR as long as the current leaders remain in power. We just hope that when the new generation (with younger and smarter idea) and not as pro Marxist and Lenin as of now,comes into power; then we'll see the national LPDR flag to fly by itself.
I don't like the LPDR flag...I'd rather see dok champa on the flag or paya narg. if not i want the Erawan elephant back...it's not about the King, it's about us being Laos!!! Fa Ngum...
It's been 31 years now...I think it's time to remove the "Hammer & Sickle" flag...Or stop it from displaying or flying along side the national flag...The whole world knows that Laos is one of five remaining Communist counties still exist in this planet...
I don't think that there's some thing wrong with having "hammer & Sickle" flag besides the National flag. are you ashamed of your country being communist?
I argee with the comment that communism is a valuable part of Lao history and something that foreigners want to come and learn about. There are also certainly alternatives to the American political system, which is hardly worth replicating in Laos. Anyway, this is not just about the 'hammer and sickle' flag though, it is about what it represents. To get rid of it means to transform the political system in some way, even if this means keeping a single Party. The question is what does the Party represent now, in contemporary Laos. Communism is history. So what is the Party about today?
Hey! Buddy! Could you please be pround about your home country? Rather than blaming, Can you say something that contribute to the socity? Can you see what had we got from being French colony? notthing!!!!! They just took away our resources and never build for us! how much land we lost to our neighboring country? can you see that? So, To be pround being Lao!!!
Ok..The same pro. commie person, you can post as many comments as you want to....I am always proud of being khon Lao. I love Laos, but I don't like Communist system government running the country now.
Look at France just had presidential election last week. I would like to see Lao people to have their own choice. To choose whoever their representatives and their President. Right now, Lao people had no voice.
But, I will bet, Communist will not be forever remained in Laos running the country. Whenever the old dudes (originally from Vieng Xay cave) passed away, new younger and smarter and more educated leaders will guide Laos to the new and prosper nation.
I agree communist will not last forever look at the big communist country now they are turning capitalist because they know that being communist does not make their country better but make them poorer and moving more backward. I am proud to be Lao but do not want to be under communist regime for ever.
They follow the "capitalist" market economy style. Did you know that?
Yup Yup they all don't follow the Traditional Communism that Marx thought up in the late 1800s. The revolution took place, but Marx and all Communists overlooked on single important factor.
The Human factor.
Not everyone wants to be equal, to be paid the same, to be, as my teacher says, "beige".
They follow the "capitalist" market economy style. Did you know that?
They follow the "capitalist" market economy style" but they are still communist countries. So why not Laos? We are now also following this economic reform. Don't you see or notice that there are many good changes in Laos now? . Please don't try to compare Laos to America and want Laos to be like America.
I agree that China and Vietnam is growing rappedly in economic as a communist country but they also adapt the capitalist in to their countries that is what make them strive if they did not open up to the world do you think that they can support their economy and their people? Same as Lao if Lao does not open up to the world do you think that dam would be buil, casino , hotel , mine and hydro electricity will be creat? No it will not due to the leaning toward capitalism lao citizen are capable to increase their income and the citizen gain more scholarship from other countries to further their educations... Lao are not yet capable of standing on her own two feet but i know that in the future it will when the change come slowerly. Hao jai choi pi nong Lao took took kon na ja.....
I AGREE, IT IS OUT OF DATE. SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH THE COMPUTER AND A PERSON. THEN WE ARE REALLY UP TO DATE WITH THE REST OF OF THE WORLD.........HAHAHA!
HOW ABOUT OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES? THEY HAVEN'T GOT ANY OF THESE FLAGS AND THEY ARE DOING MUCH BETTER THAN US.
LAO GOVERNMENT IS ALWAYS ENCOURAGING US TO BE COMPETITIVE IN WHATEVER YOU DO. E.G AT WORK, SPORT, ETC. SO YOU EXCEL YOUR COMPETITOR. HOW ABOUT OUR GOVERNMENT, THEY SHOULD PRACTICE WHAT THEY TEACH. THAT WAY THE COUNTRY WILL IMPROVE IN NO TIME.
THE GOVERNMENT SAID, THE COUNTRY BELONGS TO EVERYONE, MAYBE WE SHOULD TAKE TURN TO RUN THE COUNTRY ONE DAY PER PERSON, THAT IS FAIR AND SQUARE. DON'T YOU RECKON?
MOST OF THE MEDIA ARE CONTROL BY THE GOVERNMENT. WHERE IS THE FREEDOM OF SPEACH?
ທຸກລະບອບຕ່າງກໍ່ມີຂໍ້ດີ ຂໍ້ເສຍ ຂອງໃຜມັນ I AM SURE WE CAN LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES AND IMPROVE IT NEXT TIME. LEARN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES IS A GOOD THING TO DO.
I HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY; BECAUSE LAOS IS A LANDLOCK COUNTRY, WE CAN'T DO IMPORT EXPORT LIKE OTHER COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE THE COASTLINES. WRONG! LOOK AT SWITZERLAND FOR EXAMPLE. THEY ARE A LANDLOCK COUNTRY BUT THEIR ECONOMY CAN BE COMPARED TO JAPAN, AMERICA, ETC. IT'S BOIL DOWN TO A GOOD LEADER, IF WE HAVE A GOOD & SMART LEADER WHO HAS A BACKGROUND IN ECONOMY, I AM SURE WE BOOST OUR ECONOMY UP IN NO TIME.
You can't compare Switzerland to Laos because Switzerland has friendly neighbors. Laos has neighbors who at all one point were at war with them, and themselves. Vietnam War, Khmer Rouge, Burma, and the expansionist Thailand at one point. The situation is fragile.
I agree with Kon Wung dee that we can learn from our mistakes and from other countries. To the anonymous person you said we can't compare Switzerland to Laos because Switzerland has friendly neighbors you must not have read or study the history of Europe. Let me give you little lesson about Switzerland.Switzerland was occupied by French, Austrian and Russian troops before. French general Napoleon Bonaparte had conquered Italy in the first Coalition War of France against Great Britain, Austria, Spain and Germany (1792-1797)and formed the Cisalpine Republic in northern Italy in 1797 ( among others, the former subject territories of Swiss canton Grisons became part of the Cisalpine Republic). In 1799 Napoleon seized the power in France by a coup. In the second Coalition War of France against Great Britain, Austria and Russia(1799-1802)southern Germany, northern Italy and in between Switzerland became theaters of war. The Austrians won a first battle near Zurich, the French the second one while the Russian came to assistance of the Austrians with soldiers from Italy but arrived too late and had to flee. I can go on and on about the change in Switzerland . Lao to can change if they are willing to and except and learn from other people's or developing countries... Koy pen kon Lao ti hock meung Lao la yark hai pa tad Lao hao ja leun la gao pai kang na keu pa tad heun..... From Sao Lao with less education..
I just wonder that somebody ever know what the "Hammer & Sikle" means or simbolize? What the "communism" means? What Marx wrote about the communism?
I'm very very doubt that you have read about this. Mostly you heard other say, you may read from the paper and from books writen by others with their own view.
Like many see the simbol of the German's Nazi during WW2 means that's bad, coz it was facist simbol, but know some even try to make it a good thing. Can you explaine what does that mean?
Yes, you said "human factor" that's very right. All becourse the human looks at it, regarless subjective or objective.
If you dont know, I thing you better ask other. I thing it will fill your knowledge, rather then just blaming while you don't know what is what.
About Laos, I don't thing laos is communist country according to the classic Marx theory or even Lenin's one. Yes, the ruling party is the socialist orientation, but not communist. Non of he country in the world that have communist ruling party have communist elements in their country or their serciety if look from classic communist theory. Socialist, yes, there are some.
A LOT OF LAOTIANS LIVING IN OVERSEAS ARE HIGHLY EDUCATED PEOPLE, WITH LOTS OF SKILLS, KNOWLEDGES, IDEAS AND MOTIVATIONS. IF WE APPLY THESE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGES TO LAOS, I AM SURE WE CAN MAKE LOTS OF CHANGES IN REBUILDING LAOS IN NO TIME, PROVIDED THE GOVERNMENT IS WILLING TO ACCEPT CHANGES, SO EVERY LAOTIAN CAN BENEFIT FROM THE CHANGE.
ANOTHER GOOD LESSON FOR EVERYONE TO CONSIDER. TAKE A LOOK AT AUSTRALIA FOR EXAMPLE. IT IS ONLY A VERY YOUNG NATION, WITH ONLY 200 YEARS OLD OF WHITE SETTLEMENT, BECAUSE OF THE SMART LEADERS, TODAY THEY ARE ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD. THESE DAYS THEY HAVE A SET BUDGET TO HELP THEIR NEIGBOURING COUNTRIES, LAOS AND THAILAND ALSO BENEFITED IT AS WELL. EXAMPLE THE FRIENDLY BRIDGE ACROSS THE MEKONG RIVER WAS A GIFT OF THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE TO LAO & THAI PEOPLE.
THERE ARE SO MANY WEALTHY NATIONS OUT THERE WHICH LAOS CAN LEARN FROM, JUST KEEP THE EYES AND EARS OPEN. I HEARD PEOPLE SANG: MONKEY SEE MONKEY DO.
Answer to anonymouse. As I recalled from the study of history I think the Hammer and sickle originate from the Russian unity of the peasants, which is(the sickle) with the worker which is ( the hamer) .As for the meaning of Communist many interpretation to that, I think communisism is a form of political movement it's ideal is to establish classless stateless social organization base on common ownership, but Lenin's turn it into dictatorship. That is all I can remember from reading many years ago.
China is communist too, pro marxist too but the world eyes on it development. even it is pedicted to be the most developed country in the future. The problem is not Marxist or not here. every nation has right to choose its special way to development, so please show respect to each other's decision
Hammer is Worker, and sickle is harmer, worker and farmer are exist in every country now and forever, most of population in the world is worker and famer, so Laos pay respect for them. cheer!
Blah blah blah...all are pros and cons. Straight up I don't give a F*CKING DAMN about what flag floats around Laos. I just wanted to see the country and the people have freedom, freedom of speech, rights, freedom to better our country and ourselves...that freedom aren't going to happen if it's run by some old BARN NORG men...honestly, tell me who we're these men that took power in the 70's? Aren they just some uneducated men from the farm, brain washed w/ greed? If their sons/daughters or grandkids reading my comments...I don't like ur dad or grandpa. I'm behind a computer in America...I get to say whatever I want. (see freedom) "I hope in the near future your future grand childs become ill, poor, mentally physical retarded." Love LAOS & LAO PEOPLE just don't the ppl running it right now. Oh and if someone going to be a smart ass telling me to do something about it, well i'm not going to. Peace....
Blah blah blah...all are pros and cons. Straight up I don't give a F*CKING DAMN about what flag floats around Laos. I just wanted to see the country and the people have freedom, freedom of speech, rights, freedom to better our country and ourselves...that freedom aren't going to happen if it's run by some old BARN NORG men...honestly, tell me who we're these men that took power in the 70's? Aren they just some uneducated men from the farm, brain washed w/ greed? If their sons/daughters or grandkids reading my comments...I don't like ur dad or grandpa. I'm behind a computer in America...I get to say whatever I want. (see freedom) "I hope in the near future your future grand childs become ill, poor, mentally physical retarded." Love LAOS & LAO PEOPLE just don't the ppl running it right now. Oh and if someone going to be a smart ass telling me to do something about it, well i'm not going to. Peace....
Why do you have to act like a child. What you said could have been said in a clean adult way, but you chose to swear and say it like a child, with bad grammar.
If freedom means all children are to grow up and speak and write like you, I'm sure people would shun away from it.
What you're showcasing is not only freedom of speech, but disrespect. You don't hear a true Eastern person vulgarly talking like that. An Eastern mind isn't like your's, they don't say anything they want without condiseration. This is why places like Iran hate Americans, because they have no control over their basic rights. I'm sure if this was translated into Lao and people got wift of this kind of talk they would definately re-consider "freedom of speech".
Yes indeed he's acting like a child. or a retard, or someone who had just been released from "pheebah" hospital. Buddha, please forgive that person !!!
Its about time to flush that flag down the toilet. That flag symbolizes failure and the russians they dont even want it flying in their own homeland any longer. It stinks, it makes people poorer and poorer... why do lao people still revere it its beyond comprehension - that flag and the lenin books really mess up your brain, dudes. Flag with King Fa Ngoum on it is way way better. Shame A Lao ແທ້ ໆ
there is nothing to do with flag, economic growth or not growth has no relation to the flag Laos econimic growth very fast and it already prove that the flag has no relation to the development of Laos
To Commie lover: The flag is the symbol of Communist. The real heart and soul of majority of Lao people never wanted their country to be one of the 5 remaining communist nations in the world.
Lao poeple are communists, and Laos is communism. and the importance is that now they are stick to gather to develop their communism country. and now their economic growth is in the fastest level. Poverty has been reduced day by day. and Laos is one of ten country that is the most famous for trevel, because Laos is peaceful and people are very friendly with their colorful culture. How can that be? because lao are communists,
communism is not as bad as some people think, contrary communism is the next regime thal all people will go to.
what commune means? check it.
Of course now no country has reached the real commuism, all are ongoing, so that it is normal that some people do not understand and like it. and no regime is perfect, the importance is the majority like or not?
Now the majority of Laos are like their communism regime. because they know and confident that they can make their country be strong with this regime in the near future.
I agree with you... and I don`t think that I could change the way of the flow of the Mekong river, neither the Lao history; so, let the story goes on its way...we lao people, let`s work harder for the wellbeing of all lao people !
My theory about why the Party needs to 'renovate' itself
To all of you who think Laos is 'communist': I know this is over-simplified but I think the point is that communism is about centrally organising material resources to benefit the population (by public or state ownership) as opposed to capitalism which is about allowing private interests to own material resources for their own benefit at the expense of others. Clearly in the Lao case, the market relationships now in place are capitalist. Even the Party is privatising state-run (ie. publicly owned) institutions and turning them into private businesses, so technically in the economic sense there is NOTHING COMMUNIST ABOUT LAOS. In the political sense however, it might be possible to argue that the Party is still 'socialist' in its ideals. This is because the only public political representatives of Laos are from the Party. The Party completely controls the political sphere. So Party members, as Marx said in his manifesto, are the vanguard of the people, they are the only political representatives of the public. But the Party has a big problem being the 'socialist' representative of the public (which I take to mean representing the political interests of all Lao people) and at the same time encouraging 'private' business interests. This is because private business interests create political inequalities between people and mean that people have different political interests. This makes it harder and harder for a single Party to represent the interests of 'all' people because not all people are the same. The Party leaders know this. In recent years they have stopped promoting socialism or communism in the media and it is only promoted among Party members. A growing number of educated, wealthy urban middle class Lao people cannot see the relevance of 'socialism' because there lives are influenced by private interests, they are consumers and they work for a salary or they trade goods. The problem is that the Party has not been able to replace socialism with an ideology that appeals particularly to this economically powerful group of the people. Lao 'culture' and protecting 'tradition' have recently become the replacement ideology for socialism but a Party whose ideologues are Marx, Lenin and some Vietnamese guys hardly seems to be in a good position to call itself the protector of Lao culture. And here we arrive at the whole point of this discussion about the hammer and sickle. This flag symbolises something that the Party has given up promoting. So why not change the flag? The answer is that perhaps it can be changed but not if it means the people will lose faith in the Party. This will only lead to instability. The Party needs to find a way to change its image so that it can represent people in the new era. This could mean diversifying the Party itself, maybe having multiple 'mini-parties' under the LPRP. I am not suggesting that Laos needs a multi-party democracy in the American sense. I think this is rubbish. But what it should do is try to 'renovate' the Party, because the very fact that people are now talking about replacing the hammer and sickle means that the Party is in danger of becoming 'unrepresentative' of the population.
One party is the best if that party working for people.
Many parties are nothing if they are only work their group.
In lao case, we have to start our self from zero, no budget, no factory....
therefore, the importance is that we need to develop our country to be strong
But to develop country, firstly we need to have stable environment, I mean stable politics, safty for people, no huge conflict. those things are the heart of development. Do laos have those things? Of course Laos has.
Party set the clear policy that reflect on the wish of majority of Lao people. so Lao people are stick beside their Part to develop their country in the way they have chosen. Lao people now are in the time of development, so they do not want many parties to quarrel or argue to each other, because that waste the time of development, and it can lead to unstable condition called civil war, especially in the weak economic countries. because in weak economic countries, when they have many parties, the people are devided in groups fighting with each other rather than help each other to develop like Indonesia, Bangkladesh.... If you study the current situation you will know that they have irregular environment.
Of course the development is not magic, but contrary it need time depend on the real situation of each country. So the importance is that we need stabe condition to develop.
So Lao has one party, we have stable condition for growing economy, and now they enjoy developing their country in the peaceful atmosphere. Although their the development is so difficult, but besides the assistance from many friendly country especially Vietnam and China, they know they do. We have to work hard to get through every problems, as I said development is not magic; we know that the road of our journey to the prosperity or Socialism or Communism is not so asphalt or paved road, contrary we will pave that road by our self. But the most importance is that we Lao people have chosen that way to go. cheer
This argument is identical to the one put forward by the Chinese and Vietnamese: if there are too many parties then it will lead to civil war. The people 'need' the control of the Party because without it they will destroy the nation. It assumes that people are dangerous and need order. I agree with part of this argument, but only to a limited extent. You keep saying 'the people' have chosen the Party and therefore the Party acts in the interests of 'the people'. TO BE ABLE TO CHOSE SOMETHING, YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO HAVE A CHOICE. Lao people have no choice because there is no other option than the Party. Development is very important for Laos, but it is more important for the Party than most of the people. Seventy percent of the population are subsistence rice farmers (ie. they don't have anything to do with market economics, they eat 'hand to mouth') and most of the development aid is actually used up in Vientiane. It comes through Vientiane, throught the hands of government officials. The government relies on 'aid' - it simply cannot run itself and would collapse if there were not foreign countries (many more than just our ideological cousins China and Vietnam) to give it money. But unfortunately this encourages officials to take the money and use it for their own purposes. Every department director general these days seems to have a vigo and a double-storey Thai-style white brick villa even though he only earns $30 per month. So development seems to be supporting government officials more than it is 'the people'. You are right, development is not magic, it is an industry that some people make a lot of money from. But again, not all the people. You think that 'Lao people have chosen the way to go'; which people? Certainly not all the people. Actually, only a very few Lao people who are making a lot of money. The voices of the majority, the diverse ethnic groups, the women who are completely unrepresented politically, and the poor, remain silent. But this is the same everywhere. Lao people should consider themselves lucky that oil or diamonds are not discovered in Laos. If they were then there might be an American occuption or a civil war and genocide. Maybe it is better to have the Party. If you learn and repeat the rhetoric (especially in reply to trouble makers like me), attend the meetings, support the old men, and charge a little extra for your services, then you might be able to become a government official who can earn money and make his family happy. And this, at the end of the day, is what most of us want. We want a future for the ones we love. I truly and sincerely hope that the Party can reform itself in order to help us achieve that future.
