From: akm74@aol.com (AKM 74) Date: 21 May 1998 21:37:06 GMT Six Muay Lai Lao boxers will go to Atlanta By Sisay Lao-style boxers (Muay Lai Lao), who put on a boxing exhibition on May 4 at the National Sports Stadium, will attend the First Laos-USA Friendship Boxing tournament in Atlanta from May 14 to June 6. In the exhibition, the boxers showed off their skill and strength and expressed their hope to defeat the American boxers in the upcoming tournament. The Lao boxers who will go to Atlanta, led by the President of the Lao National Muay Lai Lao Federation, Mr Korlakanh, are: -Phalangmek (51kg) -Phoukhong(53kg) - Khammanoun (55kg) -Khalomnoy Denchampa (60kg) -Vansay Oudomphon (62kg) -Tingnoy (65kg) Two of the team's best boxers, Khalomnoy Denchampa and Vansay Oudomphon, who won bronze medals at the World Kick Boxing competition in South Korea in 1996, will be taking part in this event. The President of the Federation, Mr Korlakanh said: "Muay Lai Lao was accepted as a Lao competitive sport by the National Sports Committee in 1989 and the Lao National Muay Lai Lao Federation was officially established in 1991." He added that: "In Laos there are now over 1,000 Muay Lai Lao boxers, but the National team has only 18 boxers. We have plans to cooperate with the six countries in South East Asia to develop and promote the sport in the future". From: akm74@aol.com (AKM 74) Date: 21 May 1998 21:46:23 GMT Lack of teachers in rural areas "Nowadays we lack teachers in the normal education system, due to many reasons. At present, the economy is growing and some teachers have resigned and are looking for other jobs," said Mr Saythong Keoduangdy, chief of the Vientiane municipality education department, reported the daily Vientiane Mai on May 6. In fact, many people are interested in working as a teacher, but becoming a teacher is a long process and takes many steps which make it difficult to enter this job. Besides, we lack teachers in rural areas because teachers who have just finished studying don't want to go to work in the countryside, so they change their minds about being a teacher and find another job instead of teaching. That's why there are not many teachers at present. The number of students is increasing more every year and they need teachers. Moreover, teachers in rural areas are calling for help because in some places, they are overworked, such as Ms Khamphanh, a primary school teacher in Ban Tham village, Naxaythong district, Vientiane municipality who told the reporter "This old school will collapse soon if the rainy season starts. And the new school building that was just finished does not have enough benches and tables. There are two teachers in our school to teach three grades in the same room. I have reported this matter to the local education office, asking them to send more teachers to our school, but since that request, no teachers have been sent to help us. This job is hard for the two of us, but there are still only two of us teaching, even though these children are increasing every year. As you can see, today I'm working alone because the other teacher is sick. You may ask: What is the quality of my teaching? I don't know how to deal with this problem, and I still need help," Ms Khamphanh emphasised. From: akm74@aol.com (AKM 74) Date: 21 May 1998 21:50:13 GMT NZ continues UXO Lao support BRIGADIER Richard Ottaway, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the New Zealand Army National Headquarters, announced continuing support for UXO LAO from the New Zealand government during his recent visit to the Lao PDR. For the past year NZ has provided two technical experts to the UXO LAO National Office and this arrangement is to be continued for another year. He was accompanied by Group Captain Jim McMillan, NZ's Defence Attache in Bangkok, and during their visit they met with Mr Noy Indavong, MLSW Vice-Minister and Chairman of the UXO LAO Steering Committee, to discuss the progress of the programme. The NZ government has been a donor to the UXO LAO Trust Fund since 1996, the programme's first year of operation. Mr Jeffrey Avina, UNDP Resident representative a.i., also met with the visitors and spoke of the interest generated by UXO LAO at a recent de-mining conference in Geneva where it was applauded as the only truly nationally owned de- mining programme in operation. The parties both acknowledged that international support to the Trust Fund had enabled the government to establish their national programme in only two years. He thanked the New Zealand government for its contribution to UXO LAO's continued success. Brigadier Ottaway and Group Captain McMillan also met with senior staff at the UXO LAO National Office and toured the Training Centre at Nam Souang. Brigadier Ottaway was impressed by the facilities and attended a briefing conducted by members of the US training team explaining the nature of UXO contamination in the country. He was also able to observe training sessions for clearance teams and medics. From: akm74@aol.com (AKM 74) Date: 21 May 1998 21:55:12 GMT Lao food producers told to explore niche markets Agriculture seminar: Chemical-free foods have appeal in foreign markets, says Lao beverage producer FACED with the daunting task of competing against highly developed trading countries in foreign markets, Lao food exporters should seek to penetrate niche markets abroad. To do this domestic producers must learn to go with their strengths and use their natural comparative advantages to better compete in an increasingly globalised world. For Lao food producers, this means banking on the reputation the country has acquired for farming organically produced agricultural products. This was the message the marketing advisor for the Lao Farmers' Products factory, Dr Sisaliao Svengsuksa, had for those attending a food processing seminar, held on April 28 at the Lao Hotel Plaza in Vientiane. Dr Sisaliao said that his factory, based in Kasi, Vientiane municipality, tries to apply modem production techniques while at the same time retaining distinct Lao features that give his product a certain cachet for foreign consumers. The most noteworthy marketing feature of the fruit juices, jams and preserved fruits made at the facility is the chemical-free pledge that adorns each bottle. Kept up-to-date on the latest production techniques through its ongoing relationship with the agricultural universities of France and Thailand, the facility still aims for a simple home-made taste by making sure that all of its fruits have been grown free of artificial fertilizers or pesticides. So, staying close to home, the Lao Farmers' Products factory uses tamarinds grown throughout the country, grapefruits and pineapples from Vientiane and Luang Prabang and passion fruit from Xieng Khouang for its wide vaiety of fruit drinks. Discussing the domestic Lao market, Mr Sisaliao said that sales are gradually improving, although company officials are still not satisfied with the overall level of sales. "Westerners who live in Laos, such as members of foreign diplomatic corps or those working for foreign organisations, often admire our products very much- especially those owning hotels and guest houses. On the other hand, Asians living in the country appear to be prejudiced against our product and seem unwilling to even test it" At the moment France is the lone foreign market for the factory's exports. Plans are in the works for sales to begin in Germany and Belgium if the company is able to capitalise on the preferential tariff treatment provided for in the already agreed upon General System of Preferences (GSP). In tune with the Government's stated policy on increasing the level of domestically made commercial products, the company feels it has played its part by buying its fruit supply from local village growers rather than buying from large-scale fruit producers. However, in the view of Dr Souphanh Keomixay, head of the National Economic Research Institution, the food processing capability of Lao PDR remains low. "The technical abilities of farmers to produce foods beyond vegetable and jam preservatives is limited by a lack of support and training in the proper technical methodologies and marketing." Currently, Laos and Thailand face similar problems stemming from the recent economic slowdown in Asia. Co- operation in the area of agriculture between Laos and Thailand seems to be one way to reduce the impacts of the economic crisis and upgrade the quality of farmers' lives. Mr Aphivanh Asamakone, representative of the Economics and Industry office of Thailand said that globalisation was leading to the transformation of agricultural production towards higher levels of technical production, which makes it difficult for small-scale producers to compete. Other matters discussed at the meeting were agricultural issues related to free trade regimes, tariff and non-tariff regulations, the quality of the products and general issues of agricultural management in the respective countries. Also tabled at the meeting were issues related to co- operation between the state and private sectors of the two countries for developing trade and investment. Ideas were presented to achieve a stable pricing system for agricultural commodities, market guarantees, and better pest control strategies. Participants also reviewed the implementation of Laos' agricultural development plan, specifically as it relates to agricultural processing investment and the promotion of agro-produce for export. From: akm74@aol.com (AKM 74) Date: 21 May 1998 22:02:16 GMT Boxing: Put'em up! By Sisay IN a move to prepare young boxers for the next Lao National Games to be hosted by Vientiane in two year's time, the Vientiane Municipality Boxing Federation (VBF) recently opened a boxing training centre at the Vientiane Municipality Sports Office in Boung Kha Nyong village. According to the centre's French boxing trainer Philippe Carriere, the centre is open to all youngsters aged 6 to 16 who are interested in learning international- style boxing, Lao-style boxing (Muay Lai Lao) and Taekwondo. The monthly fee of 2000 kip for each student is intended to cover the cost of electricity at the centre. Training sessions for new boxers take place every morning from 6:00am to 8:00am and in the evenings from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. So far, since the centre opened April 20 over 100 boxers have participated in basic boxing training sessions taught by one Lao coach and two foreign instructors. Every Friday evening at Thadeua village in Hadsayfong, international-style boxing competitions are being held to select the best boxers to participate in Laos' Sixth National Games slated for the year 2000. From: akm74@aol.com (AKM 74) Date: 21 May 1998 22:10:02 GMT UXO Lao outlines workplan for 1998 The National UXO Lao Steering Committee opened its meeting at the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare on April 29 under the chairmanship of Mr Noy Indavong, Vice- Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Chairman of the National UXO Steering Committee. Attending the meeting were the director of the National UXO Programme, representatives from the Ministry of Defence, UNDP, UNICEF and various provinces. The objectives of the meeting were to evaluate and review UXO work in the country. During the meeting, National UXO Programme Director, Mr Bounpone Sayasenh made an update on the activities of UXO LAO (including resource mobilisation and equipment transfers) and presented the printed work plan for 1998. Other points on the agenda included considering fhe draft annual report for 1997, hearing a report of the Technical working group meeting held in January 1998, considering the standard project proposal format and approval process, and approving the terms of reference of the external evaluation. According to the 1997 Annual Report, UXO Lao cleared 159 ha of land, desh-oyed a total of 43,098 items of ordnance (including 251 land mines) in affected provinces, briefed 71,876 people about the dangers of UXO and extended the membership of the National Steering Committee to include representatives of the five additional target provinces for 1997, among other achievements. The 1998 workplan gives the background to the UXO problem in Laos, explaining that from 1964 to 1973, the Lao People's Democratic Republic suffered protracted and intense ground battles, as well as some of the heaviest aerial bombardment in world history. During this period over 500,000 bombing missions were launched, or the equivalent of one plane load of bombs every eight minutes around the clock for nine full years. In the course of such bombing, more than two million tons of ordnance fell on Lao territory. Most of the bombing consisted of anti-personnel cluster bombs filled with bomblets (or "bombies" as they are known in the Lao PDR) that were intended to explode on or shortly after impact. Each cluster bomb container was filled with 670 bomblets (about the size of a tennis ball). Whereas the manufacturers of the ordnance estimated a failure rate of some 10 per cent, it is now generally agreed that the actual failure rate may have been as high as 30 per cent. Extensive ground battles in several provinces also left a staggering amount of unexploded ordnance, including mortar and artillery shells, mines, sub-munitions and other devices of various origin. More than 20 years after the end of the war, unexploded ordnance still affects the provinces of Attapeu, Borikhamsay, Champassak, Houaphan, Khammouane, Luang Prabang, Luang Namtha, Phongsaly, Saravane, Savannakhet, Sekong, Vientiane and Xieng Khouang. The National UXO Socio-Economic Impact Survey found that 86 of the 133 districts in the country (or 25 per cent of all villages) reported continued UXO contamination. By the very widespread nature of aerial bombing and the lack of data on ground battle locations, UXO can be anywhere, and are everywhere; in rice fields, on hillsides, in villages, along roads and in the centre of provincial towns. The results of the survey were published in November 1997, and the findings have been used as the basis for planning in 1998 and beyond. The survey collected data on almost 11,000 accidents which have occurred since 1973. Although many of these accidents took place in the first five years immediately after the war, UXO accidents still continue at a rate of over 200 per year. Young children make up more than one quarter of the total accident victims reported since 1973, and the percentage of children involved in accidents is increasing. Accidents involving UXO often occur while people are working in agricultural activities, or attempting to supplement their agricultural output by collectirg forest products. Based on the survey findings, UXC Lao plans to have an office and team permanently located in ten provinces. Roving teams based in Vientiane will periodically visit the moderately affected provinces (Vientiane province and municipality, Borikhamsay, Luang Namtha and Phongsaly). Awareness and clearance activities started in Xieng Khouang Houaphan and Savannakhet in 1996, with Saravane, Sekong, Attapeu, Champassak and Khammouane commencing in 1997. This leaves Luang Prabang and Vientiane to be established in 1998. Additional team will also be trained in some of the existing provinces during 1998, to allow for the expansion of operations into an additional six severely affected districts. Training will continue throughout the year at Nam Souang to support the expansion plans, with increasing emphasis being placed on higher level and specialist training. The results of the national survey will continue to be analysed, and a number of follow-up tasks undertaken. These will include the ongoing collection of civilian UXO casualty figures, development of the data-base, a defoliant study in Sekong, the implementation of technical surveying (or data gathering) in the provinces and instituting a system of completion reporting. By the end of 1998 the outline structure of UXO Lao will be complete. This will consist of a national office, a training centre (with increasing numbers of Lao instructors) and ten provincial offices. Awareness, survey and clearance activities will be underway in these ten provinces, with roving team visits scheduled in another five provinces. From: akm74@aol.com (AKM 74) Date: 21 May 1998 22:24:51 GMT Education opportunities for children in remote areas By Phonekeo Vorakhoun To give all Lao people a chance to study, the Lao government has poured large amounts into the educational field, using both domestic and foreign funds. The Ethnic Group School in Oudomsay province is a project that has received assistance from the Vietnamese government. Construction of the boarding school began in October 1996 and was completed 14 months later in December 1997 with a total cost of more than 1 billion kip. This ethnic group school is the second school of its kind built with Vietnamese aid, the first being the boarding school in Champassak province. The school was built for students from the six northern provinces: Sayaboury, Bokeo, Oudomsay, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang and Phongsaly. After just five months in operation, the director of the Oudomsay school, Mr Somdy Silathone summed up the school's situation: "We now have 271 students, aged from 11 to 20 years old. We have 220 scholarship students sponsored by the government and 51 independent students. The government covers daily meals, school supplies, clothes and housing in the school dormitory for the scholarship students. However, the non- sponsored students do not receive anything from the government. They live at home and just study at the school. Now we start with fifth grade at the primary school level and we have first and second year students at the junior high school level. The school now has 15 teachers." The director also specified that some of the students are older than average because they have fallen behind in their studies due to a lack of educational opportunities. The project has one school building, with three floors and 10 classrooms, two dormitory buildings, one office building, and one meeting hall, with a 500 to 1,000 person capacity. There is also a sports field. Mr Somdy explained: "The objective of the this school is promoting education for children who are in difficult circumstances, especially children in remote areas. The government supports children who are poor but who want to study." Vice-director of the school, Mr Bounthieng Khamvilay said: "Throughout the past year of teaching and studying, we have had some problems. The students come from different places with different traditions and languages. Sometimes the students and teachers have trouble communicating because some ethnic groups do not speak Lao well. Some students cannot get used to their new residence--they get homesick and so some leave school to return home." The vice-director went on to say that the school hopes to add a level each year through to the last year of senior high school. They also intend to add vocational subjects at every level such as garment making, computer processing and furniture making to ensure that the students can help themselves upon finishing school. For the time being these subjects have not been included in the curriculum because they lack teachers to teach these subjects. He concluded that they hope to have enough specialised teachers by next year. From: akm74@aol.com (AKM 74) Date: 21 May 1998 22:29:40 GMT UXO office opened in Nam Bark THE UXO Lao opened its office in Nam Bark district of Luang Prabang province, on April 22. The UXO Lao programme in Luang Prabang province has received financial cooperation and assistance from the government of the Federal Republic of Germany. Under the programme, 37 UXO-trained volunteers, including 6 women, will join the operation to remove and clear unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the district. Taking part in the opening ceremony were Mr. Bounpone Saygnasone, Director of the Lao National UXO Programme (UXO LAG), a representative of the German Gerbera Ltd., officials of the provincial steering committee for the UXO programme, the chief of Nam Bark district, and officials concerned. After the inauguration, the participants visited the community awareness course held at the Phonsa-ard Village Primary School, the field site of operation and the demonstration of UXO destruction. From: akm74@aol.com (AKM 74) Date: 21 May 1998 22:39:52 GMT Workshop on palm leaf manuscript survey and preservation A WORKSHOP on methodology of the survey and preservation of palm leaf manuscripts was held in Champassak province early this month. The workshop was attended by Mr Oneneua Phommachanh, Governor of Champassak province, Mr Bouabane Vorakhoun, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, Mrs Kongdeuane Nettavong, Director of the Lao Palm Leaf Manuscript Preservation Project, Buddhist monks from the 10 districts of this southernmost province, and officials concerned. During the three days in session, the gathering studied the methodology of the survey and preservation of Lao palm leaf manuscripts, which are of great value and significance. They do not only contain Lao ancestors' knowledge in Buddhism bur also their lessons in history, laws, customs and tradition, astrology, and solutions of traditional herbal medicines. The survey and preservation of Lao palm leaf manuscripts is a way to preserve ancient manuscripts and books made of special paper, locally called Chia Sa, kept at temples, libraries or with individuals. The preservation of these manuscripts will be helped with proper technology before they are ruined, damaged or vanish. The main aims of the workshop are to raise public awareness, including Buddhist monks and followers, to realise the value of the ancient manuscripts, to encourage the research into this science among interested persons and exchange technical lessons with friendly countries interested in this field. It also aims to disseminate the knowledge gained from ancient manuscripts to the public by various means and in many ways, and make an inventory of the manuscripts. From: akm74@aol.com (AKM 74) Date: 21 May 1998 22:46:46 GMT Fifty Buddha images found in Champassak Officials of the archaeological preservation project have found remains of old sculptures, the stone of which resembles the stones used for building Vat Phu in Champassak province, reported daily Pasason on April 29. The site where the archaeologists found the ancient relies is along the Mekong river and about 22 kilometres From Vat Phu.·This area includes Houay Ngeun Neua, Houay Ngeun Kang and Houay Ngeun Tay villages in Champassak district and province. Archaeologists believe the findings discovered on the surface and underground may tell something about the original inhabitants' way of life in the region. In addition, due to bank erosion in the same area, 50 silver Buddha images were found in stone jars along the Mekong river last January 20, a discovery that is drawing the interest of the local people. They say that there was formerly a temple at this site. Based on research of the Buddha images, the archaeologists presume that these Buddha images are from the 17-18th century. They are each finely sculpted and different from one another. Three of the Buddha images have ancient Lao script on them which will be subject to further research in the future. These Buddha images have been collected in a showroom at the Vat Phu museum for registration and photos in order to preserve the evidence. The discovery of these Buddha images at this site is proof that ancient places in the five regions of Vat Phu may still exist, hiding more mysteries of the country's heritage. UNESCO's cooperation in Laos to look after these ancient sites may indeed become the key to revealing the riddles of origin of Vat Phu.