www.vientianetimes.org.

la saturday June 16, 2012 Issue 138 4500 kip

The First National English Language Newspaper
Every elephant vital
to survival of the
species in Laos
page 2
Ex-DP chief
announces bid for
Korean presidency
page 4
Large mineral
reserves still to be
tapped
page 9
Farming lies at root
of development in
Borikhamxay
page 14
Dance classes all the
rage as women step
out
page 16
INSIDE
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coNTiNuED PagE 3
Somsack Pongkhao
the 9th asia-europe Meeting
(aseM) summit will not only
enhance the role and reputation
of Laos in the international
arena but will also boost trade,
investment and tourism in
Laos, a senior government
offcial said on Friday.
Laos eyes business, tourism boost with aseM summit
Mr Thongphane Savanphet (right) speaks at a seminar on Friday,
attended by Deputy Director General of Lao Press in Foreign
Languages Mr Thonglor Duangsavanh and journalists from 14
media outlets.
Ministry of Foreign
affairs economic affairs
department director General,
Mr thongphane savanphet,
made the comment when
addressing over 40 journalists
on the second day of a seminar
organised by the Lao Press in
Foreign Languages.
He said that apart from
heads of state and government
from the two continents,
hundreds of business leaders
and journalists will be present
during the event in Vientiane,
which would turn a global
spotlight on Laos.
during the summit, to be
held on november 5-6, three
new aseM members will be
endorsed - Bangladesh, norway
and switzerland. this will bring
the total number to 51.
the enlargement of aseM
is expected to create a closer
partnership between the two
continents, particularly in
political, economic and socio-
cultural cooperation.
about 4,000 people are
expected to attend the summit,
including journalists. the
meeting is expected to adopt
the Chairs statement and
Vientiane declaration on
strengthening partnership for
peace and development.
Over the past decade,
the political, economic and
cultural ties between the two
continents have grown in leaps
and bounds.
the aseM has played a
key role in facilitating this
development, offering an open
dialogue platform for partners
to exchange views on a wide
range of issues of common
interest, and has provided
an important impetus to the
development of relations at
the bilateral level, as well as
in other inter-regional and
multilateral forums.
the origins of the aseM
process lay in a recognition
by both asia and europe that
the relationship between the
two regions needed to be
strengthened to refect the new
global context of the 1990s,
marked by the end of the Cold
War.
In July 1994, the
european Commission
published towards a new
asia strategy, stressing the
importance of modernising
the relationship with asia, and
of properly refecting Asias
growing political, economic
and cultural signifcance.
In november 1994,
Singapore and France
proposed that an asia-europe
summit meeting be held, to
consider how to build a new
partnership between the two
continents.
The frst ASEM Summit
was held in Bangkok, thailand,
in March 1996 comprising 26
member states (15 from the
european union).
The frst enlargement of
aseM members took place
at the ffth ASEM Summit
in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2004,
bringing the number to 39. the
new members included Laos,
Cambodia and Myanmar.
aseM is an informal
process of dialogue and
cooperation among partners on
all issues of common interest
to asia and europe.
Ounkham Pimmata
several hundred treated
addicts still remain at the
Vientiane treatment and
Vocational training Centre,
as either their parents have
disowned them or they are
unable to fnd work.
the Centres director,
Mr sisouphan Boupha, told
the President of the national
Commission for Mother
and Child Ms Khempheng
Pholsena during her visit on
Friday that 574 treated addicts
are still living at the centre.
Mr sisouphan said that
almost 40 percent of the 1,800
addicts who had been treated
returned to their families, but
in many cases their parents
remained suspicious of them
and interfered in their social
lives because they were afraid
of a relapse into drug use. Most
people look down on addicts
even after rehabilitation,
causing additional pressure
which sometimes results in the
addict returning to his habit.
He explained that it was
important for families and
Rehabilitated addicts face family,
employment challenges
society at large to give them
a chance, by listening to
their problems as well as
understanding their feelings
when they return home.
If a young person feels a
lack of family warmth and is
neglected, there is additional
pressure on them to return to
their drug habits.
While in rehab the centre
trains them in computer use,
english, mechanical repair,
carpentry, tailoring and
cooking, but they still have
trouble fnding work.
Mr sisouphan said treated
drug addicts had the same
abilities as anyone else if only
they were given a chance, as
they have received training
from experts in specialised
subjects.
the centre encourages them
to open a small business if they
have some savings and tries to
help others fnd employment,
but these attempts are only
partly successful.
He observed that the main
reason for treated addicts
being refused employment
is non-acceptance by their
community. He said their
parents and society as a whole
played an important role in
encouraging former addicts
to become useful members of
society, and to fnd work and
contribute like everyone else.
every year, an estimated
210 million people use illicit
drugs, of whom almost
200,000 die as a consequence.
yet, despite the challenges
posed by drugs, the impact can
be mitigated, according to the
website of the united nations
Offce on Drugs and Crime
(unOdC).
unOdC reported on
drug seizure fgures for Laos,
which in 2008-2010 were 24.5
million amphetamine tablets,
86.5kg of opium, and 84.34kg
of heroin.
Fifty-one percent of the
Lao population is under the
age of 20, the age group at
highest risk of drug abuse.
Ms Khempheng Pholsena gives addicts courage and hope for their return home.
Announcement
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hot news in english on mobile phones through the etL network.
a pilot service will begin on June 1 and operate
through the end of the month. during this period,
etL customers will have free short news message
services from Vientiane times.
Registration: type ON and send to 2246
Vientiane Times 2 Home News saturday June 16, 2012
Vientiane and Beijing signed the agreements
to deepen their long-standing relations
and cooperation, which has been raised
to the level of a comprehensive strategic
cooperative partnership.
# the us government will provide additional
funding of us$9 million to Laos for
unexploded ordnance clearance operations,
risk education, and victim assistance.
Business
# The development of a specifc economic zone
(seZ) at the that Luang marsh in Vientiane
has seen some delays because the land
compensation process for displaced villagers
is yet to be completed.
The developer - Wan Feng Shanghai Real
estate Company of China - planned to begin
the frst phase of the US$1.6 billion project
in February, to prepare facilities for the 9th
aseM summit in november.
the Lao national Committee for special
economic Zones secretariat told Vientiane
times the developer has the investment
capital required to launch the project but there
are delays due to land compensation claims.
# the Lao securities exchange (LsX) expects
to allow people to purchase and sell stocks
over the internet in august, after being unable
to offer online trading in the frst quarter of
this year.
# thailand has agreed to purchase electricity
from the Xe-Pian Xe-namnoy hydropower
plant in southern Laos, giving a major boost
to Laos energy industry. Governor of the
electricity Generating authority of thailand
(eGat), Mr suthas Patamasiriwat, said the
national energy Policy Council had given
the green light for eGat to purchase 390MW
from the hydropower project, which is located
in saravan and attapeu provinces.
# Bangkok Bank, a major thai commercial
bank, has expressed confdence in investing
in Laos, saying the countrys economy is
experiencing continuous rapid growth.
the bank led 82 thai small and medium size
enterprises from its Bualuang Club to explore
business and investment opportunities in
Vientiane this week, as part of efforts to
expand fnancial services in Laos.
the Bualuang Club comprises sMe owners
who have received training from the bank on
how to run a professional business. the bank
will give them fnancial support if they can
fnd investment opportunities in Laos.
# The Ministry of Finance will pay debts owed
by the government to construction contractors
in the form of bonds. the ministry circulated
the new regulation to media outlets in
Vientiane last week as part of its efforts to
communicate with construction contractors
about debt payment and strict enforcement of
the new policy. the regulation was signed by
Finance Minister Phouphet Khamphounvong
in February.
the three-year government bond interest rate
is 3.5 percent annually, while the interest on a
two-year bond is 3 percent. the government
will pay the interest rate once a year. Bond
holders can use the bond as a bank loan
guarantee.
Current Affairs
# the committee charged with saving an
ancient manikhoth tree which toppled over
in Khonphapheng waterfall in Champassak
province has decided that a helicopter rescue
will be the best approach.
deputy director of the provinces Information,
Culture and Tourism Department, offcials
from the Lao Front for National Construction,
and monks surveyed the area with an army
pilot, and decided that a rescue should be
attempted in the next few days.
they plan to land personnel on the rock where
the tree is lodged to attach slings to the trunk
before it is lifted out by helicopter and set
down on the riverbank.

# students and local residents in Vientiane
gathered at Lao-IteCC on tuesday to donate
blood to mark World Blood donor day.
this is the ninth year Laos has marked this
important day, which is observed annually
on June 14.
World Blood donor day commemorates
the birthday of the austrian scientist Karl
Landsteiner, who discovered the aBO system
of blood groups in humans which lead to
successful blood transfusions.
Only 62 countries worldwide are able to
supply suffcient blood and blood products.
Patients in 40 countries can still only obtain
blood from their relatives or buy it from
stocks provided by blood donors, while only
25 percent of the population in these countries
is a voluntary blood donor.
# Vientiane is building three new electricity
substations, as well as extending 115/22kV
transmission lines, to boost electricity supply
to the 9th asia-europe Meeting (aseM)
summit in november. the power supply
boost is costing us$23.3 million, funded by
loans from Malaysia.
# the government of new Zealand has provided
us$1.89 million to tackle unexploded
ordnance (uXO) problems in Laos second
most contaminated province, Xieng Khuang.
the funds will be channelled through the
UXO Trust Fund which is administered by
the united nations development Programme
(undP).
# a motorcycle assembly factory in Vientiane
went up in fames this week, with black smoke
billowing from the factory in sangsavang
village, Xayxettha district. the factory
was situated in close proximity to a large
fuel storage depot, and had the fre spread
that far the consequences would have been
devastating.
the petroleum storage facility containing
around 4 million litres of fuel was just across
the road from the burning factory, but luckily
the blaze did not spread that far. reports so
far suggest that no one was killed or injured.
# Laos and China reached a cooperation deal
with the two sides signing 10 agreements
to enhance bilateral relations and economic
cooperation.
The agreements were signed during an offcial
visit to Laos by standing Committee member
of the Political Bureau of the Communist
Party of China Central Committee, Mr He
Guoqiang.
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the rich natural resource capital, which constitutes the very foundations for agriculture
and a rural livelihood, is being transformed substantially, also creating more diffculties for
those rural communities which still cannot beneft from sedentary commercial agriculture.
Director for the Swiss Cooperation Offce in the Mekong Region, Ms Ruth Huber.
--Wednesday, June 13
even though many people and government agencies have taken part in activities to stem
dengue fever in past years, some people ignore our calls for public participation. Minister
of Health, Prof. dr eksavang Vongvichit.
--Wednesday, June 13
some people park on footpaths even though they know its against the regulations. We
have to think about how we can help to reduce traffc jams. When hotels and offces are
built, the planners should make sure there is enough room for parking. resident of that
Luang village, Ms Chanthaly Manosinh.
--Tuesday, June 12
Times Reporters
the national Committee
on aIds Control met in
Vientiane last week to assess
the current situation and
discuss effective measures to
combat HIV/aIds in Laos.
the discussion took place
at the committees annual
meeting, which considered
the national strategy and plans
to keep HIV/aIds at bay and
reduce sexually transmitted
infections.
the meeting also presented
the national strategy on HIV/
aIds control for 2011-
2015. this includes using the
Millennium development
Goals to combat the spread
of the virus. Participants
also heard about the work
National body reviews progress
in fght against AIDS
(From left) Ms Chantheum Latmany, Dr Eksavang Vongvichit and Ms Saengdeuan Lachanthaboun
address the meeting.
undertaken by medical staff at
the Centre for HIV/aIds/stI
(CHas).
they discussed the
challenges faced, especially the
shortage of funding to fnance
public campaigns concerning
the virus.
according to unaIds, at
the end of 2010 an estimated
34 million people were living
with HIV globally, including
3.4 million children under
the age of 15. There were 2.7
million new HIV infections
in 2010, including 390,000
among children under 15.
Globally, the annual
number of people newly
infected with HIV continues
to decline, although there is
stark regional variation. In
sub-saharan africa, where
most of the people newly
infected with HIV live, an
estimated 1.9 million people
became infected in 2010.
according to the CHas,
from 1990 to 2011, 4,942
people have tested positive
for HIV. Of those, 3,105
people have developed aIds
and 1,290 people have died
from the virus.
the annual meeting of the
national Committee on aIds
Control was supported by the
Global Fund to Fight AIDS,
Malaria and tuberculosis.
Vice President of the
Lao Womens union, Ms
Chantheum Latmany, and
deputy Minister of education
and sports, Ms saengdeuan
Lachanthaboun, attended the
meeting.
Vientiane Times 3 saturday June 16, 2012 Home News
SNAPShOTS
edL technicians repair a broken streetlight near the stock exchange in Vientiane this week,
making the sure roads are well lit to prevent accidents. --Photos Sisouphan
Tracy Brookshaw
t
here is no doubt
that the elephant
populations in
Laos, both wild and
captive, are in rapid decline.
With as few as 470 captive
elephants and a lesser number
estimated in the wild, the
future of this endangered
species within Laos is bleak
and as such every elephant is
signifcant to its very survival.
as every elephant counts,
the elefantasia veterinary
team has been working around
the clock to provide treatment
to an elephant suffering from
tetanus.
Phu thongkoon, a bull
elephant from Paklai district,
was transferred to the elephant
Hospital in Xayaboury
province over two weeks
ago. unable to eat, nor drink
on his own, the elephant was
extremely weak needing
injections of anti-toxins to fght
the infection. Progress has been
slow as the vet team has fed and
rehydrated the animal by hand.
Little by little there has been
marked improvement in Phu
thongkoons condition, with
the elephant now eating and
drinking on his own without
any prompting.
Phu thongkoons illness is
the frst case of tetanus in Laos
reported to elefantasia in over
10 years of working in the
country. tetanus is extremely
rare in elephants and most
usually fatal. specialised
literature received from
asian elephant range states
indicates a greater percentage
of fatalities from the disease
than of recovery.
treatment of Phu
thongkoon has cost in excess
of us$2,000 and is still rising,
however this sick elephant has
received tremendous public
support from both here in
Laos and abroad. Generous
donations have been sent to
elefantasia to ensure Phu
thongkoon receives the best
possible care for as long as is
needed.
as Phu thongkoon
continues his battle against
this life threatening disease,
the asian elephant population
in Laos faces its own battle
against the threat of extinction.
Currently the elephant birth
rate in Laos is on average 4-5
births per annum opposed
to 15 deaths, a trend which
indicates the population is
not sustainable. the country
has a breeding reservoir of as
few as 60 female elephants
(those being under the age
of 35). an area of particular
importance for elephant
breeding is thongmixay, the
district remaining the only area
in Laos with signifcant births.
the district accounted for 50
percent of elephant births in
2011 and 72 percent during
2010.
the asian elephant holds
great cultural importance
in Laos, as well as serving
to contribute to the national
economy with about 9,000
people across the country
reliant on income generated
by working elephants. Captive
elephants are also a huge draw
for international visitors in
a growing tourism industry
and will provide substantial
revenue for Laos in the future.
unquestionably Laos
needs to protect its national
heritage, and the country
needs to safeguard its elephant
populations with particular
emphasis on its genetic
reservoir. this reservoir is
imperative to the survival of
the species in Laos.
the non-Governmental
Organisation elefantasia
works in collaboration with
the department of Livestock
and Fisheries implementing
the Lao Captive elephant Care
and Management Programme
which administers free
veterinary care to the working
elephants of Laos.
the project activities also
facilitate the registration and
micro-chipping of the captive
elephant population which
is sponsored by the Critical
Ecosystem Partnership Fund.
Supporters of the Fund include
organisations such as the
French Development Agency,
World Bank; government
of Japan, and the Global
Environmental Facility.
Tracy Brookshaw is Project
Manager of ElefantAsia.
Every elephant vital to survival
of the species in Laos
Currently the elephant birth rate in Laos is on average 4-5 births per annum.
novembers summit will
be the largest event ever
to be held in Laos and the
government attaches great
importance to hosting the
meeting.
In preparation, the
government is building and
upgrading facilities, including
major improvements to
Wattay International airport
in Vientiane, and construction
of a convention centre.
Fridays seminar drew more
than 20 questions. Journalists
from 14 media outlets were
in attendance, including Lao
national television, Lao
national radio, Lao news
agency and Vientiane Mai
newspaper.
Laos eyes business... FROM PAGE 1
Mr Thongphane
Savanphet and
Mr Thonglor
Duangsavanh
join a group
photo at the
seminar at Lao
Press in Foreign
Languages on
Friday.

Marking arbor day and International Childrens day this month, children gaze at a nature
conservation area in Huayxon, Huayxua in naxaithong district, Vientiane, which they hope
will preserve the countrys forests for future generations.
this photo taken this week on Kamphaengmeuang road in the donkoy area of sisattanak
district, Vientiane, shows how much dirt has been allowed to accumulate on the citys roads.
authorities are considering how to address the problem.
Vientiane Times 4 Saturday June 16, 2012
Region
In brief from Asia
News Network
+856 20 55599 430
Vietnam strives to
combat bird fu
DIEN BIEN (Viet Nam
News) -- The northern
mountainous Dien Bien
Phu city has announced
bird fu epidemic in Nam
Thanh Ward with 7,000
domestic fowls incinerated.
This is the third localities
in Dien Bien province
experiencing bird fu
outbreak apart from Thanh
Yen and Noong Luong
communes in Dien Bien
district.
Dien Bien Phu City has
cornered the affected
areas and prevented the
transport of fowls and
poultry products out of the
region. Processing, selling
and consuming affected
products in the province are
also prohibited.
Meanwhile, in the non-
affected areas, operation of
slaughterhouses and trade
of poultry is scrutinised.
Farming free-ranging ducks
is also not allowed.
The forces which is in
charge of blue ear disease
in pigs are mobilised to
fght bird fu.
Hot weather may
fuel dengue cases
SINGAPORE (The Straits
Times) --The number of
dengue cases fell to a three-
year low for the frst half
of the year, but the current
hot weather could push the
fgures up again.
Heat suits the Aedes
mosquito and shortens its
growth process, which
could send it into breeding
mode more quickly, the
National Environment
Agency (NEA) has warned.
The public should thus be
vigilant about preventing
the breeding of this
mosquito, which carries
and spreads the dengue
virus, the agency said
ahead of Asean Dengue
Day, which kicks off on
Friday.
Six arrested over
virus-infected app
JAPAN (The Yomiuri
Shimbun) --Tokyo police
have arrested six men for
allegedly swindling more
than 20 million yen from
smartphone users who
installed a virus-infected
application distributed by
the suspects.
This is Japans frst case in
which police have built a
case involving distribution
of a smartphone
virus, according to the
Metropolitan Police
Department.
The application was for
playing videos and could
be downloaded for free
through an adult site
on the Internet. Once
launched, however,
it showed a screen
demanding fctitious fees
and stole users personal
information, according to
the MPD.
Since the application
was placed on the site
on December 30, a total
of 9,252 people have
downloaded it nationwide,
senior MPD offcials said.
ASIA NEWS Network, (The
Korea Herald) -- Sohn Hak-
kyu, former opposition leader,
declared his intention to run in
the Democratic United Partys
presidential primary against
two heavyweights loyal to late
President Roh Moo-hyun.
Peoples livelihoods and
social unity are the top two
priority tasks for the next
president to accomplish, said
the senior advisor of the main
opposition party, in a press
conference at Gwangwhamun
Plaza.
The former DP chief made
his speech in front of the statue
of King Sejong, one of the
most respected kings in Korean
history.
Sohn faces tough competition
from two high-profle party
members former presidential
chief of staff Rep. Moon Jae-in
and South Gyeongsang Gov.
Kim Doo-kwan. Former DP
leaders Chung Sye-kyun and
Chung Dong-young are also
expected to join the race.
He pledged to see the end of
the rule of outdated forces who
cling onto their vested rights,
referring to the Lee Myung-bak
administration and the ruling
Saenuri Party.
Korean society should now
rise above industrialization and
democratization, and aim at
promoting welfare.
He especially focused on
employment and economic
democratization.
I will pull up the
employment rate to over 70
percent by the year 2020, he
said.
Anyone aged between 20
and 70 should be able to fnd
a job. The candidate also
suggested a series of reform
measures to end discrimination
against irregular workers and
to protect small and medium-
sized enterprises.
I will continue to promote
welfare programs such as
tuition cuts and free child
care, he said.
The press conference was
attended by some 100 liberal
fgures, including his loyalists
Reps. Shin Hak-yong and Cho
Jeong-sik.
Sohn became the second
DUP member to join the
primary race, following third-
term Busan lawmaker Cho
Kyoung-tae.
Frontrunner Moon is
scheduled to make his
announcement on Sunday,
while competitor Kim is
expected to follow suit early
next month, after resigning
from his governor post.
The two Chungs are
thought likely to make their
move by the end of the
month.
Ex-DP chief announces
bid for Korean presidency
Sohn Hak-kyu announces his intent to run in the Democratic United
Partys presidential primary at Gwangwhamun Plaza, Seoul.
--Photo The Korea Herald
JAKARTA (Xinhua) -- An
offcial at International
mangrove conservation agency
said that millions of hectares of
mangrove forests in Indonesia
are being lost to agriculture,
oil palm plantations and even
fsh farms, making coastal
communities more vulnerable
to the force of tropical storms
and the loss of livelihoods and
products, local media reported
on Friday.
Theres quite a lot of
evidence that mangroves reduce
wave and wind energy in relation
to storms, and also reduce the
impacts of coastal erosion,
said Ben Brown, the Indonesia
representative of the Mangrove
Action Project (MAP), an
international NGO that works to
conserve and restore mangrove
areas worldwide.
Where mangroves go
missing, villages and shorelines
are heavily impacted in relation
to storms. Some are inundated
with tidal waters, whereas years
ago, when mangroves were
intact, these villages didnt
suffer from these effects, he
said recently.
Indonesia has around
17,500 islands, of which about
6,000 are inhabited by over
238 million people. In 2011 the
Meteorology, Climatology and
Geophysics Agency (BMKG)
detected 23 tropical cyclones
off the coast, which produced
high-speed winds, heavy rains
and heightened tidal levels that
caused fooding and structural
damage to buildings and
coastal infrastructure.
Brown said mangroves are
adjacent to all major landmasses
and big rivers in Indonesia, and
mostly found on the coasts of
the large islands of Sumatra,
Kalimantan, Sulawesi and
Papua.
The island of Java, where
approximately 130 million
people live, is particularly
vulnerable to tropical cyclones,
according to the Indonesian
National Disaster Management
Agencys 2010-2014 plan, the
Jakarta Globe reported.
In January 2012, local
media reported that falling
trees, landslides and fooding
caused by a tropical cyclone
had damaged 2, 300 homes and
killed 16 people on the islands
of Java and Bali.
Indonesias mangrove
forest loss threatens
community resilience
SITTWAY, Myanmar (Xinhua)
-- Myanmar government has
vowed to bring security back
to riot-hit villages scattered in
western ethnic Rakhine state
to ensure the safe return of
local villagers who fed the riot
and sought shelter in refugee
camps.
In an inspection tour to
Maungtaw Thursday, which
was worst hit when riot
sparked on June 8, Minister of
Border Affairs and Industrial
Development Lieutenant-
General Thein Htay encouraged
refugees, and assured them
that the government would
help rebuilding their homes
destroyed in the unrest, restore
peace and stability so that they
can return to their home villages
safely.
He also warned rioters of
the possible action against them
as some are still resorting to
arson even after a curfew was
imposed.
UN Special Envoy Vijay
Nambiar, who accompanied
Thein Htay on the trip,
expressed sympathy for the
refugees, stressing the need for
friendship and unity among the
people who have been living
in the region for many years.
He said the United Nations
would work in cooperation with
Myanmar government.
Resident Representative of
UN agencies in Myanmar Ashok
Nigam also pledged that UN
would fulfll the requirement
of Rakhine state in cooperation
with the government in wake of
the emergency.
Offcial of the UNHCR
Johannes Ten Feld expressed
hope that the local people would
stay in amity to resolve the
crisis, calling for establishing
a society which has more
tolerance to each other.
For the past few days after
a state of emergency was
declared in Rakhine state on
Sunday, relief measures were
extensively carried out with
aid in cash and kind starting to
pour in. Situation in the riot-
hit Rakhine state has turned
calm with movement of people
starting to return to normal and
reconstruction of their destroyed
houses has begun as claimed
by Rakhine State Security and
Border Affairs Minister Colonel
Htein Lin who met the press
for the frst time since a state
of emergency was declared in
the Rakhine state along with
the imposition of curfew in six
town areas, namely Maungtaw,
Buthidaung, Sittway, Thandwe,
Kyaukphyu and Yanbye.
Some shops and banks in
the downtown areas of Sittway
were reopened on Thursday,
while big bazaar and schools
remained closed.
However, local ethnic
Rakhinese victims, stranded
in refugee camps, were scared
of returning to their home
villages.
A total of 37 refugee camps
were opened in the unrest-
struck state housing some
31,884 victims so far.
Of them, 15 were set up in
Sittway for 5,690 Rakhinese
refugees, while two for 18,886
Muslims, totaling 24,576
refugees in the states capital.
Myanmar declared a state
of emergency in Rakhine state
on June 10 after curfew was
imposed one after another
on Maungtaw, Buthidaung,
Sittway, Thandwe, Kyaukphyu
and Yanbye, and the curfew is
effective until further noticed.
According to offcial fgures,
29 people were killed and 38
others injured in the deadly riot
from June 8 to 13.
Myanmar govt vows to
ensure safe return of
refugees to home villages
WASHINGTON (Xinhua) --
The United States and Thailand
held the fourth strategic
dialogue here on Thursday to
further expand their strategic
partnership and cooperation on
tackling bilateral and regional
challenges.
The dialogue was attended
by US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton and her
Thai counterpart Surapong
Tovichakchaikul, who held a
comprehensive discussion of
bilateral, regional and global
issues that refected the
richness and breadth of our
long-standing friendship,
said a joint statement issued at
the conclusion of the dialogue.
The two sides pledged to
strengthen political, security,
and economic cooperation
and the commitment the two
countries share to promote
peace, security, and prosperity
throughout the Asia-Pacifc,
the statement said.
The US side reaffrmed its
support for the centrality of
the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the
evolving ASEAN-led regional
architecture in the Asia-Pacifc.
Both sides underscored
their continued support to
increase cooperation in regional
frameworks, including ASEAN,
the Lower Mekong Initiative,
the Asia Pacifc Economic
Cooperation forum, and the
East Asia Summit.
They welcomed recent,
positive developments and
reforms in Myanmar and
emphasized that it is important
for the international community
to continue to support in
concrete ways democratization
and national reconciliation, the
statement said.
The United States and
Thailand also expressed support
for efforts at regional and
international levels, including
at the East Asia Summit, to
promote maritime security,
nuclear disarmament, nuclear
non-proliferation and peaceful
uses of nuclear energy.
US, Thailand hold strategic dialogue
to enhance partnership
Vientiane Times 5 Saturday June 16, 2012
World
COPENHAGEN (Xinhua) --
Chinese President Hu Jintao
arrived on Thursday afternoon
for a state visit to Denmark.
Denmark rolled down red
carpet for President Hu, the
frst Chinese head of state
who ever visited the North
European country since the
two countries established
diplomatic ties 62 years ago.
Danish Queen Margrethe
II and members of the royal
family greeted Hu at the
Kastrup International Airport.
The Queen held a welcome
ceremony for Hu and
accompanied him to inspect
the guard of honors.
Holding the presidency
of the European Union,
Denmark is working hard to
coordinate and push forward
EU countries effort to jointly
address the sovereign debt
crisis. According to Chinese
offcials, President Hus
visit to Copenhagen will
send out positive signals that
China will frmly support
Europes efforts to combat
the debt crisis and advance
its comprehensive strategic
partnership with EU.
In a written statement
released upon his arrival, Hu
vowed to lift the ties between
Beijing and Copenhagen to a
new level.
Hu said that bilateral ties
have come a long way and
now enjoy sound and all-round
growth in a wide range of areas.
He expressed the readiness
to take China-Denmark
comprehensive strategic
partnership to a new level.
Noting that China and
Denmark established the
comprehensive strategic
partnership in 2008, Hu said
the two countries have now
seen frequent exchanges
between the leaders,
robust growth in economic
cooperation and trade, fruitful
cooperation in science,
technology, environmental
protection, new energy,
culture and people-to-people
exchanges and maintained
good communication and
coordination in international
affairs.
The Chinese president
said he will have in-depth
discussions with Danish
leaders on strengthening all-
round cooperation between
the two countries and other
issues of shared interest.
I also look forward to
extensive contact with people
from across the sectors of
society in Denmark, Hu said
in the statement.
The Danish society
embraced Hus visit with
enthusiasm. Danish Prime
Minister Helle Thorning-
Schmidt called the visit a
historic visit.
Danish Trade and
Investment Minister Pia
Olsen Dyhr said Hus visit is a
breakthrough in the Danish-
Chinese relations as the two
sides are expected to sign 10
cooperation agreements.
The Danish economy
is very much dependent
on exports as 54 percent
of Danish gross domestic
product (GDP) comes from
exports and 700,000 Danes
are employed in the export
sector. China is now the sixth
largest trading partner for
Denmark and the top one in
terms of trade of goods.
I am looking forward to
the years 2010-2015 that we
can double this amount of
exports to China, said Olsen
Dyhr.
President Hu arrives in
Denmark for landmark visit
Chinese President Hu Jintao (right) is welcomed by Denmarks Queen Margrethe II upon his arrival in
Copenhagen, Denmark. --Photo Xinhua
DAMASCUS (Xinhua) -- The
UN supervision missions
spokesperson said Thursday
that groups of UN observers
had entered Syrias troublesome
northern mountainous town
of al-Haffeh earlier in the day,
after having troubles entering
the town over the past week.
On Wednesday, Syrian
troops succeeded in
dislodging the armed groups
from Haffeh near the coastal
city of Latakia after a week of
intense fghting, the countrys
state-run SANA news agency
reported.
Syrian authorities have
restored peace and tranquility
to al- Haffeh, said SANA,
adding that the armed groups
had carried out acts of arson and
sabotage to public and private
properties as well as terrorising
local residents there.
The town appeared
deserted and most government
institutions, including the
post offce, were set on fre.
spokesman Ghosheh said.
In a brief statement
to Xinhua, Ghosheh said
Archives were burnt, stores
were looted and set on fre,
residential homes appeared
rummaged and the doors were
forced open.
The Baath Party
Headquarters in the town
was heavily shelled, she
said, adding that remnant of
heavy weapons and a range
of caliber arms were found in
the town. Cars both of civilian
and security use were also set
on fre and damaged.
Even though the state
media said the government
recaptured the town, however,
Ghosheh said there appeared
to be pockets in the town
where fghting is still going
on.
A strong stench of dead
bodies flled in the air,
Ghosheh noted, adding the
number of casualties still
unclear.
The UN Supervision
Mission in Syria (UNSMIS)
has been trying to reach al-
Haffeh since June 7 but has
been impeded by the ongoing
violence in the area.
The UN Supervision
Mission to Syria expressed
deep concern about the
escalating violence in Syria
and called on all parties to
put down their weapons
and choose the path of non-
violence for the welfare of
the Syrian people who have
suffered enough.
In a fresh wave of violence
Thursday, two car bombs went
off in the capital Damascus
and northern Idlib province,
injuring many people.
Meanwhile, the opposition
Local Coordination Com-
mittee said that as many
as 40 people were killed
Thursday in a number of
other Syrian cities, which
blamed the regime forces for
the killings.
The UN estimated that
over 9,000 people died in
Syrias 15- month-old unrest.
UN observers enter Syria al-
Haffeh town unveiling tragedies
GENEVA (Xinhua) -- A
new international labour
standard was adopted by
the International Labor
Conference as it concluded
its 101st session on Thursday,
requesting countries to
establish national social
protection foors.
The recommendation
called for providing people
with essential health care
and benefts, as well as basic
income security, as there
are currently more than
fve billion people lacking
adequate social security,
according to the International
Labor Organisation (ILO).
Social protection has
proven to be a powerful anti-
crisis measure. It protects
and empowers people, and
contributes to boosting
economic demand and
accelerating recovery. It is also
a foundation for sustainable
and inclusive economic
growth, said ILO Director-
General Juan Somavia.
Countries are encouraged
to establish social protection
foors as a fundamental
element of their national social
security systems and as part
of their social, economic and
environmental development
plans. The countries which
cannot afford the basic social
protection measures could
seek international cooperation
and support to complement
their own efforts.
The new recommendation
said people employed in the
informal and formal economy
should also beneft from
social security. As such, it
should support the growth of
formal employment and the
reduction of informality.
ILO said the new standard
is the frst autonomous one
to be voted on social security
in 68 years. It came 24 years
after the last legal instrument
on social protection was
discussed by delegates from
governments, workers and
employers back in 1988.
Last November, G20
leaders meeting in Cannes
recognised the importance
of investing in nationally
determined social protection
foors.
Nearly 5,000 delegates
from the ILOs 185 member
states attended the two-week
session which started on
May 30. They also discussed
youth unemployment and
fundamental principles and
rights at work.
During the meeting, ILO
lifted its restrictions on the
full participation of Myanmar
in its activities and decided
to review the progress on
the elimination of forced
labor in the country next
year. Myanmar opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi
delivered a speech at the
conference on Thursday,
calling for international aid
and investment to help build
a better future for Myanmar
and highlighting the problems
of youth unemployment.
New ILO recommendation calls
for social protection foor for all
WASHINGTON (Xinhua) --
US President Barack Obama
on Thursday called Saudi
King Abdullah to discuss
a range of issues of mutual
interest.
The two leaders
reaffrmed the strong and
enduring bilateral relationship
CANBERRA, Australia (AP)
-- The government announced
Friday that 294 of Australias
biggest polluters will pay a
carbon tax when it comes into
force next month in a bid to
curb the nations greenhouse
gas emissions.
Opinion polls show that the
carbon tax is already deeply
unpopular among Australians.
But Prime Minister Julia
Gillard maintains it is essential
to achieving her 2020 target
of slashing greenhouses gas
emissions to 5 percent below
2000 levels.
Companies and local
governments that annually
produce more than 25,000
metric tons (28,000 tons)
of carbon dioxide, or the
equivalent in other carbon
gases, must pay a tax of 23
Australian dollars for every
metric ton of carbon dioxide
they produce starting July 1.
BHP Billiton, the worlds
biggest miner, and Macquarie
Generation, one of Australias
largest power generators, are
on the list of carbon taxpayers,
as are local governments that
operate methane-emitting
landflls.
The agricultural industry,
Australias third worst
carbon polluter, is exempt
because of difficulties in
measuring emissions on
farms.
Climate Change Minister
Greg Combet said the number
of carbon taxpayers could
change in the months ahead
as businesses either increase
or decrease emissions.
Australia is one of the
worlds worst greenhouse
polluters on a per capita basis
due to its heavy reliance
on abundant reserves of
cheap coal for electricity
generation.
Australia says 294 polluters to pay carbon tax
between the United States and
Saudi Arabia, and discussed
a range of issues of mutual
interest as part of their
ongoing consultations, the
White House said in a brief
statement.
The statement made
no mention of the subjects
discussed by the two leaders.
The phone talks came as
the world is exploring ways to
lead Syria out of a morass of
violence and bloodshed that
has plagued the Middle East
country since mid-March
2011.
Saudi Arabia is a known
critic of Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad and a
supporter of the opposition.
In addition, Irans nuclear
program is a top concern of
both Washington and Riyadh,
and Washington is set to
begin on June 28 to punish
those countries that continue
to purchase Iranian oil.
Despite a drop from a
four-year high of US$128
per barrel in March to
US$ 96.63 in oil price, the
Organisation of Petroleum
Exporting Countries decided
on Thursday to keep its
output ceiling at 30 million
barrels per day set out last
December.
As the top producer of
the cartel, Saudi Arabia did
not bend over pressure from
other members to cut back
supply so as to maintain the
benchmark crude oil price at
100 dollars a barrel.
Obama, Saudi king discuss issues of mutual interest
Vientiane Times 6 Saturday June 16, 2012
Opinion
Isabelle de Grave Republish
UNITED NATIONS (IPS) - Unlocking
womens energies and allowing
them to become drivers of change
could fuel the motor of sustainable
development.
The question is whether world
leaders meeting at the Rio+20 summit
in Brazil will squander or seize this
tremendous opportunity to harness
womens full potential.
In an interview with UN
correspondent Isabelle de Grave
ahead of Rio+20, Michelle Bachelet,
head of UN Women, explains the
vital link between gender equality
and the environmental, social and
economic dimensions of sustainable
development.
Q: How does gender and
womens empowerment relate to
sustainable development?
A: Twenty years ago, at the
(frst) Rio Summit, there was a
unanimous agreement that sustainable
development would never be realised
without gender equality and that holds
true today.
Gender equality and womens
empowerment are integral to
the achievement of sustainable
development. Gender equality is
the factor which brings together
the three dimensions. It determines
the access that men and women
have to productive resources such
as land, fnance, and technology, it
determines the ability of individuals
to take advantage of opportunities
such as education and employment,
and it circumscribes access to social
protection and basic services.
Women farmers make up 43
percent of the agricultural labour
force in developing countries and 80
percent in some parts of Africa. If
women had the same access as men
to agricultural resources, production
would increase by 20 to 30 percent,
and has the potential to reduce the
number of hungry people in the world
by 12 to 17 percent.
In terms of the everyday lives of
women and girls, the provision of
basic services, clean water, energy,
housing and transportation can reduce
the intense labour of women, promote
dignity and enhance quality of life.
Rio+20 provides an enormous
opportunity to move forward to a
new development paradigm, which
appreciates the integral human value
of gender equality and womens
empowerment to the achievement of
sustainable development.
Q: Participation and leadership
is one of the key themes of the UN
Women mandate. Will womens
participation in discussions held at
Rio+20 be a refection of progress in
this regard?
A: We are advocating for womens
leadership and participation because
we know that when you do have
women discussing things and when
you allow women a strong voice, this
frees up space for change.
At this years summit there will be
a high-level forum of women leaders,
and a high-level event for women
leaders on the subject famine. The
participation of a group of female
heads of state and heads of government
will bring attention to the relationship
between gender equality, womens
empowerment and sustainable
development. In this regard we are
seeing progress.
But its not only about participation
in one particular conference that is
key, it is about womens participation
and leadership in diverse areas, and
how we are able to link this to an
action plan. That action plan will be
the outcome document to be agreed
upon by member states at the Rio +20
summit.
The Must Haves for Rio+20
To ensure womens voices are
heard, Bachelet outlined some of the
core themes on the UN Women agenda
to be raised at the Rio+20 Summit.
Women have a vital role in
environmental management and
development, full participation
is therefore essential to achieve
sustainable development, reads the
draft outcome document for Rio+20,
symbolic of the progress gender
related concerns have made at the
global level.
Leaders will be urged to take
measures to accelerate womens roles
and equal participation in governance
at all levels and to ensure leadership in
the decision-making process.
Other vital aims include the need
for the elimination of all discriminatory
barriers to women in urban and
rural areas, and concrete action
against factors that prevent women
from equally accessing, owning or
managing productive resources.
Equal access to opportunities,
including employment has long
formed a part of womens calls
for equality and remains a central
objective, alongside the urgent need to
end gender-based violence.
Whilst the issue of womens health
and reproductive rights has proved a
sticking point in the face of differing
positions voiced in the negotiations
leading up to Rio+20, Bachelet
emphasised that calls for the respect
of womens rights including womens
health and reproductive rights would
be on the UN women agenda.
Last but not least, ideas cannot
come to fruition without funding,
and Bachelet emphasised the need
to commit to providing the necessary
fnancial resources so that all of these
initiatives can be implemented.
Q: Debates and discussions that
have taken place ahead of Rio+20
have greatly emphasised the need to
streamline the development agenda,
by determining the must haves
that governments will sign up to.
In this regard, what challenges do
you anticipate for the promotion of
gender equality, and womens rights
ahead of the summit?
A: Weve seen very promising
developments in the past few weeks
of negotiations, and Im very pleased
that gender equality and womens
empowerment is refected throughout
the text to be agreed upon by member
states.
There have been calls from member
states to gain greater recognition of
womens rights in relation to water as
well as a section on womens health
and sexual and reproductive rights. I
hope these will continue and prevail
so as to feature alongside womens
right to land and property.
In relation to womens sexual and
reproductive rights, there are always
debates in this area. Some countries
have different positions on the issue
of womens reproductive rights and
health and services.
We believe you cant isolate one
part of the worlds female population.
You need to include all the aspects
that are essential in terms of achieving
gender equality, you cannot ensure the
right to participate and be an economic
agent and not consider sexual and
reproductive health to be important
as well. We will continue working to
ensure that we get out of the document
the best and most comprehensive
response to womens needs.
It is also important that after Rio,
when governments will be discussing
a new development framework beyond
2015 and the MDGs that women are
fully integrated.
I would really like to see
a comprehensive sustainable
development goal on gender
empowerment and the inclusion
of gender targets and indicators in
all other goals. We believe gender
equality has to be mainstreamed
taken into consideration in all areas
of development and recognised as a
concrete goal in itself.
Q&A: Women must be at the
forefront of Rio+20, and beyond
Michelle Bachelet.
--Credit: Courtesy of UN Women
Vincent Lingga
THE JAkARTA Post, ANN --
Indonesia has been one of the worlds
largest exporters of liquefed natural
gas (LNG) since the mid-1970s, but
the role of the clean-burning primary
energy in the countrys electricity
generation is still almost negligible.
The problem is that most of the big
power generation stations are located in
Java while most gas is produced on the
outer islands, and Java does not have
an onshore LNG receiving terminal,
which costs hundreds of millions of
dollars to build.
No wonder the two LNG plants
at Arun in the northernmost province
of Sumatra and in Bontang, East
kalimantan, have been tied to long-
term (more than 25 years) contracts
because the building of the loading
and receiving terminals to handle LNG
carriers require billions of dollars of
investment. But the launching last
month of Indonesias frst foating
storage and regasifcation unit (FSRU)
in Java bay will drastically change the
supply and value chain of natural gas.
The power generation station at
Muara karang, north of Jakarta, has
begun taking in natural gas from as
far as the Bontang plant because the
short distance between the FSRU
mooring in the Jakarta bay and the
power stations can be covered by a
submarine pipeline. The FSRU takes
deliveries of LNG from tankers and
turns it back into gas (regasifcation)
before pumping it to the power plant
through the sub-sea pipeline.
The FSRU, named Nusantara
Regas Satu, was built at the Sembawang
yard in Singapore by converting an old
LNG vessel owned by Golar LNG into
foating regasifcation vessel-based
LNG receiving unit. The facility, which
is also Asias frst FSRU, is chartered
by PT Nusantara Regas, a joint venture
of two state companies Pertamina
oil and gas company and Perusahaan
Gas Negara (PGN).
The FSRU with a storage capacity
of 125,000 cubic metres enables the
quick realisation of gas purchases
and obviates the need for shore-based
LNG storage tanks and regasifcation
facilities. Later in 2013 or early 2014,
the Nusantara Regas Satu will be
joined by an even larger FSRU, with
a storage capacity of 170,000 cubic
metres, currently under construction at
the South korean Hyundai shipyard.
Earlier this year, PGN and
Norways Hoegh LNG signed a 20-
year contract, extendable by 10 years,
under which the Norwegian fully-
integrated LNG service company
will provide PGN with an FSRU and
mooring system offshore of Lampung,
in southern Sumatra.
Different from the frst FSRU in
Java bay, which was converted from
an old LNG tanker, the second facility
will employ the frst of Hoegh LNGs
new building regasifcation vessels.
We have three FSRUs currently
under construction at Hyundai and
one of them will be moored offshore
Lampung, Hoegh LNGs vice
president Geimund Aasbo told The
Jakarta Post in Oslo last week.
The project, scheduled to come
on stream in early 2014, includes
construction, lease and operation of
an FSRU with an associated mooring
system, a contract for pipeline and
necessary infrastructure and a tie-in
with an existing grid connected to the
power station onshore.
With more than 40 years of
experience in LNG transportation
services, Hoegh has been operating
two FSRUs and fve LNG vessels,
all under long contracts, to energy
companies in the global LNG value
chain, Aasbo added.
There are now 14 FSRUs operating
worldwide with seven others, including
the one destined for Indonesia, still
under construction in South korea.
The FSRU facility will greatly
improve Indonesias energy security,
especially because most of the
hydrocarbon discoveries in recent
years are gas, such as the Senoro and
Matindok felds in Central Sulawesi
with combined proven reserves of 2.4
trillion cubic feet, and the Masela block
in the Arafura Sea, south of Papua,
with reserves of 6.5 trillion cubic feet
and the huge BP gas feld at Tangguh
in Papua.
I expect hydrocarbon discoveries
in the eastern part of Indonesia will
consist mostly of natural gas, said
Statoil Indonesia CEO Tor Fjaeran.
Though a newcomer in Indonesias
petroleum industry, the Norwegian
state oil company Statoil has been
operating a deep-water karama
production sharing contract offshore
West Sulawesi and has farmed into
nine other concessions, all of which
are offshore in the eastern region.
Natural gas is cleaner than other
fossil fuels, and gas-fred power plants
are relatively cheap to build, fueling a
stronger demand for gas.
As LNG transportation has now
been made much easier with the FSRU,
it also allows LNG spot markets to
expand. The International Energy
Agency, a watchdog for the developed
countries, has estimated LNG trade to
increase to more than 395 billion cubic
metres in 2015.
Most LNG is still sold under long-
term contracts that underpin the billions
of dollars of investments required for
liquefaction plants. But the massive
expansion of regasifcation capacities
has created bigger opportunities along
the global LNG value chain.
We can imagine in the coming
years a feet of small tankers on regular
runs across the country carrying LNG
from Bontang, BP Tangguh plant in
Papua, Shells Masela plant in the
Arafura sea or Pertamina-Medco
Senoro-Matindoks plant in Central
Sulawesi and supplying the gas to
electricity plants, which are currently
run on expensive diesel or fuel oil.
Indonesias supply
chain of natural gas
GENEVA, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The
World Trade Organisations (WTO)
fourth trade policy review (TPR) of
China concluded here on Thursday.
While most WTO members
commended Chinas more important
role in the world economy, some
also raised higher expectations and
believed China should take more
responsibilities.
During the two-day review, WTO
members conducted a collective
evaluation of the full range of Chinas
trade policies and practices and their
impact on the functioning of the
multilateral trading system.
Yu Jianhua, head of the Chinese
delegation and assistant minister
of commerce, told members about
the macro-environment for Chinas
economy and trade, trade and
investment development and related
policies.
Eduardo Munoz Gomez,
chairman of the Trade Policy Review
Body, said in his concluding remarks
on Thursday that this review of
China has taken place against the
background of the lingering effects
of the global fnancial and economic
crises and the diffcult economic
situation that continues to prevail.
Members were encouraged to
note that China has kept its markets
open and resisted protectionist
pressures during this diffcult period,
he said. China has received a record
number of more than 1,700 written
questions before the deadline from
nearly 30 members, including the
United States, the European Union
(EU), Brazil and India. A total of 42
members made statements during the
review.
TPR is an exercise mandated
in the WTO agreements, in which
members trade and related policies
are examined and evaluated at regular
intervals. Signifcant developments
that may have an impact on the global
trading system are also monitored.
All WTO members are subject to
review, with the frequency of review
depending on the members size. The
United States, China, the EU and
Japan are reviewed every two years.
Gomez said the keen interest
shown by members in this review
testifes to the important role played
by China in international trade and in
the WTO.
Many members said China
has been among their top three
trading partners and they have tight
and all-round economic and trade
relations with China. This fourth
TPR of China has given us a sense
of Chinas growing importance in
the world economy in general and
in the multilateral trading system in
particular, said the chairman.
Thats why Chinas trade policies
have more and more impact on other
WTO members, the world economy
and the multilateral trade system. It
also explains why members have
been interested in hearing government
views of Chinas economic prospects
for the next few years -- will China
stick to the reform and opening up?
Yu said the Chinese government
has frmly and steadily pushed
forward reforms in key areas with
greater determination and courage in
the past two years.
China gets praises, expectations in WTO trade policy review
Vientiane Times 7

WhAt the LAo pApeRs sAy
Saturday June 16, 2012 Opinion
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Correspondents Republish
RIO DE JANEIRO, (IPS) -
With heads of state from more
than 120 nations and tens of
thousands of civil society and
international development
experts gathering for the
UN Summit on Sustainable
Development next week,
it is accepted wisdom that
rethinking agriculture is one of
most critical issues facing this
and future generations.
TerraViva spoke with
Kanayo F. Nwanze, president
of the International Fund for
Agricultural Development,
a UN agency that focuses on
eradicating rural poverty in
developing countries through
hands-on interventions like
fnancial services, markets,
technology, land and other
natural resources.
Excerpts from the interview
follow.
Q: IFAD, and in general
experts on agrarian matters,
see the fght against poverty
as inextricable from
the preservation of the
environment. In this context,
what do you expect from
Rio+20?
A: As it stands, todays
food and agriculture systems
are failing smallholders in
developing countries. This is
because two key points are
not understood well enough
by policymakers and the
general public. First, of the
1.4 billion people living on
under 1.25 dollars per day,
one billion of them are in rural
areas in developing countries,
and the vast majority of those
depend on agriculture for
their livelihoods. So poverty
remains a rural phenomenon
and small farms play a central
role in providing food and
employment.
Second, while it is known
that agriculture has huge
impacts on the environment,
it is not fully recognised that
small farms in developing
countries are managing vast
areas of natural resources.
For example, 80 percent of
farmland in Asia and sub-
Saharan Africa is made up of
small farms.
The problem is that these
farmers, both women and men,
are often not empowered to
manage their natural resources.
They do not have secure
access to their land. They are
reliant on the weather and do
not have access to institutions
and markets.
On top of this, smallholder
farmers are facing growing
threats and risks of volatile food
prices and increasing scarcity
of natural resources, such as
land and water. Changes in
climate patterns and expected
increases in extreme weather
conditions are making life
even more diffcult for rural
communities.
While the Rio+20
negotiations are on-going,
IFAD is continuing to work
with farmers organisations,
the Rome-based agencies
and other partners, to
raise awareness about the
challenges facing the worlds
smallholders and to promote
an action-oriented agenda
with agriculture at the centre.
We expect the negotiators will
take into account the case of
smallholder farmers and give
them a level playing feld.
Q: Can you defne the
position you are advancing
at the Rio+20?
A: We are advocating for
three big changes to todays
food and agriculture system.
Of course policies need to
be in place for poor rural
women and men to access new
technologies. After nearly three
decades of declining support
for agriculture, it would seem
that our goal of universal food
and nutrition security is more
elusive than ever.
But amid the dark clouds,
there are rays of hope.
Because of co-ordinated
efforts, the devastation caused
by the famine in the Horn of
Africa today was less than
we have seen under similar
circumstances in the past.
And because of
commitments to agricultural
development made in recent
years from the African
Union Maputo Declaration to
the G8 LAquila summit we
are developing the framework
to ensure that food security
crises, such as those witnessed
today, will someday become
history.
We are pushing for massive
scaling up of investments
in sustainable smallholder
agriculture that can increase
farmers productivity and
incomes, improve their
resilience to erratic weather
conditions, and prevent the
natural resource base from
further degradation.
Sustainable agriculture
with smallholders means we
do not need to make the false
choice between reducing
poverty or tackling climate
change. In the long run we can
do both through approaches
that bring agriculture planning,
such as increasing crop or
livestock production, together
with planning in other sectors
like environment, energy, and
transportation. This is the only
way we will get the balance
of social, environmental
and economic benefts that
is the basis of sustainable
development.
Second, smallholders are
entrepreneurs who dont have a
level playing feld for running
their businesses. Its incredible
how much they achieve off
the sweat of their brows, their
traditional knowledge and
their unfagging ingenuity.
Smallholders have, for
generations, been adapting to
changing conditions and now
that climate is changing so
much more rapidly, there is a
lot we can learn from them.
We can support them with
accessible technologies that
can help them adapt to the
new and uncertain conditions.
But their lives will not change
much if they cannot connect to
markets.
There are plenty of examples
of smallholder farmers driving
agricultural production and
supplying national and even
global markets. They have
the potential to increase their
production and contribute to
feeding nine billion people
by 2050.They need a little
support and not handouts.
Part of this will be changing
the perception of the private
sector to see smallholders as
entrepreneurs in their own
right and potential partners for
business deals.
Last but not the least is
that no one government or
organisation can do this alone.
We need better partnerships to
link smallholder women and
men to government institutions,
civil society, the private sector
and researchers. We need a
new paradigm of collaboration
that allows us to plan across
sectors from agriculture and
health, to transportation and
education, as well as cross
cutting ecological landscapes
that do not share the borders of
our human communities and
activities.
Q: How would you
strengthen the role of poor
peasant farmers and their
organisations in order to
reach these objectives?
A: IFAD is one of the
largest sources of fnancing
for agriculture and rural
development in many developing
countries, and we support
government programmes that
empower smallholder farmers
and their organisations to
interact more effectively with
their governments, with their
natural environment and with
markets.
Q&A: Todays food system is
failing small farmers
Kanayo F. Nwanze. --Credit: Courtesy of IFAD
Road works must be of higher standard
translated by phetsamone Chandala
Many roads in Vientiane are currently under construction or repair, so delays and diffculties
for road users are inevitable.
Everyone understands that road works can cause inconvenience so drivers must be patient,
and think more about the good road they will have in the future than the present problems.
Contractors also should understand the frustrations they can cause and should make every
effort to reduce the work time to a minimum and ensure a quality result.
In the past, road repairs and construction have been substandard in many cases, such as
the road to the National Stadium which is now under repair.
Instances of very slow progress, even total inactivity, have been noted and some
contractors have done surface work only, leaving major problems, especially when it rains.
Delays can also occur when a contractor takes on many projects but does not employ
more people, nor use the necessary equipment and vehicles.
Companies that take on road projects must ensure they have the manpower to complete
the job on time and the equipment and expertise to provide a quality, long lasting surface.
One reader said road construction in Vientiane should be a good advertisement for the
project contractor, because the quality of their work and rate of progress is evident for all to see.
--Vientiane Mai Daily, June 14

Unsightly and dangerous cables need tidying up
There are many places in Chanthabouly district, Vientiane, where a confusing jumble of
electricity, telephone and television cables can be seen hanging, sometimes tenuously, to
electricity poles.
At Nam Phou fountain in central Vientiane, outbreaks of fre have burned these cables,
causing power cuts and other problems. Fortunately, many restaurants and government
offces are located in the area, and their staff have extinguished the fre on each occasion,
preventing any serious damage.
One electricity pole in Sengsavang village carries many taut and slack cables even more
jumbled than at Nam Phou.
A villager said three big black cables were hung from the pole but had not been maintained
and rotted away in the rain, causing electricity and television cable outages.
One elderly lady attempted to raise the cables by using a piece of bamboo to hold them up
but she didnt succeed. She did this because she was afraid that the cable to her home would
be damaged, leaving her with no power.
The writer thinks this matter should be looked into immediately and a contractor
appointed to repair and correct all issues relating to this problem so that the community is
less inconvenienced.
--Paxaxon Daily, June 14


Proliferation of cheating a disgrace
In these modern times, traditional standards and principles have been allowed to slip, and the
desire for material improvement is outweighing the moral values people were taught in early
life. This is refected in the high incidence of cheating and stealing that exists nowadays.
Take the case of a resident of Hongkae village in Xaysettha district, Vientiane, whose
wife recently bought a gas stove for about 2 million kip. The salesman promised to install
the stove within three days.
When the salesman did not come as promised, the couple called him and he promised to
install the stove right away. Again he didnt show up so they called once more, only to fnd
that this time he couldnt be contacted.
Another example of moral decline is when people send goods by bus, only to fnd that a
passenger has stolen them.
Cheating is a form of stealing and can take many forms, such as business disputes where
one party has misled the other, using photocopied land certifcates to obtain a loan, and so
on.
We wish to warn members of the public to be careful of cheats and not to believe someone
you dont know well. If we are alert and pay close attention to what is being said, we might
avoid being cheated.
Should it happen and we are cheated, we should inform the village authorities and the
police to help them arrest the wrongdoers.
--Socio Economic Daily, June 15
Vientiane Times 8
Chapter 3
Consideration of a Petition or a Request for Bankruptcy
Article 20. Calling of a Creditors Meeting
a creditors meeting is called by the asset supervision committee or based on a proposal of a
creditor representing 1/4 of the total debt.
the invitation and the agenda of the meeting must be sent to the participants in the meeting at
least three days before the date when the meeting [is scheduled to] start.
the creditors meeting may be held if more than half of the creditors representing not less than
2/3 of the total debt are present in the meeting.
Article 21. Rights and Duties of a Creditors Meeting
a creditors meeting has the following rights and duties:
1. to consider the enterprise rehabilitation plan and the organisation of business operations;
2. to study and submit proposals to the court regarding the division of the enterprises assets in
the event that the rehabilitation plan of the enterprise has not been agreed upon.
Article 22. Suspension of a Creditors Meeting
a creditors meeting shall be suspended in the following cases:
1. Creditors who participate in the meeting represent less than half of the total number of
creditors and do not represent 2/3 of the total amount of debt;
2. a resolution to suspend the meeting has been reached by a majority vote of the creditors
representing at least 2/3 of the total amount of debt of creditors participating in the meeting.
Article 23. Obligations of the Debtor Enterprise to the Creditors Meeting
at the creditors meeting, the enterprise owner or the enterprise representative has the duty to
explain plans for mediation and various methods of restructuring the organisation and operations
of the enterprise, [and to] provide clarifcation on issues raised in the creditors meeting. In
the event that an enterprise owner or an enterprise representative is unable to participate in
the meeting for some reason, he must authorize another person to participate in the meeting
on his behalf. the person who has been authorized to attend the meeting on his behalf has the
same rights and duties as the owner or the representative of the enterprise. In the event that
the owner of a sole-trader enterprise is deceased, the successor of the enterprise owner shall
attend the meeting.
Article 24. Forms of Decision of the Creditors Meeting
the creditors meeting shall decide [and] propose to the court to consider one of three forms
as follows:
1. rehabilitation of the enterprise;
2. sale of business;
3. Bankruptcy and liquidation.
LaO PeOPLes deMOCratIC rePuBLIC
PeaCe IndePendenCe deMOCraCy unIty PrOsPerIty
national assembly no. 06/na
10 October 1994
LAw ON BANKRUPTCy OF ENTERPRISES
saturday June 16, 2012

Where we are and where were going

English language education in Laos
Martin Momoda
Talk the talk
Its more intuition and guesswork than science, but I can often identify where a Lao speakers
English comes from. The clues are in the colloquialisms, pronunciation and mannerisms that
they use. Sometimes its easy, like the man who spoke English with a perfect Indian accent.
Sometimes, it is more complex.
Youll fnd fairly good speakers in temples. As you enter the gate, the more confdent novice will
approach you frst. If you create enough interest, you will be enclosed in concentric circles of
ability. The spokesnovice stays centre stage and speaks to impress, using sets of phrases that
roll off his tongue in practiced fuency. Youll
notice unusual word choice that comes from dictionaries and witticisms from phrase books. The
more novice speakers will stay back, but observe in ways that will enable them to take centre
stage some day.
Many novices and monks who speak English become guides. The repertoire of scripted phrases
expands with the necessity of explaining historical sites, but intonation often fattens into
monotones from overuse. Monologues have trouble becoming dialogues and simple questions
are often answered in belaboured detail.
Those who work in guesthouses have more chance to become conversational.
Some can understand English variations from around the world and can identify what colloquialisms
come from what countries. Cheaper guesthouses tend to have more irate customers so workers
can gain skills in negotiation and confict resolution. If anything, a guesthouse worker has to weigh
the benefts of upgrading to a 5-star hotel where they might end up standing silently, holding a
poolside towel and with no chance to speak to anyone.
Then there are those who have a chance to study abroad and can be identifed by reductions
like wanna and gonna and if theyre young enough, the use of words like awesome or cool.
Since they often get corporate jobs, they have to be careful if their English fossilises at the stage
of a teenager. Greeting dignitaries at the airport with awesome doesnt always impress.
The other day, I was stumped by a frst-year medical student from Xieng Khuang. I couldnt
imagine where he had learned his English. He admitted to chasing down an occasional tourist at
the Plain of Jars, but that wouldnt explain his carefully enunciated words and the speed that he
could understand and absorb corrections.
As it turns out, he expressed his indebtedness to a singular Lao teacher who took particular
effort in helping poor students. This teacher would spend time with them, eat with them, play
football with them and teach them everything he knew from his experiences at an international
organisation. The medical student understood how special this chance was as he had only 4
months before the teacher suddenly died at the early age of 42. Maybe it was my imagination but
I could feel a certain sincerity and respect embedded in the polite way he spoke.
Some people still dont realise that they learn languages from others and that those social
interactions are encoded into their speech. A whole class once claimed that learning conversational
English was not useful because the true meaning of studying English was to learn grammar. Now,
who did they learn that idea from?
Education
Continued in next Saturdays issue
Jeannette Goon
MaLaysIa (the star) --
they came in costume one
little girl dressed as a sheep,
one wearing a bonnet, and a
medley of others all with
stories to tell, speeches to
give. With their amazing gift
of the gab, it was hard to
believe that they were still in
primary school.
these pupils, from all
over Malaysia, as well as
from Indonesia, Brunei and
singapore, took part in an
upholding Bahasa Melayu
and strengthening english
discourse Programme, which
was jointly organised by
sK setiawangsa, in Kuala
Lumpur, and the national
Library.
according to sK setia-
wangsa headmaster ruslan
Madon, 24 High Performance
schools were involved in the
programmes fve competitions
Bahasa Melayu story telling,
story telling, International
Open story telling, Bahasa
Melayu Public speaking, and
Public speaking.
this programme is part
of our initiative to highlight
the students talents in
language arts at the national
and international levels, said
ruslan, adding that he hoped
it would become an annual
programme.
education Ministry
residential school and
excellent school Management
department deputy director
Mazlan samsudin said such
programmes should continue.
Language maintains
a culture, he said, citing
examples of the many
initiatives that have been
taken to improve english
among students, including
improving the curriculum,
and increasing the number of
teachers and english periods
in schools.
He added that language
shouldnt just be limited to
paper, it is important for it
to be spoken as well. He
then read two verses of a
pantun (poem) which further
illustrated the importance of
language and its relevance in
terms of culture.
national Library director-
general datuk raslin abu
Bakar said that while Baha
Melayu is important as the
national language, english is
the universal language.
english needs to be
mastered by all levels of
the community so that the
globalisation process can
continue, he said.
after the speeches,
the winners of the Bahasa
Melayu story telling and
story telling contests took to
the stage with their stories.
Minaah Barakah Che
Johari from sK sultan Ismail,
in terengganu, who won the
Bahasa Melayu story telling
Competition, told the tale of
tun Perak from Malacca who
managed to defeat the large
siamese army by creating an
illusion.
Meanwhile, International
Open story telling
Competition winner nuha
Jes Izman, 11, from sK Bukit
damansara, Kuala Lumpur,
had practised telling her story
for two weeks.
dressed as a peasant girl,
she eloquently told the tale of
the Wise Girl, complete with
a British accent.
the moral of the story is
that knowledge is power, she
said at the conclusion of her
tale about the girl who knew
the answers to all the kings
riddles.
eight-year-old Humairah
yunoos Gitaboy who won
the story telling Competition
was surprisingly shy.
Blushing in her sheep
costume, she said that her
mother and teacher at sK (P)
Methodist, in Kuantan, had
coached her.
My mum made my
costume, she said, and went
on to recount her story about
the big sheep and little
sheep who went out to the
felds to look for grass.
But there was no rain
so there was no grass. until
fnally near the lake, the big
sheep saw a green patch and
when he went closer it was
grass! she said.
asked if her story had a
moral, she replied that it was
about sharing because the
big sheep shared with the
little sheep.
as she had no expectations
of winning, she said that
clinching the top prize felt
great.
Yarns of the young
wow factor: Nuha enchanting the audience with a story about a
wise girl.
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Vientiane Times 9
Thai Baht
Euro 50-500
260.19
10,471
261.50
10,523
Exchange rates as of June 15, 2012
Banque pour le Commerce Exterieur Lao
Foreign Currencies Buying Selling
US Dollar 50-100
Thai Baht
Euro 50-500
7,987
253.87
10,068
8,026
255.15
10,118
Read more news at www.vientianetimes.org.la Saturday June 16, 2012
Business
Vientiane Times
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Attention Vientiane Times subscribers
Times Reporters
The future of the mining
industry in Laos is bright as
there are still large amounts of
unexplored mineral reserves,
according to the Ministry of
Energy and Mines.
The ministry presented
its latest report on mineral
reserves this week at a seminar
in Vientiane on the new Law
on Minerals, aiming to update
offcials and investors on the
most recent legislation and
encourage their compliance.
The seminar also
aimed to inform the sectors
involved about the latest
government policy to give
more responsibility to local
administrations in regulating
the mining sector. This is
in line with Party policy to
develop provinces as strategic
units, districts as strengthened
comprehensive units, and
villages as development
units.
According to the
presentation by the Ministry
of Mines, Laos has 326
million tonnes of potash
reserves, 442 million tonnes
of bauxite, 384 million tonnes
of lignite, 152 million tonnes
of copper ore, 44 billion
tonnes of gold ore, 1.7 billion
tonnes of limestone, and 32
million tonnes of tin ore.
This large amount of
mineral reserves will attract
local and foreign investment
in the mining sector, as
companies see the chance to
set up processing operations.
Metals and minerals prices
in world markets have been
stable in recent years, enabling
Laos to attract investment in
the mining sector and ensure
sustainable economic growth.
Despite the governments
policy not to accept any new
mining investment proposals,
the future of the industry
in Laos looks bright. A
number of approved mining
investment projects are still in
the exploration and planning
stages.
As of March, 290 mining
projects had been approved.
107 are in the prospecting
stage and 125 are in the
exploration stage. There are
only 58 mining operations in
the country. The two largest
are Phou Kham in Vientiane
province and Sepon in
Savannakhet province.
The governments deci-
sion to call a halt to new
mining investments, which is
under consideration, may help
to accelerate the development
of approved mining projects
as it will force the developers
to mobilise the funding they
need to proceed.
In 2001, the output of main
mining products was 78,183
tonnes of copper cathode,
279,168 tonnes of copper in
concentrate, 474,032 tonnes
of lignite, 5,250 tonnes of
barite, and 36,512 tonnes of
sapphires, according to the
presentation.
The mining sector has
played an important role in
GDP growth in recent years. In
2011, the sector contributed 10
percent of GDP. Economists
say Laos needs to use its
natural resources effectively
and diversify its economic
base to ensure sustainable
economic growth.
Large mineral reserves
still to be tapped
ASIA NEWS Network,
HCM CITY (VNS) -- More
than VND9 trillion (US$432
million) from the Vietnam Bank
for Social Policies (VBSP)
has been injected into society,
with priority given to poor
households and students, and
public utilities in rural areas,
according to the banks deputy
general director Nguyen Duc
Hai.
The VBSP was established
in 2002 to provide credit for the
poor and other benefciaries.
It is regarded as an effcient
tool of the government in
mobilising various resources
domestically and internationally
to perform the governments
designated social-policy
lending.
The bank is able to offer
loans to the poor and government
social-policy benefciaries
through grassroot networks,
appropriate infrastructure, and
private and public participation,
particularly through bonds.
Of the disbursed money,
VND3.5 trillion (US$168
million) was lent to poor
households, VND3 trillion
(US$144 million) worth of
loans to students and pupils,
and VND778 billion (US$37.3
million) to production
and trading enterprises in
underprivileged areas.
At least VND776 billion
(US$37.2 million) was
invested in projects involved
in clean-water supply and
rural sanitation, and VND339
billion (US$16.2 million) for
employment creation.
Interest rates on these loans
are much lower than rates
being offered by commercial
banks: 10 percent for loans for
clean water and environment
projects; 7.8 percent of loans
for poor households, students,
and job creation; and between
3 percent and zero percent
of loans for underprivileged
ethnic-minority areas.
After nine years of operation,
the banks lending and debt
collections have proceeded
smoothly, thanks to appropriate
investments, according to Hai.
The banks current
total outstanding loans are
VND107.2 trillion (US$5.1
billion), of which bad debt
accounts for only 1.4 percent or
about VND1.5 trillion (US$72
million).
In 2011, the bank lent nearly
VND32 trillion (US$1.5 billion)
and collected debt worth VND2
trillion (US$96 million).
In the frst fve months of
this year, VBSP each month
collected between VND200
billion (US$9.6 million) and
250 billion (US$12 million)
from due debts.
The banks debt collection
has not met diffculties since
borrowers were well educated
about responsibilities to pay the
loans back, as they beneft from
the governments preferential
credit policy, Hai said.
The capital that the bank
used for the governments
socio-policy lending was
mainly raised from bonds issued
under a government guarantee,
he said.
In 2012, the credit growth
target that the government
has set for the VBSP was 10
percent (equal to VND9,318
billion) compared with last
years fgure.
To realise this, the bank was
allowed by the government to
issue VND26 trillion (US$1.2
billion) worth of bonds this
year. In the last fve months, the
bank raised VND12,680 billion,
(US$609 million) nearly half of
the target for the year, Hai said.
He said the bank had only
met nearly 30 percent of the
peoples needs, and that demand
was still very high.
Our top priority still
remains with the poor and
benefciaries of government
social policies, he added.
Vietnam bank targets students, poor
Staff at the Bank for Social Policies in central Thanh Hoa provinces Quang Xuong district perform
transactions.
ASIA NEWS Network,
KOREA (The Korea Herald) --
Korean builders have secured
a combined US$500 billion in
overseas construction orders
as of Wednesday, indicating
the beginning of the second
Middle East boom.
Since Korea started
overseas construction in
1965, the accumulated orders
have exceeded US$501.3
billion, the Ministry of Land,
Transport and Maritime
Affairs said on Wednesday.
Its a milestone at a time
of diffculties globally, Land
Minister Kwon Do-youp told
reporters, saying the second
Middle East boom has
already started.
There would be more
good news especially coming
from countries such as the
United Arab Emirates, Qatar
and Saudi Arabia where
President Lee Myung-bak
visited recently.
The announcement came
after Hanwha Group reported
its US$8 billion contract
signed on May 30 to build
a housing complex in a new
town of Iraq.
The building project,
which will build 100,000
houses in Bismayah, a
satellite city of Baghdad, is
the nations second-largest
overseas deal next to the
US$20 billion nuclear plant
contract with the United Arab
Emirates in 2009.
The ministry said overseas
construction has been more
active in recent years, with
more than half of the projects
carried out in just the past fve
years.
The growing trend could
make Korea one of the top
fve players in the global
construction market by 2014,
with annual orders reaching
US$100 billion, the ministry
predicted.
According to Engineering
News-Record, a US weekly
magazine, Koreas ranking
in the global construction
industry rose from 12th with
a 1.9 percent market share in
2003 to seventh with a 4.8
percent market share in 2010.
The recent slowdown
in the domestic construction
industry has affected local
builders negatively. However,
with overseas orders growing
steadily, their sales abroad
could soon outpace those in
the domestic market, said a
ministry offcial.
In terms of export volume,
the construction industry has
surpassed the nations key
sectors such as vessels, cars
and semiconductors since
2007.
The nations No. 1 export
items were semiconductors
with US$33.2 billion in 2006,
vehicles with US$34.5 billion
in 2007 and vessels with
US$56.6 billion in 2011.
Overseas orders in the
construction sector surged
from US$16.5 billion in 2006
to US$39.8 billion in 2007
and US$59.1 billion in 2011.
Of the US$500 billion
orders over the past 47 years,
the Middle East makes up
60 percent, or US$301.9
billion, followed by Asian
countries such as Singapore
and Vietnam with US$147.9
billion, or 30 percent of the
total.
Builders lead 2nd Middle East boom
Vientiane Times 10 Business Saturday June 16, 2012
ASIA NEwS NETwORK
(China Daily) -- The State
Council laid out measures
to improve food safety on
Wednesday, including tighter
supervision and harsher
punishment for violators.
It is an onerous task for
the government to ensure
food safety, as Chinas food
industry is still suffering from
nonstandard management and
many hidden safety risks,
according to a statement
released after a State Council
executive meeting presided
over by Premier Wen Jiabao.
The government should
enhance supervision by setting
up an effcient mechanism
that covers all links in the
food industry and a rigid food
recall system for destroying
defective products, the
statement said.
The State Council has
vowed a vigous crackdown
on those who endanger food
safety. Meanwhile, policies,
laws and regulations should
be revised to increase costs
for violators, according to
the statement. The country
will intensify a series of food
safety supervisions, including
strengthening enterprises
accountability for their food
products and streamlining
current food quality testing
standards .
The country will establish
credit profles for food
enterprises, releasing quality
information to the public in
time, the statement said.
Also, the country will give
prizes to people who expose
substandard food products, it
said.
China is facing increasing
risks on food safety as some
food enterprises have put too
much emphasis on profts,
negatively affecting sales, Pu
Changcheng, deputy director
of the General Administration
of Quality Supervision,
Inspection and Quarantine,
said at a news conference on
Monday.
In 2011, several food safety
scandals were exposed in the
country, including restaurants
serving food cooked with
gutter oil, illegal cooking
oil recycled from kitchen
waste and decomposed
animal fat and organs from
slaughterhouses.
In March, the State Food
and Drug Administration
asked McDonalds franchise
restaurants in China to
examine their food-processing
procedures after a China
Central Television program
reported one branch of the
fast-food chain selling expired
products.
All food enterprises in
China, including companies
of import and export food,
should realise that they serve
as the body responsible for
ensuring food safety. Each of
the links from raw material
production, processing,
circulation to consumption
must be supervised and
inspected strictly, Pu said.
Dong Jinshi, executive vice-
president of the International
Food Packaging Association,
said that punishments for
food enterprises with illegal
operations are always too
light.
Those people responsible
for food safety scandals should
be investigated for criminal
responsibility in accordance
with law. But now only a few
people received such severe
punishment, he said.
On Tuesday, catering
businesses in China had been
banned from adding nitrite salts
to processed meats, according
to a joint announcement
from the Ministry of Health
and the State Food and Drug
Administration.
Under Chinese law, nitrite
salts, a group of industrial
salts, can be added to foods,
such as sausages and smoked
meats, as a preservative and
coloring agent but only in very
small and limited amounts.
Some restaurants, diners
and snack booths have
been found adding them to
meat products they prepare
themselves.
In April 2011, a 1-year-old
girl died of nitrite poisoning
after eating fried chicken
bought from a street vender in
Beijing.
Police offcers examine decayed beans at an illegal food processing plant in Cangshan county, East
Chinas Shandong province.
Chinas State Council
improves food safety
ASIA NEwS NETwORK,
JAPAN (The Yomiuri
Shimbun) -- The industry
ministry said a nationwide
network of natural gas
pipelines must be built to
improve the accessibility of
gas throughout the country
and encourage industry
newcomers to construct gas-
fred thermal power plants.
The Economy, Trade and
Industry Ministry made the
proposal Wednesday in its draft
report to a subcommittee tasked
with natural gas infrastructure
development, which is part of the
ministrys Advisory Committee
for Natural Resources and
Energy.
The government plans to
include the proposal in a new
energy plan to be compiled
this summer.
Concrete routes for the
network will be discussed in
the future.
It will cost an estimated
2 trillion yen to build four
pipelines that connect
Sendai to Kitakyushu and
pass through three major
metropolitan areas.
The ministry is considering
whether to build underground
natural gas storage facilities
in depleted gas felds in
Niigata Prefecture and other
locations.
The proposal includes a
plan to import liquefed natural
gas when its market price is
low, keep gasifed LNG in
storage facilities and use the
pipelines to transport it during
periods of high demand.
The ministry is also eyeing
the import of shale gas--a
cheap natural gas found in
rocks formed by layers of mud
underground--from the United
States, and using pipelines
to send it to cities around the
country.
METI proposes building
natural gas network
Tomorrows Greek vote a pivotal market factor
Financial Market News: Headlines political speak have this year driven Stock and FX markets
in unpredictable directions especially in the past 2 months. Germany has warned it cannot save the
euro zone alone, as borrowing costs leave Spain on the ropes as Italy and France hold crisis talks
to tackle the debt crisis. World Bank president Robert Zoellick said, Germany has "no choice"
but to lead Europe out of its debt crisis, lending its clout in support of struggling countries' crucial
reforms.
Spain's borrowing costs have leapt to a euro-era record after Moody's downgraded its debt
ratings close to junk-bond status and warned of a rising risk of a full-blown bailout. Italian bonds
are also following suit.
Greek shares soared more than 10 percent Thursday all on speculation that voters will elect a
government committed to the austerity policies key to it receiving further bailout aid and staying
in the euro. But regardless of that sign, Greek bankers yesterday said up to 800 million Euros
(US$1 billion) were leaving major banks daily ahead of their election.
This weekend there are three elections. All are important polls in Egypt and France as well as
Greece central bankers around the globe remained on standby and prepared to avoid a credit
squeeze by ensuring enough steps for cash to fow through the fnancial system. They introduced
liquidity measures in place to prevent any Grexit monetary contagion. The weekend presents a
dramatic backdrop for the G20 summit of world leaders who will gather in Los Cabos, Mexico,
this Monday and Tuesday where Europe's escalating crisis defnitely tops the agenda.
US recorded one of its worst results in 2 years with weekly initial jobless claims rising and a fall
in monthly consumer prices in May. Both data sets underpinned fresh signs of weakness in the US
economy. Traders speculate a stimulus may now follow.
European shares fell on Thursday with investors remaining nervous ahead of the Greek
elections. Pressure on Italian and Spanish bond markets continued for a fourth day running.
The Spanish 10yr yield hit 6.99pct, Italian yields also rose, albeit far less dramatically.
US share markets rallied on Thursday after news that major central banks were preparing for
coordinated action if the Greek elections result in fnancial market turmoil.
The Euro rose from lows around US$1.2540 to highs near US$1.2635 and closed US trade
near its highs. The Aussie dollar rose from lows near US$0.9920c to highs around US$100.25c
and end US trade near its highs. And the Japanese yen rose from 79.45 yen per US dollar to
JPY79.15 and ended US trade near JPY79.35.
Benchmark crude oil prices rose on Thursday after OPEC agreed to keep its collective output
ceiling unchanged at 30 million bpd. US Nymex crude rose by US$1.29 or 1.6pct to US$83.91
a barrel. London Brent crude rose by US$0.45c to US$97.17 a barrel.
Base metal prices were mixed on the London Metals Exchange in light trade, with investors
unwilling to take large bets ahead of the Greek elections and Gold rallied for the ffth straight
session.
Signifcant Uranium Intercepts Stock Alert: Peninsula Energy Limited PEN. ASX
US$0.035 US$0.001 (+2.94pct). This stock is set to go to greater heights briefy (Peninsula)
announced and that it completed 3 months drilling for a total of 225,100 feet at the Lance
Projects. Detailed geological evaluation has identifed over 500 follow-up drill targets. Results
include very high grades, thick intervals and continuity of mineralisation. The continuous
mineralisation has been identifed over a strike length of 5.5 kilometres with horizontal widths
in the northern K5 area of up to 60m. It is estimated that these drill targets will form the basis
for on-going exploration over about 250km of leases over the next 5-10 years. More details
are available from their website.
Vientiane: BCEL again dominated trading for the second day in a row. Daily share volumes
increased 22pct and revenue 16pct in a strong fnish for the week full report on Monday.
Selected Stocks: PanAust climbed out of the doldrums up from AU$2.66 to reach AU$2.775 on
2.6m shares. Newsat went straight into a trading halt in the frst half hour yesterday with market
depth signaling a lot of unmatched orders at higher prices than Thursdays 80 cent close. An NwT
announcement should be made before the market opens on Monday. Ord Resources at 52WL
0.016c, Sundance rose up to 36c and Mt Gibson a small gain to 0.867c. Potash West slow to
react and stuck at 0.245c.
Vientiane Times 11 saturday June 16, 2012
Health
CHIna (the China Post)
-- diesel fumes cause
cancer, the World Health
Organisations cancer agency
declared tuesday, a ruling
it said could make exhaust
as important a public health
threat as secondhand smoke.
the risk of getting cancer
from diesel fumes is small,
but since so many people
breathe in the fumes in some
way, the science panel said
raising the status of diesel
exhaust to carcinogen from
probable carcinogen was
an important shift.
Its on the same order
of magnitude as passive
smoking, said Kurt straif,
director of the International
agency for research on
Cancer (IarC) department
that evaluates cancer risks.
this could be another big
push for countries to clean up
exhaust from diesel engines.
since so many people are
exposed to exhaust, straif said
there could be many cases
of lung cancer connected
to the contaminant. He said
the fumes affected groups
including pedestrians on the
street, ship passengers and
crew, railroad workers, truck
drivers, mechanics, miners
and people operating heavy
machinery.
The new classifcation
followed a weeklong
discussion in Lyon, France,
by an expert panel organised
by the International agency
for research on Cancer.
the panels decision stands
as the ruling for the IarC,
the cancer arm of the World
Health Organisation.
the last time the agency
considered the status of diesel
exhaust was in 1989, when
it was labeled a probable
carcinogen. reclassifying
diesel exhaust as carcinogenic
puts it into the same category
as other known hazards such
as asbestos, alcohol and
ultraviolet radiation.
the us government,
however, still classifes
diesel exhaust as a likely
carcinogen. experts said new
diesel engines spew out fewer
fumes but further studies are
needed to assess any potential
dangers.
We dont have enough
evidence to say these new
engines are zero risk, but
they are certainly lower
risk than before, said
Vincent Cogliano of the us
environmental Protection
agency. He added that the
agency had not received
any requests to reevaluate
whether diesel defnitely
causes cancer but said their
assessments tend to be in line
with those made by IarC.
WHO agency classifes diesel
exhaust as carcinogen
The world health Organisations cancer agency has determined that diesel exhaust causes cancer.
Its raised the status of diesel exhaust from probable carcinogen to carcinogen. That puts it in the
same category as other known hazards such as asbestos, alcohol and ultraviolet radiation.
Xayxana Leukai
t
his year marks
the second time
asean citizens
have joined forces
to combat dengue fever after
a ministerial health meeting
held in singapore in 2010
approved June 15 as asean
dengue day.
after the experience of
2010, when a large dengue
epidemic was recorded, the
attention of the Lao Ministry
of Health has focused on
preventing dengue fever both
in 2011 and this year.
Community participation
is essential for effective
dengue control. the
ministry and the media have
banded together to provide
health education on dengue
fever prevention to local
communities and educational
institutions, as part of
activities to mark asean
dengue day.
But Health Minister Prof.
dr eksavang Vongvichit said
Asean Dengue Day: another
weapon to curb a regional plague
people will never be free from
dengue fever if the campaign
focuses on only one day
of the year. Continuous
campaigning to encourage the
public to destroy mosquito
breeding sites every week is
the only way to curb dengue
fever, he said.
We know that dengue is
not just a problem in Laos but
is a health issue around the
world, Prof. dr eksavang
said, adding that asean
dengue day is an important
factor in encouraging people
to continue the fght against
the virus.
the 10th asean Health
Ministers Meeting produced
the following joint statement:
We are concerned that
dengue has affected millions
of people worldwide and
southeast asia is becoming
the most seriously affected
region. We acknowledge that
increasing public awareness
is one of the main strategies
to reduce the risk of dengue
transmission. We therefore
endorse asean dengue day as
an annual advocacy campaign
day for dengue prevention
and control at the regional and
national level. We commit to
support and promote the offcial
launch of asean dengue day.
every year all asean
member states organise their
own nationwide dengue
day related events. the
key messages are social
mobilisation, vector control,
case management, surveillance,
outbreak response, and research.
In addition, the collaboration of
individuals, communities, the
private sector and government
agencies is essential.
dengue is one of three
specifc diseases (the others
are rabies and malaria)
prioritised in the strategic
framework for emerging
infectious diseases under the
asean umbrella.
the rationale behind
the asean strategy on the
prevention and control of
dengue is the emergence
of dengue, its rapidly
evolving epidemiology, and
the economic losses in the
region. Besides causing ill
health and deaths, it affects
socio-economic development.
Community participation
and social mobilisation for
behaviour modifcation have
begun to show good results
in many different settings.
dengue prevention and control
should be everyones concern.
Integrated vector management
will produce the desired results
and the strategy is aimed at
utilising optimally the currently
available interventions based
on evidence.
according to the World
Health Organisation, dengue
is one of the fastest emerging
infections in the world as it
is currently the most rapidly
spreading viral disease
known. the number of cases
in the Western Pacifc Region
has more than doubled over
the past 10 years.
In particular, the asia
Pacifc bears 75 percent of
the current global dengue
disease burden and accounts
for more than 70 percent
of the estimated 2.5 billion
people at risk globally. the
disease has now expanded to
new geographical areas that
were previously unaffected
and this trend is predicted
to continue. there is also no
specifc treatment or vaccine
available to prevent death.
For this reason, the spread of
dengue is expected to have a
large impact on public health,
economies and society.
This unused tyre can collect stagnant water and become a breeding place for dengue mosquitoes.
Vientiane Times 12
To mark Visit Laos Year 2012, Vientiane Times is running a series of articles
about natural, historical and cultural tourism sites in Laos
saturday June 16, 2012
Travel
Bounfaeng Phaymanivong
a
nyone looking for
a great place to
relax and enjoy the
peace and quiet of
a tranquil environment should
go to the deep south of the
country.
Known as si Phan don
(Four Thousand Islands), the
area is familiar to tourists, and
Khong district in Champassak
province should certainly be
high on any list of places to
visit.
the local lifestyle,
hospitality and the generosity
of local people combine with
natural beauty and historical
and cultural attractions to
Four Thousand Islands: a natural paradise
form a lasting impression of
peace and harmony.
a few hours on a bus from
the provincial capital Pakxe
to Khong district in the far
south rewards the traveller
with scenic views and an
intimate look at daily life in
villages along the route.
after arriving at nakasang
village, a long-tailed boat ride
takes you to the island of don
det where you truly start to
experience village life in this
small community.
you may have guessed
by now Im a native of
Champassak province.
Having spent a lot of time
in Vientiane my assumption
was that Vangvieng and
Luang Prabang were the
major tourist destinations,
but having had the chance
to revisit my roots, its clear
that si Phan don is a strong
competitor and defnitely
should be included on any
travellers itinerary.
don det and don Khone
are the two islands best known
for their scenic charm and the
simple, relaxed lifestyle of
local residents.
Locals operate restaurants,
guesthouses and resorts and
prices compare favourably
with other places.
recently, I spent a couple
of days visiting my family.
It was a wonderful stress-
reducing experience and I
went cycling around the area,
observing how the villages
have improved over the past
few years since my last visit
in 2006.
Mr san, 25, one of my
close friends, joined me on
the trip which was his frst
visit to the south. Prior to our
departure we had discussed
where we should go while
we were there and decided
to spend most of our time on
don det and don Khon.
san told me he had been to
almost every province in Laos
and most had similarities in
terms of scenic splendour, but
now he says si Phan don is
high on his list of favourite
places to go.
I feel like my trip was
made more special when I
experienced the warmth and
friendliness of the southern
Khonphapheng waterfall is one of many scenic attractions in the south of Laos.
Long-tailed boats in hangkhone village wait in line for customers.
Riding across the bridge between Don Det and Don Khone.
Visitors arrive at Don Det.
residents. I will come back
again and again whenever I
have the time, he said.
He commented that
travelling to the south of Laos
was like a breath of fresh air
and gave him time to chat
with locals on the bus or in
restaurants.
to anyone who has not
yet visited the south of Laos,
I would strongly recommend
they try it as they will never
forget the truly enjoyable
experience, he said.
the many tourist
attractions in the area make
it diffcult to decide which
ones are must-see places as
almost all of them are known
for their fascinating character
and bucolic setting.
after my last visit six
years ago to don det and don
Khone, much has changed.
Guesthouses, resorts and
restaurants, along with other
facilities, have sprung up to
cater to the ever increasing
number of visitors.
the number of foreign
visitors has doubled over the
past few years with the majority
coming from thailand and
europe. Ms Charlotte smith,
26, a British tourist, told me she
was on a three-month holiday
in the region.
Ive already spent a month
in Vietnam, three weeks in
thailand and a week in Laos.
Im really enjoying myself,
cycling from the guesthouse
to visit several waterfalls and
other places, she told us.
she said that like the rest
of the region, wandering
around si Phan don was
great for relaxing amongst
friendly people in a peaceful
environment. she especially
liked the islands laid-back
lifestyle and rustic charm.
Like so many others, no doubt,
this visitor will also dream of a
return visit some day.
Vacancy Announcement
Lao Xiangjiang Rare Earth Resources Co.,Ltd is seeking
applications from Lao Nationals with relevant qualifcations
and experience for immediate starts at our Vientiane offce:
3 Interpreters for Lao
Primary Duties: As assigned, the interpreter is responsible
for providing concise, objective and accurate interpretation
in person or by telephone. Work effectively with diversity as
an essential and integral part of daily work and consistently
meet the offce policies and standards in carrying out all
internal and external duties.
1. Bachelor Degree or equivalent required
2. Minimum 3-5 years of related experiences
3. Interpreter must be fuent in Lao and Chinese, who
can accurately speak, read and easily interpret Lao
4. Familiar with Facttory Affairs and Business Trading
5. Technical or Chemical background preferred
6. Knowledgeable in Microsoft Offce
Location of post: Vientiane, Laos
Contact info: Mr. Zhang 020-55901171 or e-mail: 153528561@qq.com
Vientiane Times 13
Science & Technology
Saturday June 16, 2012
Quantum Bits
(A quantum bit is the smallest amount of energy that
can carry useful information)
Feedback welcome to quantumbits.vt@gmail.com
I have previously written an article on TLD or top-level domain names that ICANN plans to
adopt, some time ago. This time ICANN made it reality.
ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, is the private sector; non-
proft corporation created in 1998 to assume responsibility for IP (Internet Protocol) addressing
for the world. On June 13, it revealed who is going after what new domain extensions, paving
the way for a very different looking Web. Thus prepare for dot-madness.
According to ICANN, this is the third addition made to existing top-level-domains within two
decades of its existence. In 2000, it approved seven new domains, including ".info" and ".biz."
It began accepting new bids again in 2004. It added seven from that round, including ".xxx" last
year. It also cleared others on an ad hoc basis, including ".eu" for the European Union and ".ps"
for the Palestinian territories.
This time, it is a different scenario, where each suffx of the domain is English like and local
language can added as well. For example, instead of Google.com, you can easily type .Google
for your search, or Anousak.LA, it can easily be Anousak. Laos. With the new scheme, the
possibilities are endless. These are some examples of the new domains to be soon joined with
the rest of the dots:
.dogs .cat .love .hate
.hotel .children .you .laos (instead of LA)
.restaurant .happy .bank .jobs
.travel .doctor .wow .programming
.love .porn .lol (for laugh out loud)
ICANN has revealed the applicants and the requested strings through its website and you can
check from here: http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/application-results/
ICANN released a list on June 13 of the 1,930 applications. Under the new system, the application
process will be streamlined and allow for up to 1,000 new suffxes a year according to ICANN.
However, the suffxes are restricted to the richest companies and groups, which paid US$185,000
per proposal. If approved, each suffx would cost at least US$25,000 a year to maintain, with a
10-year commitment required. By comparison, a personal address with a common suffx such as
".com" or .net usually costs less than US$10 a year.
ICANN has received at least US$360 million in application fees. The money will be used to
set up the system, review applications and make sure parties do what they have promised once
the suffx is operational. Some of the money will be set aside to cover potential lawsuits from
unsuccessful applicants and others.
Despite the startup costs, suffxes could potentially generate millions of dollars a year for
winning bidders. Not all bidders will be looking to sell names under their suffxes, though.
Google, for instance, may decide to keep ".Google" for its own sites, though it indicated it might
open ".YouTube" for brands to create video channels. Google declined to comment on specifcs
beyond a recent blog post.
There's also a question of how useful the new names will be, at least among English speakers.
Alternatives to ".com" introduced over the past decade have had mixed success. These days,
Internet users often fnd websites not by typing in the address but by using a search engine.
And with mobile devices getting more popular, people are using apps to bypass Web browsers
entirely.
The demand for new suffxes appears greater outside the US. That's because many of the ".com"
names had been grabbed by Americans who got on the Internet frst. In addition, suffxes had
been largely limited to the 26 letters of the English alphabet until now. ICANN also announced
the proposals to be included some in other languages as well, for example, in the future we can
have Lao version of websites, e.g . (for Beerlao.la).
What will happen to our very own dot LA? Well, it is going to be tough to make money or it
will have some diffculty in terms of marketing and bring the new customers to use dot LA from
outside. Reason, it is that dot LA has some large potential customers from the City of Angels
or simply Los Angeles in the USA. Now the City of Angels could potentially have their unique
domain extension like .LosAngeles, but this may take some time to take effect.
The government should revise its policy to make good use of dot LA while it can and plan for
use of the new .Laos when it comes into effect in the near future.
Sources:
http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/icann,
Domain extensions rush, an
Internet landgrab in history
If you've enjoyed reading my IT articles,
I appreciated your point of views or suggestions.
Please send to anousak@gmail.com.
Anousak Souphavanh is a Lao software developer
and Open Source enthusiast who has been involved in
developing the Lao font, keyboard, and system menus for
mobile phones.
Listening to your iPod on full volume for just
six minutes may lead to irreversible hearing
damage, researchers at Australias Edith Cowan
University have found.
School of Psychology and Social Science
researcher Associate Professor Paul Changs
new project focuses of Noise-Induced Hearing
Loss (NIHL), and how it can mean a lifetime of
hearing damage for young people.
Professor Chang surveyed three groups from
different age ranges to get an understanding of
how often they are exposed to loud noises, and
whether they understand the consequences.
Key fndings from the research include:
50.6 percent of 1217 year-olds listen to
music with personal, in ear headphones;
87.2 percent of people aged 18-25 reported
sometimes/always coming home from a
concert with ringing ears; and
68.3 percent of teenagers reported that
they do not wear any form of hearing
protection.
Young people are highly social, and
hearing loss is something that can have
signifcant impact on their ability to enjoy
social situations, Professor Chang said.
Modern lifestyles are attractive and a sign
of increasing affuence in Laos but they can
also bring have signifcant downsides. Overseas
research can reveal these dangers and early
intervention through education can ameliorate
impacts on young Lao people.
Is the media too sexy?
As the internet and international standards
of advertising and news reporting becomes
adopted in Laos some people are questioning
the effect this has on traditional culture,
especially on children. Much of the concern
surrounds the increasing availability of sexual
imagery in mainstream media.
A study by Ms Monique Mulholland
from Flinders University with high school
students looked at the response of adolescents
to sexualised images popularly available in
advertising, music video clips, and internet
cultures. No pornographic imagery was viewed
as part of the study.
While the study confrmed that young people
are fnding sexual images readily accessible,
Ms Mulholland said they did not seem to be
taking over their hearts and minds.
She said, however, that strong concerns
must remain about the long-term effects of such
exposure.
Thanks to the Internet and social media,
sexual images are defnitely out from under the
bed, Ms Mulholland said, but she also found
that one of the dominant ideas of the public
debate that sexualised imagery had become
normal and was causing a loss of moral sense
with regards to sexuality was not borne out by
the teenagers responses.
They werent saying that anything goes.
They havent normalised it; rather, they are
keeping it at a distance, often by using humour,
she said.
The young people are saying that theyre
laughing at it, and it seems that they still have
very conventional ideas of whats good and
bad.
One of the teenagers drew a parallel
between sexualised imagery and video games,
and said that young people are well aware of
the difference between fantasy and real life.
They are saying they have some agency
in this, that they are quite savvy about it, Ms
Mulholland said.
But because her study was conducted in
broad, collective terms on widely available
sexualised images, Ms Mulholland said it
could not assess the long-term and individual
effects of raunch culture on the actual sexual
practices of teenagers, which, she said, remain
an issue of major concern.
While young people are not blindly
mimicking what they see, it has to affect them
somehow, and the ease of access is still deeply
concerning, she said.
Ms Mulholland believes that more research
is needed to help in formulating policy about a
practical response.
While caution must be exercised when
translating a fnding in one culture to another;
parents, authorities and schools in Laos need
to deal rationally with the existence of the
phenomenon, since the effect of protective
panics is that children are denied proper
practical support and advice in dealing with
what they may see.
Mango skin may help reduce fat
Lao people take great pride in their appearance.
Cosmetic companies know this and a visit
to some of the popular festivals in Vientiane
such as the annual boat racing festival or the
That Luang festival will fnd large stands
promoting expensive products to improve ones
complexion or get rid of that unsightly fat.
Many of the products have dubious value.
Their claims are rarely backed up by quality
research.
Now proper peer reviewed research is
perhaps showing that a cheaper and more
effective product is growing right outside many
Lao homes.
Scientists have discovered that two common
mango varieties contain natural compounds
that may help to fght fab - in the part that most
people throw away.
In two of three mango varieties examined
in the study, scientists from The University
of Queensland found it was the mango peel
that demonstrated the biggest fat-reducing
potential.
Professor Mike Gidley, who heads QAAFI's
Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences, said it
was not unusual for the outer skin of a fruit to
have quite a different chemical composition to
the fesh.
We know mangoes have many excellent
nutritional properties, but more work needs
to be done to understand the complex natural
compounds found in these and other fruits, he
said.
This research reminds us that we should
be looking at the whole fruit when considering
how to take advantage of natural goodness.
Detailed chemical analysis of the skin and
fesh is extremely valuable for mango growers
and processors, who are always looking for new
ways to value-add their fruit.
In laboratory models, the study found that
the peel from certain varieties of mangoes
contained high concentrations of bioactives that
inhibit development of human fat cells.
Professor Greg Monteith from the UQ
School of Pharmacy said there were probably
many reasons for this characteristic.
A complex interplay of bioactive
compounds unique to each peel extract is likely
responsible for the difference, rather than just a
single component, he said.
The work was conducted by PhD student
Mr Meng-Wong Taing and his study's results
could help growers develop mango varieties
that actively help reduce obesity.
Obesity is associated with many chronic
conditions such as diabetes, coronary heart
disease and several cancers, including those of
the breast and colon.
Lend me your ears
The discovery suggests mango skin may be
more nutritionally and economically valuable
than thought.
Vientiane Times 14
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Saturday June 16, 2012
Poverty eradication
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Meuangkham Noradeth
B
oosting crop yields
are a government
priority in the drive
to improve living
standards and to raise Laos
out of least developed country
status by 2020.
The vast majority of rural
villagers in Pakxan district,
Borikhamxay province,
depend on agriculture for
their living. Farming is an
important tool for improving
living standards and
eradicating poverty in rural
areas.
The government is
focussing on boosting
agricultural production in
remote areas so that local
people have enough food for
their own consumption and
also have a surplus which
they can sell.
We are working hard to
ensure that Pakxan district is
removed from the list of poor
districts nationwide and will
be poverty free by 2020, the
districts Deputy Governor Mr
Khamphet Phanyanouvong
said this week.
Rice, cassava and
sweetcorn are widely grown
throughout Laos for both
human consumption and
animal feed. Crop growing
has increased rapidly in recent
years and is now a considerable
part of improving villagers
living standards nationwide.
As in other districts, the
people of Pakxan are also
growing more crops to boost
their income levels, Mr
Khamphet said.
The district has had
success with cassava, rice,
sweetcorn, cucumber and
other vegetables.
Villagers can sell dried
produce to the Foodstuff and
Consumer Goods Company,
while fresh crops can be taken
for sale at nearby markets.
The average annual
income in Pakxan district
is about 14 million kip per
capita.
The district has about
10,350 hectares of agricultural
land, including more than
2,500 hectares of cassava
plantations.
Mr Khamphet said farmers
now grow sweetcorn and
other crops in the dry season
and no longer need to travel
to other areas to fnd work
during that time.
The district has 59 villages,
with a population of about
42,000 in 8,460 families.
The number of poor families
has fallen every year and the
fgure now stands at 277.
District offcials are confdent
they will be able to declare
basic poverty alleviation by
2015.
Mr Khamphet said the
district still lacks suffcient
land for farming and needs
more funding to help the
villagers grow more crops.
All villages now have road
access and travel is possible
all year round. There is also
comprehensive electricity
supply.
Provincial offcials are
helping farmers in all poor
districts of the province,
including Pakxan. They
aim to boost agricultural
production in an effort to raise
living standards and reach
the governments target of
poverty eradication by 2020.
In 2008, there were 327
villages in Borikhamxay
province, with 11,938 families
classifed as poor.
The number of poor
families living in poverty
has fallen every year and last
year stood at 7,073 families,
Farming lies at root of development in Borikhamxay
but offcials believe they can
come close to eradicating
poverty.
Provincial offcials have
set up an agricultural support
centre and are providing land
to poor families for farming.
Offcials are also trying
to move villagers away from
sustenance farming towards
trade and commerce, which
will further their chances of
raising their living standards.
The Lao government
defnes poverty as not
having enough food,
lacking adequate clothing,
not having permanent
housing and lacking access
to health, education and
transportation services.
Growing rice for sale is one way that rural people can boost their income.
Selling cassava can also help to ease poverty in remote areas.
Vientiane Times 15
Environment
saturday June 16, 2012
Emilio Godoy
MeXICO CIty (IPs) -- rising
temperatures, water scarcity,
loss of biodiversity, widespread
respiratory ailments and urban
heat islands are some of the
climate impacts faced by the
Mexican capital, one of the
worlds biggest cities.
Local families taking part
in activities to green up the
capital, as part of the Mexico
City Green Plan. Credit:
Federal district government
to address these issues, the
atmospheric sciences Centre
of the national autonomous
university of Mexico and
the Institute of science and
technology in Mexico City
created the Virtual Centre for
Climate Change in Mexico
City (CVCCCM), dedicated
to research to inform public
policy-making.
energy, water, soils,
health problems, and the
conservation of biodiversity
are the main issues focused
on by the Virtual Centre,
Carlos Gay, the director of the
atmospheric sciences Centre,
told IPs.
there is a link between the
research and decision-making,
although not as deep a link as
I would like. the government
has proposed questions that are
of interest to the city, he added.
With academics from
public and private universities
in Mexico and abroad, the
CVCCCM has carried out 21
research studies and is now
conducting another fve, one of
which is focused on poverty.
the CVCCCM counted
589 extreme weather events
between 1970 and 2009, such
as rainfall, storms, hurricanes,
whirlwinds, sleet, hail or frost.
there were 50 percent more
extreme events in the last
decade than in the 30 previous
years.
the federal district of
Mexico City, home to nine
million of the citys 20 million
people, emits 37 tonnes a year
of carbon dioxide (CO2), one
of the main greenhouse gases
blamed for global warming.
In Mexico City,
administrative boundaries
do not align with the citys
geographic boundaries and
carbon-relevant functioning,
says a report by the C40 Cities
Climate Leadership Group.
the left-wing government
of the federal district has been
carrying out a Green Plan since
2007 to foment public and
alternative forms of transport,
sustainable housing, solar
energy, river clean-up, the
restoration of ecosystems, and
urban rooftop gardens.
Science mitigates climate
uncertainties in Mexico city
adaptation and mitigation
are going well, but its a slow
process. the dynamic of the
city is quite complex, Omar
rojas, academic coordinator
of engineering in sustainable
development at the private
Institute of technology and
Higher education, told IPs.
the C40, which was
created in 2005 and groups 58
large cities around the world,
estimated annual emissions
of CO2 produced by 42 of the
cities at 609 million tons in
2011. total global greenhouse
gas emissions amount to 30
billion tonnes, according to the
International energy agency.
the federal district, whose
government did not respond
to the questionnaire used by
the C40 to draft its report, has
nine square metres of green
space per person, compared
to an international standard
of between 10 and 15 square
metres.
the city was founded in
the 14th century by the Mexica
tribe of the aztecs, who settled
on a small island in a valley of
fve lakes, and built causeways
supporting aqueducts and
roads connecting the city,
tenochtitlan, with the shore.
after the city fell to the
spanish conquistadors in
1521, the colonialists modifed
the aztec water infrastructure,
causing major foods, like the
one in 1555. to prevent further
fooding, they built a drainage
system that eventually dried up
the lakes. but fooding remains
a problem today.
urbanisation destroyed the
valley ecosystems. By 1980,
the Mexican capital was one of
the most polluted cities in the
world, with chronic problems
of smog, garbage and lack of
water a bad combination for
confronting climate change.
Cities have emerged as
the frst ones in responding to
climate change. at the same
time, they are in the frontline
of impacts, as they are located
on the coast and in the basin
of rivers and at riverbanks
or borders of lakes. they are
already suffering heat islands
and exacerbated temperatures,
Cynthia rosenzweig, with the
earth Institute at the university
of Columbia in new york City,
told IPs.
an urban heat island is
a metropolitan area that is
signifcantly warmer than
surrounding rural areas, due to
the heat absorbed by structures
and pavement.
In recent times there
has been more attention to
mitigation, but in the last
years cities have noticed that
they have to take into account
adaptation, she said.
rosenzweig is one of the
editors of the Climate Change
and Cities: First Assessment
report of the urban Climate
Change research network,
published in 2011, in which
some 100 experts from around
the world studied 12 cities.
Mexico City has
developed important efforts
to curb its greenhouse gas
emissions, says the report.
Policy networks, political
leaders, and research groups
have been critical in launching
a climate agenda. nevertheless,
this has not been enough to
push effective policies.
In 2008, the Mexican
capital became the frst Latin
american city to establish a
climate action programme,
and since 2011 it has had a law
on climate change mitigation
and adaptation and sustainable
development.
the law granted the
authority to establish adaptation
and mitigation actions, set up a
specifc fund for the purpose,
drew up an inventory of set
sources of emissions, created
a carbon bond market, and
provided fnancial incentives
for combating global warming.
the city has different
vulnerabilities, due to its
geographic and economic
makeup. thats why adaptation
is much more complicated,
because it has to with
socioeconomic conditions,
said Gay.
science takes its time,
and the actions have to come
after the studies. In the future I
would expect the Virtual Centre
to grow in size and research
capacity, he added.
the CVCCCM which
has a budget this year of
215,000 dollars, provided by
the government of the federal
district proposes to foment
collection of rainwater, local
treatment of sewage, and the
creation and regular updating
of airborne pathogen databases.
It also suggests
strengthening damage
prevention among at-risk
populations, improving land
zoning, and creating energy
effciency standards for
commercial buildings and an
educational programme on
global warming.
the big challenge in
the city is urban growth and
sustainability, because many of
the services it receives are from
the countryside, rojas said.
the phenomenon of urban
sprawl leads to the collapse of
areas on the outskirts, due to a
lack of services.
Public policies and
mitigation and adaptation
plans should be in line,
rosenzweig said. We are just
at the moment when cities
are taking both into account,
interactively. sustainability
depends on economic, social
and environmental aspects, and
that is vital to have low-carbon
cities.
The Rio+20 Global Town
Hall, being held this month
parallel to the united nations
Conference on sustainable
development in rio de Janeiro,
will address issues that are
essential to guaranteeing a
sustainable urban future. It is
organised by ICLeI Local
Governments for sustainability,
which brings together authorities
from more than 1,220 cities in
70 countries.
Issues of Vientiane Times from 2001 to December 2011 have been recorded on CD-ROM.
Now available at Vientiane Times offce.
Corner Setthathirath/Pangkham Roads, Nam Phu, Vientiane.
P.O. Box: 5723, Tel: (856-21) 216364, 217593. Fax: (856-21) 216365
Email: info@vientianetimes.org.la
Vientiane Times on CD-ROM
ManILa, Philippines (aP)
Big waves smashed a
passenger boat into rocky
outcrops and sunk the vessel
in stormy weather in the
southwestern Philippines,
killing at least fve people
while 54 others were rescued,
offcials said Wednesday.
the MV Josille 2 sank near
before midnight tuesday near
an island off the resort town
of el nido in Palawan Island,
said coast guard spokesman
Lt. Cmdr. armand Balilo.
One of the passengers
managed to contact the coast
guard, sparking a search that
also involved the Philippine
navy and local fshermen.
rescuers plucked the bodies
of three women and two men
at sea, offcials said.
navy Commodore
alexander Lopez said
authorities were not sure how
many people were on board
the boat because the dead
and rescued have already
exceeded the manifest count
of 46.
navy, coast guard and
fshing boats would continue
a search in the rough waters,
but strong winds prevented
military planes from
participating, Lopez said.
Seven dead, 13
missing as rains hit
Philippines
Many of the rescued
passengers have returned
to Liminangcong village
in Palawans taytay town,
where the Manila-bound boat
originated, he said.
the onset of the typhoon
season brought heavy rains,
fash foods and strong
waves in southern Mindanao
region, where 75 fshermen
and villagers were rescued
while 13 others are still
unaccounted for, regional
military spokesman Maj. Jake
Obligado said. He said search
and rescue operations were
ongoing.
Three days of fooding in
several southern provinces
displaced nearly 3,000
families and at least two
drowned in saranganis Glan
town, said Benito ramos, head
of the Philippines disaster
response agency. those who
fed were being sheltered in
public gymnasiums and other
government buildings.
a new storm in the western
Pacifc was forecast to reach
the eastern Philippines later
this week and could become
the frst typhoon of the year.
about 20 tropical storms and
typhoons each year batter the
Philippine archipelago.
A boy carries his younger sister on a fooded street after picking
her up from school in Manila, Philippines. --Photo AP
BeIJInG (aP) the global
aviation industry group warned
tuesday that governments
might be moving toward
a trade war over europes
carbon charges on airlines
and appealed for a negotiated
settlement.
China, India, russia and
26 other governments that
oppose the charges issued a
joint declaration in February
that cited possible retaliatory
steps such as imposing charges
on european airlines.
the last thing that we
want as an industry is a trade
war, said Paul steele, director
of environmental issues for
the International air transport
association, at an industry
conference in Beijing.
Group warns of trade war
over Europe carbon charge
the problem is that
the way things stand right
now, I think we are on the
brink of something like that
happening, he said.
the european trading
system requires airlines that
fy to and from Europe to buy
permits for all the carbon they
emit en route. the charges took
effect Jan. 1 but airlines will not
be required to pay until next
year.
China and India have
prohibited their airlines from
cooperating and Beijing has
blocked purchases of european
aircraft by its carriers in protest.
european courts have rejected
legal challenges by us airlines,
supported by governments
including China and India.
Vientiane Times 16 saturday June 16, 2012
Lifestyle

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Times Reporters
P
rofessional dance
is becoming very
popular with students
at the national school
of Music and dance and the
younger generation in general.
not only does dance uplift
the spirits, it can also yield
fnancial rewards.
Professional dance training
can provide students with an
opportunity to make quite a bit
of money.
as Laos develops in
many ways, businesses
and individuals are hiring
professional dancers for
events such as shows at hotels,
restaurants, grand openings,
business anniversaries,
birthday parties and weddings.
the schools deputy
director, Ms Khampheng, says
that is why the students are
kept so busy.
Students in their ffth year
and fnal year of dance class
are constantly busy. they are
already making some earnings
through dance to support their
studies.
While more and more
students are interested in
taking classes here, the
dance department is one of
the most popular, and many
students are taking up dancing
professionally.
she says the reason for
this surge in popularity is that
entertainment in general is
becoming more widespread.
after taking part in important
national events, professional
dancers are admired for their
Dance classes all the rage
as women step out
women take a dance class at the National School of Music and Dance.
talents.
Many people enjoy the
performances and also want
that skill. Many parents also
encourage their children to
develop their potential talents,
especially in art, music
and performance,says Ms
Khampheng.
as in neighbouring thailand
and Cambodia, one of the most
popular dances in Laos is the
celebrated lam vong, in which
couples dance in circles around
one another until there are
three circles in all. One circle
is formed by the individual, the
next by the couple, and all the
while one large circle is formed
by all those taking part.
the lam vong features
delicate and precise
movements of the hand, and
is danced to a slow rhythm
performed by an ensemble led
by a khaen (wind instrument).
the fon uay phon is
a welcome dance often
performed along with the
recital of a traditional poem
of greetings, which originated
in the royal palace and
subsequently became popular
amongst the common people.
another important
traditional welcome dance, fon
baci su khuan, is performed
in conjunction with the baci
ceremony.
Ms Khampheng says there
are three basic styles of dance:
folk dancing, traditional dances
and classical/modern dance.
Folk dancing normally tells
a story, such as the fon sithone
manora which depicts the
romantic tale of an eponymous
half-bird, half-human heroine,
and the fon sang sinxay
based on the sinxay epic and
nangkeo.
Folk dancing is considered
the hardest of the three styles
because it takes time to learn,
but these dances are frequently
performed at various important
events and festivities.
ethnic dances include
the Hmong new year dance
fon bun kin chieng and the
Khmu courtship dance fon
pao bang. these dances are
especially colourful and depict
the lifestyle of the different
ethnic groups. they are also
performed at shows and on
important occasions.
Folk and traditional might
look similar to the dances
performed in neighbouring
countries, but each countrys
dance has its own character,
Ms Khampheng says. For
example, the distance between
the hands and the body in thai
dances might be large, while
in Cambodia it is small, and
in Laos it is somewhere in
between.
Professional dancers
can immediately differentiate
between and recognise a
dances country of origin.
Classical dance is modern
dance adapted to international
styles, such as Bale, Bassalop,
Mambo rock, and rumba.
Modern dance is often seen at
wedding parties. In the past,
wedding guests only danced
the lam vong, but now modern
styles are the craze.
the school also offers
classes in traditional
music (gongs and stringed
instruments, as well as folk
instruments such as the khaen,
takhe, kachapi, and khong
wong). Classes are also taught
in piano/keyboard, violin,
accordion, trombone, trumpet,
saxophone, clarinet, fute,
guitar, and drums. there are
also singing courses for lam/
khap as well as traditional and
modern songs.

Panyathip International School is now accepting applicants for the

2012-2013 academic school year.
Due to expansion of the school, a number of full time positions have become
available for the next academic year (16
th
August 2012), including:
Primary teachers (females preferred, but any qualified applicant considered)
Secondary English teachers (native speakers only)
IGCSE Environmental Management teacher.
IGCSE Business Studies teacher.
Secondary Art teacher.
Lower Secondary History teacher.
Primary and Lower Secondary Mandarin Chinese teacher (native speaker
only).
Marketing officer (must speak English, prefer Thai national but all suitable
candidates will be considered).
All applicants must be suitably qualified and have relevant experience.
For consideration please email your resume/ C.V. and other documentation to
panyathippis@yahoo.com, including a recent photo and current references.
Teachers must be willing to be role models for the students and be committed to
providing the best education possible.
Panyathip International School offers a competitive salary, modern campus and
professional development courses for suitable candidates.
Vientiane Times 17
Arts & Entertainment
saturday June 16, 2012
jOB VACANCy
Advisor Environmental Education and Communication
Lao Nationality
ProCEEd (Promotion of Climate-related Environmental Education) is a Lao-German
cooperation project with the objective to improve knowledge, attitudes and behavior in respect
of the environment, biodiversity and climate change in Laos through communication and
education. ProCEEd is implemented by the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion
(DEQP) at the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) in cooperation
with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
ProCEED will combine strategy work on the national level with communication and learning
processes at provincial, district and village level.
ProCEEd is now looking for an Advisor Environmental Education and Communication
(full time).
Starting Date: 1st July 2012 (or as soon as possible)
Work Location: Vientiane Capital (travel to provinces required from time to time)
Main Tasks and Responsibilities
Coordinate ProCEEd activities with the executing agency and its relevant units as well as
with other relevant government agencies at national, provincial and district level, local and
international organizations and other GIZ-supported projects
Maintain good communication and fow of information among all institutions and
organizations involved
Contribute to the preparation and implementation of consultation processes at all levels
Provide conceptual input in matters of environmental education and communication
Support the design, preparation and implementation of workshops, project missions and
other events related to ProCEEd
Support all other daily project operations
Qualifcations & Experience
M.Sc. (or B.Sc.) degree in a relevant feld with substantial knowledge in environmental
issues including climate change
A minimum of 3 years of professional working experience in a similar position
Experience in stakeholder consultations and related participatory methods (PRA)
Experience in advisory services in the feld of forestry/natural resource management
Experience in public relations is an advantage.
Experience in working with development organizations is an advantage.
Excellent working knowledge MS Offce programs
Excellent communication skills & fuency in speaking and writing English
Good self-management skills
Gender knowledge is an advantage.
women are encouraged to apply.
Interested candidates should send an application with a comprehensive CV including at least
three reliable references and a covering letter explaining how their experience meets the
requirements latest by 17th June 2012 to HR Unit of GIZ offce Vientiane, P.O. Box 9233, Tel.
021 353605, Vientiane Capital, or by e-mail to pamouane.phetthany@giz.de.
All applications will be treated confdentially and only short-listed candidates will be notifed.
CLaIre Lee, asia news
network (Korea Herald)
-- after all, the movie was
going to be actress Ko Hyun-
jungs frst commercial fick.
the popular actress, who
has been dominating the
local tV drama scene by
playing nothing but powerful
women, was going to be a
social recluse in this highly
anticipated comedy. she had
heavyweight actors including
yoo Hae-jin and Park shin-
yang as her co-stars.
But Miss GO, or Miss
Conspirator, turned out to be
a disappointment when shown
to the press on Wednesday.
the movie was supposed to
be a crime-comedy, but ended
up an injudicious mix of too
many genres.
The plot of the flm
develops as Kos character, who
is a recluse cartoonist, somehow
gets involved with one of the
biggest organised crime groups
in the country, and eventually
transforms herself into an
extraordinary criminal.
the movies lack of a
well-knit narrative ruins the
essence of the piece: it isnt
funny enough to be called a
crime comedy while the
characters run around and get
into trouble they dont even
understand.
there is a bit of romance
and human drama, but neither
is convincing enough to draw
in the audience. Ko and her
love interest yoo Hae-jin
show almost no chemistry
Miss GO gets lost in
shoddy comedy
Actress Ko hyun-jung stars in her upcoming comedy Miss GO.
(NEw) It all seemed promising in the beginning.
whatsoever, though the duo
spent a good amount of time
explaining how they both very
much enjoyed their kiss scene
during Wednesdays press
conference.
the movie is also a waste of
the talented actors, especially
Ko. the actress, whose
previous tV roles include the
nations frst woman president
and an ambitious royal
concubine, gives her best to
deliver the frail and dowdy
character who suffers from
severe social phobia. the
character, named Chun su-ro,
isnt fat or cliched; her phobia
stems from a severe childhood
trauma. In spite of the movies
major shortcomings, it is
clear that Ko understands her
characters faws and woes, as
well as her longings.
director Park Cheol-
gwan (Hi dharma, 2001, no
Mercy, 2009) tries to compose
a portrait of a struggling
individual who eventually
overcomes her painful past.
but this attempt as well as
Kos riveting performance
fails to shine as the movies
comedic element conficts
with and eventually disrupts
the serious drama.
Though this is her frst
foray into commercial
cinema, Ko seemed much
more convincing in her non-
commercial works, including
in Hong sang-soos Women
on the Beach and e J-yongs
2009 drama actresses.
Miss GO opens in
theaters on June 21.
asIa neWs netWOrK,
(China daily) -- Katie Holmes,
the famous actress and wife of
actor tom Cruise, appeared
at the Capital Gymnasium
in Beijing as celebrity
ambassador for this years
artistry on Ice performance.
ten world-renowned ice
skating acts, including 2010
gold medalists shen Xue and
Zhao Hongbo, each performed
two acts for a crowd of
thousands.
Holmes appeared before
the second half to proclaim her
enthusiasm for the performers,
saying she was honored to be
in the presence of such talent.
I have a real appreciation
for how much time goes into
a performance, Holmes says
of ice skating, adding it was
truly, creativity mixed with
skill.
Holmes has signed on
to promote artistrys red
temptation show throughout
June. she has already traveled
with the skaters to taipei. after
the Beijing performance, she
will move on to shenzhen,
Guangdong province and
shanghai.
It is the frst time Holmes
had visited Beijing. although
she had only recently arrived at
the date of her press conference,
she said she has already enjoyed
a meal of Peking duck.
I probably ate too much of
it, she said, laughing.
Holmes presence at the
actual performance was brief,
Katie Holmes melts hearts
at ice skating show
Actress Katie holmes visits Beijing as the ambassador for Artistry
on Ice. --Photo Jiang Dong/China Daily
leaving more time for the
skaters to fip, twist and dance.
shen and Zhao appeared
at the end of both the frst and
second halves. theyve been
with artistry since its 2010
inception, although they say the
end of this 2012 tour will also
signal their retirement.
all good things must come
to an end, Zhao told CCtV in
May.
The ice skating couples frst
performance was choreographed
to a live performance by taiwan
singer tiger Wong, who also
sang solo to close the frst half.
Wong wasnt the only
musician providing live
accompaniment.
renowned Hungarian
violinist edvin Marton
appeared in the middle of the
rink to accompany two solo
acts: Johnny Weir from the
United States in the frst half,
and evgeni Plushenko from
russia in the second.
Its an incredibly tough
sport, Marton said at the press
conference prior to Holmes
appearance.
By promoting artistrys
latest show, Holmes hopes
to also draw attention to
her charity Dizzy Feet, an
international organisation that
sponsors dance education for
underprivileged youth.
Holmes says she is a big
fan of any organisation that
can keep artistic endeavors
alive for kids.
On hand to thank her at
the press conference were 10
Chinese students sponsored by
her organisation. she greeted
each with a hug and handed
them red certifcates from her
charity.
Bayani san diego Jr asia
news network (Philippine
Daily Inquirer) -- Filipino indie
flmmaker Jet b. Leyco recalls
that the road to the Jeonju
International Film Festival,
where his debut movie, ex
Press, recently won the
special jury prize, was fraught
with hardship and danger.
Leyco, who works as
director and cinematographer
for aBs-CBn news and
Current affairs, recounts
that he stumbled upon the
idea for his flm while on
assignment. He has labeled it a
spontaneous accident.
It was originally a short
flm, a thesis project at the end
of his one-year study grant at
the Asia Pacifc Film Institute.
While shooting footage
for Patrol ng Pilipino, he
decided to make a full-length
flm on the 14-hour train ride
from Manila to Bicol.
In naga, the train
was derailed following a
downpour. I thought it could
be a plot twist, he recounts.
the concept was still blurry;
I just wanted to start shooting.
I asked our production
coordinator Don Fulgado and
cameraman nestor depositar
to be the actors in my flm,
which still had no script.
While shooting in Bicol,
he met a man who told stories
of atrocities committed by the
police against people who used
to throw rocks at passing trains
in the 1980s and 1990s.
The dangerous road to Jeonju
the mans story haunted
Leyco. His flm took an
unexpected turn, transforming
into a meditation on human
rights violations committed in
the country through the years.
He continued to shoot,
ending up with six hours of
footage. thus, the biggest
challenge came during the
editing stage. My problem
was stitching the images
together. In between editing,
I had writing sessions as well
and shot additional scenes
to complete the story and
strengthen the characters.
digital technology was
a boon. I used only a dsLr
camera, which was ideal in
cramped spaces, he says.
they got it
In Jeonju, critics clearly
understood the central
metaphor. though the train
symbolizes movement, it
also suggests stagnation and,
ultimately, misfortune. Its
about a dysfunctional society
that tries to be progressive
without frst solving its own
history of conficts, Leyco
explains.
Cho Jae-un hails ex
Press as lyrical centering
on a dream about trains and
the sinister events surrounding
it, while Jeon Byoung-won
describes it as an edgy cocktail
of fction and documentary

Leyco had three screenings

in the Korean fest. He relates:
The frst was sold out. I had
brought only a dVCaM (copy
of the flm). I think my flm
was the only entry that wasnt
HD (high-defnition) or DCP
(digital cinema package). I
didnt have enough funds for
the transfer. still the screenings
went well.
the foreign viewers
were interested mostly in
his flmmaking process, the
technical aspects of combining
color and black-and-white
images and mixing docu and
fction, Leyco says.
He regards festivals as an
opportunity for local indie
flmmakers to join the ongoing
international discourse on
cinema. the focus was to
discuss cinema, culture and
society. the open forums after
the screenings were healthy
exercises.
Leyco is proud to win in
the same Korean festival as
compatriots remton siega
Zuasola (2011) and sherad
anthony sanchez (2009).
Coincidentally, Lav diaz, for
whom Leyco worked
as intern, won the netpac
prize for Florentina Hubaldo,
Cte in this years Jeonju, too.
It was a big bonus, Leyco
says of his own victory. It was
unexpected, but fulflling
Our only mission in Jeonju was
to screen our flm and share our
process and intentions.
next stop for ex Press
is the Open City London
Documentary Festival from
June 20 to 24.
Vientiane Times 18
Saturday February 25, 2012
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Classifeds saturday June 16, 2012
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western style cuisine
Sticky Fingers
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Hotel Lao 43/7Hengboun Rd,
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Tel: 251 911
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Nam Phou area, at the Fountain. Tel: 215 199
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Senglao Rd, Ban Anou, Vientinae
Tel: 215 705
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Vientiane Tel: 223 740
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We are specialized in property service
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Win a term of free English lessons by playing the Lao Red Cross Youth
Competition. From all correct entries, one winner will be drawn month. This months
winner will receive a notebook and a T-shirt promoting HIV/AIDS awareness. From
all monthly winners, one lucky winner will receive one full term of English lessons
donated for free by Vientiane College.
This month we have another word game for you. Just unscramble the following 5
words and place them in the boxes provide. For the right answers we will give you
in the next month.
Cut out this entry form and send it to HIV/AIDS Project, Lao Red Cross, PO Box
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the competition on Friday, 29 June 2012 at 9.00am.
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LAO RED CROSS yOUTh COMPETITION!
Vientiane Times 19 Saturday June 16, 2012 Sports
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mobile: 020 55676545, 020 55775544
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tokyo (ap) former
nba star dikembe mutombo
is doing his bit to help
basketball continue to grow
internationally.
appointed as the nbas
global ambassador in 2009,
mutombo is in Japan to
conduct basketball clinics
with the basketball without
borders programme.
the four-day camp in
Japan is attended by the top
50 young basketball players
from 18 asian countries. nba
players Samuel dalembert
of the houston rockets,
vladimir radmanovic of
the atlanta hawks, denver
nuggets guard corey brewer
and former nba player yuta
tabuse of Japan are also
taking part in the clinics.
we bring our knowledge
of the game and pass it on
to young people, mutombo
said. i am proud to say that
there are now about 200 or
250 young men who took
part in basketball without
borders who are now playing
in american high schools and
colleges.
when he started his
nba career with the denver
nuggets in 1991, mutombo
was just the third african
player in the league following
manute bol and hakeem
olajuwon.
after i made it to the
nba, i said that i didnt
want to be the last player
from africa, mutombo said.
after my rookie year, i went
to the league and talked about
this and they embraced my
idea and started conducting
basketball clinics in africa
and thats when i knew i
mutombo in Japan to
promote basketball in asia
Former NBA star Dikembe Mutombo smiles during his meeting
with sports journalists at a restaurant in Tokyo. --Photo AP
wouldnt be the last african.
one of the most prominent
africans in the game today is
Serge ibaka who is playing for
the oklahoma city thunder
in the nba finals against the
miami heat. ibaka, a native
of the republic of congo,
played for Spanish clubs for
three years before moving to
the nba in 2009. he became
a Spanish national in 2011.
in 2010, 28 of the nbas
30 teams featured at least
one international player.
the toronto raptors had
six international players on
its 2011-12 roster including
Solomon alabi from nigeria.
i am pleased to see
how many young africans,
europeans and asians there are
in the game today, the league is
so international now.
another international
player who may make it to the
nba someday is mutombos
nephew harouna mutombo,
a 6-foot-4 guard who plays
college basketball at western
carolina. harouna was born
in canada and is eligible for
this years nba draft.
i really want to see him
play in the nba but i tell him
you have to keep all the options
on the table, mutombo said.
if the opportunity doesnt
come to play in the nba next
year maybe he can play in
europe or asia, not everyone
can make it in the nba, so
i tell him to leave the door
open, i am sure he will end up
playing somewhere.
during his visit to Japan,
mutombo visited the city
of Sendai, which was hit by
last years earthquake and
tsunami.
i was very pleased to
see the progress that is being
made and the spirit of the
people in Sendai, mutombo
said. they are so strong
and positive, they have this
spirit that says we might have
gone through a lot today but
we know tomorrow will be
better.

poZnan, poland (ap)
eight years ago, antonio
cassano wept inconsolably
as italy exited the european
championship without losing
a match.
the striker knows the
same nightmare situation
could arise at euro 2012.
by surrendering the lead
in a 1-1 draw with croatia
on thursday, italy is third on
two points in Group c with
one match remaining and no
longer has its destiny in its
own hands.
if Spain and croatia
who both have four points
draw with a score of 2-2
or higher on monday, italy
will be eliminated even if the
team beats Ireland in the fnal
round of group matches.
italy goalkeeper Gianluigi
buffon says Spain has
players with a pedigree
that wont allow them to be
unsportsmanlike.
italys fate rests at feet
of spain and Croatia
Italys Antonio
Cassano (left) and
Croatias Gordon
Schildenfeld vie for
the ball during a Euro
2012 match in Poland
on Thursday.
--Photo AP
beiJinG (Xinhua) -- the head
of chinas gymnastics team
has urged the fiG to modify
rules for the sake of athletes
health after an achilles injury
ruined three-time world vault
champion cheng feis bid for
the london olympics.
cheng, the captain of
chinas gold medal-winning
team in beijing Games four
years ago, underwent an
operation to repair a ruptured
achilles on thursday and could
not recover before the July 27-
august 12 olympics.
despite wearing tendon
protectors, cheng still tore
her achilles during a training
session, said chinese team
leader ye Zhennan.
china calls for rule changes after
star gymnast injury
the 24-year-old cheng is
the latest casualty of injuries.
earlier this month, uS olympic
gold medalist Shawn Johnson
ended her comeback for the
2012 olympic team and
retired because of her constant
problems regarding her left
knee.
ye, who has repeatedly
emphasised the importance of
safety on several occasions,
blamed fiG for giving too much
credit for diffculty, which led to
frequent injuries and shortened
career of girl gymnasts.
not only china, but other
teams including russia and
the united States face injury
woes, he said. its time for
the fiG to make some changes
to the rules.
cheng made her fame at the
2005 world championships in
melbourne, australia, when she
became the frst female gymnast
ever to successfully execute one
of the most diffcult vaults.
A vaulting and foor
exercise specialist, cheng
pocketed one gold and two
bronzes from the previous
two olympic Games - athens
2004 and beijing 2008.
She was forced out of
the sport due to injuries after
the 2009 national Games
and returned to international
competition for the frst time
in three years in april, winning
the vault title at the world cup
in china.
new delhi (ap) the
gender of an athlete who won
a womens relay gold medal
at the 2006 asian Games
has been called into question
following rape allegations
made by another woman and
widely reported in the indian
media.
pinki pramanik is alleged
to have raped a woman she
was living with in the eastern
state of west bengal. the
woman alleged that pramanik
was a man and had promised
to marry her but later refused
to do so.
we arrested pramanik
after a woman lodged a
complaint of rape, stating the
athlete was a male and they
were living together for the
past several months, the
indian express quoted deputy
commissioner of police
Subrata bandyopadhyay
as saying. pramanik also
promised to marry her but
later denied.
we have approached the
court seeking permission for
medical tests to determine
the gender of the athlete and
the same has been granted,
bandyopadhyay added.
but pramanik was
athlete gender question arises after rape claim
reportedly reluctant to undergo
the tests.
i have undergone
numerous tests in my career
as an athlete, 26-year-old
pramanik was quoted as
saying by the times of india.
why should i agree to more
ridiculous tests?
the athletics federation
of india withheld comment on
the reports.
Vientiane Times 20 Saturday June 16, 2012
Sports
Sangkhomsay
Bubphanouvong
t
he ministry of education
and Sports held a
meeting on friday at the
lao national Sports committee
offce to report on preparations
for the asean university
Games.
reporting on work done in
April and May, offcials at the
national university of laos
(nuol) were present at the
meeting to discuss work done
by committees in relation to
accommodation, food and
decoration; hygiene and drug
inspectors; security; opening
and closing ceremonies;
transportation; competition
organisation; protocol and
reception groups, and other
committees.
the meeting was attended
by minister of education
and Sports dr phankham
Viphavanh and senior offcials
from other ministries.
the various committees
reported on their work and
planned a budget for further
activities.
the nuol estimates over
210 billion kip will be needed
for the games. from June to
august, the university will
wrap up preparations to host
the event.
dr phankham said that
in September, the regional
competition organising
committee will inspect the
venues where the various
sports will be held. the Sports
training centres responsible
committee will need to carry
out the necessary repairs and
fnish renovations.
he said the committees
involved in the event will try
to limit the budget used based
on experience gained from
hosting the 25th Sea Games
in vientiane in 2009.
we will also sign up
with a company to provide
food for the athletes, dr
phankham said.
the ministry of finance
has a budget available so that
athletes can begin training
next month.
national university of laos
athletes are hopeful of winning
gold medals at the games.
nuol has the chance to win at
least 10 gold medals in petanque
and martial arts events.
the petanque, taekwondo,
judo, karate and wushu teams
will prepare at a training
camp for fve months outside
the country, where they will
train with foreign coaches to
boost their medal chances.
other teams will train in
vientiane. the sports to feature
at the games are swimming,
table tennis, basketball, beach
volleyball, volleyball, football,
futsal, judo, karate, pencak
silat, petanque, sepak takraw,
wushu, taekwondo, tennis, and
track and feld.
there is a 50 percent chance
that kick-boxing will be added
to the list as thailand, vietnam
and laos would like to compete
in this sport.
Ministry reviews progress for
Asean University Games
Dr Phankham Viphavanh.
wroclaw, poland (ap) --
With a place in the quarterfnals
at stake, poland is ready to
make history against the czech
republic.
the euro 2012 co-hosts will
be seeking their frst victory of
the tournament and frst
quarterfnal berth ever at the
european championships
on Saturday at the municipal
Stadium following a pair of
1-1 draws against Greece and
russia in Group a.
its going to be a mini
fnal for us, Poland captain
Jakub blaszczykowski said.
itll be the biggest match in
the recent past for all of us.
the czechs are one
point ahead of poland after
beating Greece 2-1 to revive
their chances of advancing
following an opening 4-1 loss
to russia. a win for either
team would put them through.
the czechs, however, could
be missing captain tomas
rosicky because of an achilles
tendon injury.
the hooliganism that
took place around polands
emotionally charged match
against russia on tuesday is
not expected to be repeated
Saturday. unlike the poland-
russia relations that are tense
due to a bitter and bloody
history, the poles have an easier
relationship with their southern
Slavonic neighbours and have
treated them accordingly.
the mayor of wroclaw,
Poland, Czech Republic meet
for quarterfnal spot
where the czechs are based and
play all three group matches,
hosted a lunch for the team
at city hall and thousands
of polish fans attended open
training sessions, cheering the
czech players and applauding
every goal in practice matches.
to czech teams pleasant
surprise, the local public
showed strong support even
in the rain and even after the
demoralising loss to russia.
that was in stark contrast
to czech fans, who booed
coach michal bilek and striker
milan baros, blaming them
for the poor performance.
So far, weve been feeling
here like at home, said czech
republic goalkeeper petr
cech, who has recovered from
a shoulder injury and will face
poland.
to prove the friendly
atmosphere before the match,
cech gave some advice to
the poles on how to solve the
dilemma of whether to start
with substitute goalkeeper
przemyslaw tyton, who saved
a penalty against Greece,
or wojciech Szczesny, who
was sent off in the match and
banned for the game against
russia.
In this picture made available June 10, 2012 Czech Republics
Theodor Gebre Selassie walks from the pitch after the Euro 2012
soccer championship Group A match between Russia and Czech
Republic in Wroclaw, Poland, Friday, June 8, 2012. --Photo AP