The Lao People’s Democratic Republic
By
Location:
The
Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is a landlocked country, located in
the heart of the Indochinese peninsular, in
Natural resources
People:
The population of the Lao PDR has reached 5.6 million (2005
statistic), 2.82 million of whom are female and 2.80 male. The population is
growing at an annual rate of 2.1 percent. The average population density is 24
people per square kilometre, giving
The estimated populations of the major provinces are:
698,000 in
Language
The official language of
There is no official Latin transliteration system for the
Lao script, and although French-based transliteration is generally used there
are many inconsistencies of spelling, particularly of vowels.
French and Vietnamese are spoken widely, particularly amongst the older generation, but English has become the language of business and tourism and is increasingly promoted at government level in the context of Lao membership of ASEAN.
Ethnicity
The population consists of 49 ethnic groups, in four main linguistic
families, according to preliminary figures given to a symposium on the names of
ethnic groups on August 2000. It depends on the tribe, the oral language,
traditions, customs and cultural behaviour may vary greatly. However, they can
be divided into four main ethnic groups:
1. The Lao-Tai family includes eight groups
2. The Mone-Khmer family has 32 ethnic groups
3. The Tibeto-Burmese family has seven ethnic groups
4. The Hmong-Ioumien category has two main tribal groups:
Religion
Article 43 of the Lao Constitution, Lao citizens have the right and freedom to believe or
not to believe in religions.
Lao citizens, foreign residents, people without citizenship and foreigners in the Lao PDR
have the right to carry out religious activities and participate in religious ceremonies in
their
places of worship at the temple or their own established churches or mosques.
Map of the Lao PDR
History in brief
Human
beings began living in the present
Stone tools implements and skulls discovered in Huaphan and Luang Prabang provinces certify the existence of such settlements.
The
giant jars in Xieng Khuang province and stone columns in Huaphan province date
from the Neolithic period. It is clearly as the last century B.C. humans in
The
rural community grouping of people slowly formed into meuang (townships)
between fourth and eight century on both sides of the
In 1349-1357, a movement emerged under the command of King Fa Ngum, a national hero, to group the meuang into a unified Lane Xang Kingdom, the capital of which stood at Xiengdong Xiengthong, now known as Luang Prabang.
From then on, the
Lane Xang Kindom shared borders with Khmer (Cambodia) to the south; Sipsong Phanna (Yunnan, south western China) to the north; the watershed of the Mekong and Red Rivers to the east; Chiang Saen Lanna to the northwest; and Korat-Dong Phanhaphay Plateau to the west.
The King introduced Buddhism (Hinayana) into the kingdom, and brought the sacred Phra Bang Buddha image from the Khmer kingdom and installed it in Swa (now Luang Prabang).
King Sayasetthathirath
Between 1563 and 1565, King Sayasetthathirath moved the
capital from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. After the reign of King
Sayasetthathirath, the
The 18th century brought the decline of
the Lane Xang monarchy. The Kingdom split into three hostile dynasties and was
invaded and controlled by Siamese feudalism.
In 1870 King Ounkham ascended the throne of the Luang Prabang dynasty of the
In the late 19th Century, as foreigners expanded their
colonies, the country was plunged into darkness. In 1893,
In the early 20th century, heedless of the subservience of the privileged classes to foreign rule, the Lao people of various ethnic groups rose in waves against French colonialism. Some resistance movements were quite large-scale. Some outstanding examples include:
The movement of the Lao people in the central region under the guidance of Father Kadouad (1901-1902); the 36-year uprising of the people in the south (1901-1937) led by Ong Keo and Ong Kommadam; the resistance movement of the Hmong ethnic group in the north led by Chao Fa Padchay (1918-1922); the Tai-Lue movement in Sing (now Luang Namtha province) (1914-1918); the Red Tai movement in Xamneua (1916).
In 1930, the Communist Party of Indochina was established and led by
“In 1945, after the
end of the Second World War, Lao patriotic people seized administrative power
from the Japanese fascists and the French colonialists and declared to the
world the independence of
Not long after that, the French colonialists sent their mercenaries and henchmen to raid and occupy towns, suppressing the Lao people cruelly, and restoring French control.
In combination with the victory in Dien Bien Phu (
Not long after the signing of the Geneva Accord, the
American imperialists, who had been involved in the Indochina War from the
outset, jumped in, kicked the French out, and invaded
Then the US to take over from the French in training the Royal Army of the Kingdom of Laos, and the armies of South Vietnam and Cambodia.
It took over 20 years of struggle against
Finally Lao people of all ethnic groups could rid themselves of the yoke of foreign domination, abolish backward feudalism, and proudly and gloriously establish a new regime of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on December 2, 1975.
Governance:
Since the founding of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on December 2, 1975, our nation changed from a kingdom to a republic, with a president as head of state.
The national legislative power rests in the National Assembly and the people’s assemblies at the provincial and district level. The executive power is vested in the government, and the People’s Court and the People’s Prosecutors administer the laws. The administrative system works under the principle: “the Party leads and manages and the people are the masters of the nation” with five tiers of administration - capital, province, district and village.
The legislature, based on the people’s democratic regime, consists of representatives of the Lao people of all ethnic groups, who have the right to vote and to be elected member of the legislature. Two general elections for the People’s Supreme Assembly have been held. The People’s Assembly, first legislature, fulfilled its role of rallying national unity and concord among the people of various social strata and ethnic groups, while the second legislature promulgated the constitution and a number of laws.
After the promulgation of the Constitution on August 15, 1991, the government’s comprehensive and principled restructuring policy and principles have been used to determine the role, rights and obligations of each organisation.
The legislative branch, formerly called the Supreme People’s Assembly, is now called the National Assembly, and the local People’s Assemblies have been eliminated. Representing the rights of the people, from the First to the current Sixth legislature, this legislative body has made a number of important decisions at national level. These include adopting the Constitution, and now more than 85 laws were adopted. The National Assembly has also elected the Republic’s Presidents and elected the Presidents of the People’s Supreme Court, and the Presidents of the People’s Prosecution; approved the nomination and composition of the government; ratified a number of international legal instruments; approved socio-economic development plans and state budgets; and granted Lao nationality to a number of foreigners.
The executive branch, formerly called the Council of Ministers, is now known as the cabinet members in the government. It has 14 ministries and some equivalent committees.
The local administration has been reduced to three levels: the central, the provincial, the district and the village levels.
Currently there are 16 provinces and
Renovation policy
At its most important point, the 4th Congress of the Party
in 1986 worked out guidelines for comprehensive renovation, ranging from
concept and structure to economic management mechanism, organisational
structure, and working methods in conformity with the realities of the country
and the era. The socio-economic development has occurred year to year, and the
living condition of Lao people has been gradually improved.
Over the past 35 years, it still sees that those achievements were steps on the
way to achieving goals and ideals. However, the country is still described by
the UN as a ‘least-developed’ nation. There is still a gap between levels of
socio-economic growth of regions and ethnic groups.
Foreign Direct Investment
In recent years, foreign direct
investments have gradually increased, and in this year of 2009 the government has
approved 208 projects worth more than US$4.3 billion, including hydropower and
mining projects.
Industrial Growth
The government has given special attention to energy and mining activities, which have developed and laid the foundation for national economic expansion.
A total of 17 projects are at the development agreement stage and memorandums of understanding have been signed for another 42 projects. If all 78 projects go ahead they will have a total installed capacity of about 23,000MW.
Agriculture
Agriculture
and forestry as the basis for developing the country’s industry has expanded
consistently.
Rice production has reached 2.6 million tonnes, while the rice harvest in 1975 was only just over
Communications
The Communication sector, like all other sectors, has developed rapidly over the past 34 years, and is the spearhead of national economic development. The sector has been concerned with land routes, and particularly the maintenance of national highway No 13, which carries north-south traffic from the Lao-Chinese border to the Lao-Cambodian border. Highways 6, 7, 8, and 9 have been upgraded to international standard, providing an access to the sea in the East and West of the country. The sector has also built numerous bridges both large and small.
The 3-kilometer Railway was built last year, linking
Transport has grown steadily.
The state and private transport companies have been operated, aiming to drive
the economic growth.
The telecommunications
system has been shifted from analog to digital, using a microwave system
through satellite, and an earth satellite station, providing mobile phone and
public phone services. Districts and provinces now have access to automatic
telephone systems.
Education
Education in
Now they are 5 universities, 55
vocational schools and training centres and 68 colleges, including private and
state collages.
Health
Since the
country’s liberation, public health networks have grown by 91 percent.
There are 18 provincial hospitals, five regional hospitals and four national
hospitals.
Infant mortality has fallen from 70 to 55 out of 1,000, and from 98 to 75 in
children under the age of five and the maternal mortality rate is 405 in 2005
to 300 for every 100,000 in 2010.
Tourism
Since the Lao PDR began actively seeking tourists in the year 1999. The number of visitors has gradually increased. During this year, 2008, more than 1.7 million tourists visited the country from various countries around the world. The cultural and eco-tourism sites have been developed Luang Prabang and Vat Phou Champassak have been inscribed as world heritage sites on the UNESCO register.
Lao Media history
The first Lao newspaper appeared in 1930 when a group of Lao
and Vietnamese people living in
Print Media
Throughout the Lao PDR, there are 91 different newspapers, including daily, weekly, monthly and yearly magazines, journals and news bulletins. These are published in Lao, English and French. Most of them are produced in the capital city, under the ownership of state bodies, official institutions, public organisations and private companies.
There are now eight daily newspapers: six in Lao and two in English, including Vientiane Times, which was launched as a weekly tabloid on April 7, 1994.
Starting in 2
In January 2009, the newspaper launched
a mobile service to provide people with information as news breaks, direct to their mobile phones through SMS.
With this service, news is
updated at least four times a day, from Monday to Friday and on Sundays.
Since 2000, private weekly and monthly magazines have also been published, including Update, Sayo, Lao Culture, Discover Lao, Target, Mahason and Beung Muang Lao. Some of these magazines have their own websites.
Television
Lao National Television began broadcasting on December 2, 1983,
in
Currently,
Now the Lao National TV has news programmes in French and English.
A private television station, Lao Star Channel, was launched in April 2008 to provide
entertainment and news for viewers around the country, owned by the Lao Ethnic
Art and Culture Promotion Club. It is very popular amongst Lao viewers, both
living in the country and overseas. The channel provides information through
the Thaicom 5 satellite, which enables the station to reach 23 countries in
Asia as well as
Radio
The broadcasting media plays an important role in promoting the causes of social and economic development. As newspapers cannot reach many provinces, radio is still very much the principal means of carrying news, information and messages to rural communities.
There are now 43 radio stations scattered throughout the provinces. Each has its own editorial and technical board that produces educational and informational programmes. Some of the programmes are broadcast in local ethnic dialects.
Around 9
Satellite, Cable and Pay-TV Services
Reception of direct satellite TV programmes is increasing,
in
Internet
Internet in the Lao PDR officially began in 1996 and is controlled by the Lao Network
Internet Committee.
The national gateway which connects to the outside world and the Lao national
domain is located at the National Science and Technology Administration.
Currently, there are 7 Internet service providers, with the
number of users increasing rapidly. Websites in Lao and foreign languages have
been increased and Internet cafés are plentiful in the capital and in the
provinces. There is no censorship of any website.
Now more than 100 websites have been hosted in
It is becoming easier for mobile phone
users to access the internet through the Third Generation
Wireless System (3G), which is already offered by one telephone
company with more set to come online.
Media law and regulations
The constitution of the Lao PDR, Article 44, stipulates that Lao citizens have freedom of speech, press and assembly; and of associations and demonstrations that are not contrary to the law.
Since 1975, various decrees and regulations on mass media have been adopted based on Party policies which ensure the right to freedom of press for the media and Lao citizens, in accordance with Lao laws.
A media law was adopted in 2008, with 11 charters and 67 articles.
Media training and research
The National Mass Media Institute began offering training courses in 2003. It holds two training courses a year for media personnel to raise the level of their professional competence.
The Faculty of Letters of the National University of Laos
has a section that runs a five-year journalism course. This is the first time
in the history of
Continued economic growth and positive changes in the country as a whole over the past years have created the opportunity for the Lao media to develop. It is evident that the general public has shown growing interest in and demand for news and information as well as general knowledge in their daily lives. As a result, more newspapers and magazines have emerged in the capital city and major towns.
From 2005-2010, the Ministry of Information and Culture is upgrading the quality of Lao media in all fields related to print, broadcasting and electronic media.
9.
The 25th
SEAGAMES
The Southeast Asian
Games (also known as the SEA Games), is a biennial multi-sport event
involving participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia. The
games are under regulation of the Southeast Asian Games Federation with supervision
by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia.
The Southeast Asian Games owes its origins to the Southeast Asian Peninsular
Games or SEAP Games. On May 22, 1958, delegates from the countries in Southeast
Asian peninsula attending the 3rd Asian Games in
The proposed rationale was that a regional sports event will help promote
cooperation, understanding and relations among countries in the Southeast Asian
region.
The 25th Southeast Asian Games is
scheduled to be held in
Emblem: The Diversified Concept designed by the Integration of modern sport competition concept and elegance, charm and attractiveness of highly value Lao Culture, Arts and History
The emblem for the 25th SEA Games features the That Luang great stupa image, it is the symbol of Lao nation (landmark) along with the Mekong River, which is for the basis of life in the region and reflected in culture, lifestyle and as a resource that provides nourishment for the many ethnic groups living along its course. The river is also revered as a symbol of the integration of the Asian countries, a river of friendship from which such sporting competitions flow.
National Sport Complex
Places to visit
That Luang is a symbol of Lao nationhood and the country's most sacred
Buddhist monument, That Luang was built in the 16th century under the rule of
King Saysetthathirat. A symbol of the main stupa appears on the country's
national seal.
After being destroyed by the Thai invasion in the 19th century, the monument was later restored to its original design, with inclusion of many references to Lao culture and identity, hence its status as a symbol of the nation. Each level features different architectural designs with encoded Buddhist doctrine.
Vat Sisaket is only temple in Vientiane to survive the sacking
of the city by the Siamese in 1828, it is one of the oldest and considered by
many to be the most interesting of the Lao temples.
The interior walls of Hor Tai and the main hall feature hundreds of
little niches and shelves containing a total of 6,840 Buddha images and
Buddhist inscriptions from the 18th century.
Over 300 hundred Buddha
images varying in size and material reside on the shelves, amongst the silver
and ceramic Buddhist images, most of which are from 16th -19th century
Hor Phrakeo was built in 1565 as a royal chapel and repository
for the celebrated statue of the Emerald Buddha. The statue remained in the
temple until 1778, when the Thais invaded and recaptured it, taking it to
Patuxai (literally Victory Gate or Gate of Triumph), formerly
the Anousavary Monument, is situated in the centre of Vientiane. Built between
1957 and 1960, the Lao built it as a mark of respect for all those who fought
in the struggle for independence from the French.
Ironically, the monument bears a slight resemblance to the Arc de Triomphe, although the attention to detail and intricate design is typically Lao, boasting four rather than two archways. The view from the top is spectacular.
Buddha Park is in a field near the Mekong River it is about 24km south of
Vientiane. The park, as its name would suggest, is littered with religious
sculptures and was built in 1958 by the philosopher Bounleua Soulilath, who
famously combined Buddhist and Hindu philosophy, mythology and iconography.
The featured gods range from
Vishnu to Arjuna and many in between, all allegedly crafted by unskilled
artists who followed the explicit directions of Soulilat. The pumpkin-shaped
monument has three levels, each representing heaven, hell and earth.
Beyond these the roof area has a superb panoramic view of the surrounding park
and river.