Laos: How to make thousands of people invisible

By: D. Pandian

Access to information allows us to expand our world view beyond that of our immediate surroundings. While some of us have access to better information, the real time conveyance of information over electronic media has significantly increased the accessibility of knowledge for all. In spite of this enhanced ability, some situations deserving of attention continue to be rendered invisible by intentional actions of government actors, such as that which occurs in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos).

In Laos, the most media sources may only publish news favorable to the sole political party, the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), led by the Choummaly Sayasone. Recently, the government hosted a seminar to remind media directors of the LRPR’s policy towards journalists, all who are members of the Ministry of Information and Culture. On account of the Foreign Ministry, media outlets are not allowed to publish negative information about countries that are "friends" with Laos. The criminal code contains heavy prison sentences for journalists who spread news that weakens the state. While the party’s main publication, the Paxaxon (People), claims to be a revolutionary publication, most Laotians prefer Thai media in order to avoid the barrage of propoganda pushed by Laotian media outlets.

Restrictive information dissemination policies have hindered efforts of international groups to collect information on state of the Hmong (pronounced mung) people. The Hmong people have a very tense history with the LPRP. After it came into power, the Hmong allied themselves with the US government in an effort to destabilize the new Communist government. However with the conclusion of the Vietnam War, the US government extricated itself from Southeast Asia and Hmong forces were quickly subdued and pushed to the margins of society. (It is important to note that some Hmong people did ally themselves with the communist government during the course of this conflict and that there are Hmong who hold positions in the Lao government.) Many Hmongs fled to Thailand to seek refuge and more than were 250,000 resettled in the US. Those who remain in Laos are forced to live in small groups in the jungles and struggle to survive, unable to meet basic needs such as food, clothing, housing and medical care. The armed forces regularly attack Hmong encampments, killing and injuring Hmong, and perpetuating their life on the run. The foreign press is prevented from covering the plight of the Hmong minority. Two Laotians of Hmong origin are still in prison for having served as guides in 2003 to a Belgian journalist and his French cameraman. The Hmong guides were charged with "obstruction of justice" and "possessing weapons," being sentenced 12 and 20 years respectively.

With extensive media coverage being focused on certain areas of the world, it is very easy to forget that the are thousands whose suffering is not on the front pages of our newspapers. The effect of this selective coverage and denial of genuine reporting from certain countries renders such important social issues invisible from the eyes of the world, making it possible for countries to continue in their policies of persecution against minorities.

Sources:

Choummaly Sayasone, Reporters Without Borders, available at http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=21963.

Country Profile: Laos, BBC, Oct. 25, 2007, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1154621.stm.

Freedom in the World, Freedom House, 2007, available at http://www.freedomhouse.org/inc/content/pubs/fiw/inc_country_detail.cfm?year=2007&country=7211&pf.

Hiding in the jungle - Hmong under threat, Amnesty International, Mar. 23, 2007, available at

http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA260032007?open&of=ENG-LAO.

Laos - Annual report 2007, Reporters Without Borders, available at http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=20788.

New leadership approved in Laos, BBC, June 8, 2006, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5059902.stm.

State of the World’s Human Rights, 2007, Amnesty International, available at http://thereport.amnesty.org/eng/Regions/Asia-Pacific/Laos.

Supalak Ganjanakhundee, Choummaly endorsed as president of Laos, The Nation, June 11, 2006, http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/06/09/regional/regional_30006108.php.

The missing children of Laos, Amnesty International, available at http://web.amnesty.org/pages/lao-220307-feature-eng.