ພລງັ ຮວ່ ມ ຊາດ ລາວ The Union for Lao Nation 8106 Viola St, Springfield, VA 22152 Telephone & Fax: (703) 913-1768 [email protected]

Statement Peace, Democracy and in Focusing on Neocolonialism of including the Development Triangle Area Presented by Bounchanh Senthavong

The SEA Conference, in Commemoration of the 28th Anniversary of 1991 Paris Peace Agreement on Cambodia October 18-19, 2019 George Mason Regional Library 7001 Little River Turnpike Annandale, VA 22003

Namaskarn Venerable Monks, Good morning: -Community Seniors and Leaders, -Presidents and Representatives of various Organizations, -Ladies and Gentlemen, -Dear Khmer and Lao brothers and sisters,

It’s my great honor and pleasure for the opportunity to speak before you, on behalf of our two organizations: the Union for Lao Nation and the Study and Research Center on Laos and Asia; and on behalf of my fellow Laotian compatriots.

Thank you all Khmer and Lao organizations led by KPNC, for organizing this educational and important conference.

First, I’d like to recognize the long lasting past history of our two nations and our two people. We have enjoyed the friendly and harmonious relationship for centuries until today. Profound similarities in our culture, art, and religion and our mutual assistance of long history keep our friendship strong and alive.

Today our common fate brings us even closer. We are fighting against injustice, dictatorship, and against our common aggressor.

Brief

The Lane Xang Kingdom of Laos, the Lao Constitutional Monarchy ceased to exist since 1975, when the Lao communist forces took power, heavily backed up by the Vietnamese communists.

Laos became ’s Democratic Republic, under a single political party state system and practicing a Marxist-Leninist regime ever since. More than a hundred of thousands of former civil servants, high ranking military and law enforcement, and common people--men and women, were sent to the so-called reeducation camps in Northern Laos, at the border with Vietnam; where many perished so miserably, due to extremely harsh conditions and inhuman treatments, including the King and the Queen and other royal family members.

Half a million have fled the country, risking their lives for survival and freedom in unfamiliar places in the other end of the world. Generous countries such as the United States of America, France, Great Britain, Germany, , Argentina, and Japan have warmly opened their arms to us. These were the darkest days in the history of Laos.

Peace, Democracy, and Human Right in Laos

Since, there is no peace in Lao PDR. People live in fear, constantly struggle to beat the daily odds. The ruling power exercises a tight control over its citizenry. Laotian People are severely deprived of their basic human rights.

There is no freedom of expression, no freedom of assembly, no right to peaceful demonstration, no right to worship, and no right to participate in the government. Arbitrary arrests are the routine activities, often times without due process. Legal representation is nearly absent. Multiple Civil and Penal laws were enacted to imprison citizens who raise their national conscience. The enforced disappearance regularly happens. The judicial system is ineffective, the Party has the final say.

It is absolute lack of democratic principle in Lao PDR.

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There is zero tolerance for criticizing the government policies. The civil society and non-profit organizations are almost non- existing. There is no space for robust and meaningful debates between the government and development partners. In one hand, the elite class lives in luxury comfort; and contrarily households of Lao people endure and suffer extreme poverty, worse in the remote areas. In the name of economic development, villagers were evicted from their farmlands where they had been conducting their daily activities to raise families for generations; and now handed over to foreign investors who often don’t fulfill their promises of adequate compensation.

This has created a “new class of landless poor.”

As the Lao Government’s development strategies and policies failed poorly, they plunged the country into extreme poverty. The education system is inadequate and far behind its peer regional states. Health care and social protection are severely lacking. The social justice is non- existent. Inevitably, ill social ramifications follow: wide spread drug addiction among youth, increasing drugs and human trafficking, girls were lured to prostitution, hundreds of thousands men and women have sought work in neighboring countries for lack of job creation in the country.

The World Bank reports that Laotians live with less than $2 a day, 2018.

The Lao Government and the Party are failing to address the basic and legitimate needs of Lao people in lifting their acute poverty; instead, are focusing on their unrealistic ambitions, their version of reality: Mega Infrastructure Projects, such as hydropower dams, speed train, extensive mining, vast land concessions for special economic zones of 50 to 99 years to foreign investors and industrial plantations; left alone the massive scale of deforestation for as long as the communists took power.

While these strategies and policies may seem noble to the Lao dictators, however their actual impacts on Laotians and the country are clearly detrimental and generate huge public debts repayment obligations. They only enrich the corrupted elite class and their families, who amass unimaginable wealth.

As the UN Special Rapporteur, Dr. Philip Alston, who visited Lao PDR for 11 days in March 2019, said in his June published report: “In general, too much emphasis is

3 given to ticking boxes and improving numbers rather than ensuring meaningful changes to the lives of Lao people….The government has achieved impressive GDP numbers (6 to 8%) but at times has failed to make meaningful changes in the lives of a very large number of people in poverty.”

For the first time in the UN history, a Special Rapporteur is allowed to visit Lao PDR, despite several requests by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in the past.

We Laotian overseas very much appreciate Professor Alston’s insightful studies and frank report that says: “Lao PDR’s partners in development, including international financial institutions and UN programs, funds, and agencies, as well as bilateral partners, have carefully shied away from most of these issues. Many interlocutors suggested to me that the UN in Lao PDR has largely failed to be a voice for the vulnerable, let alone for human rights, and that it has promoted an overly optimistic picture of the country’s successes while sidestepping most of the many issues that it and the government deem to be ”sensitive.” The UN’s vaunted “Rights Up Front” policy looks more like a “Right out of Sight” policy in Lao PDR.”

This way, we think it only does disservice to Laotian people and the country. Frank and robust dialogues are most necessary and well sought to truly benefit Lao people and their country.

In his report’s conclusion, the UN Special Rapporteur recommends to the Lao PDR’s Government as follows: “Give far greater priority in practice rather than just rhetorically to poverty alleviation, both in order to protect the human rights of a large number of Lao people, and also as part of a more sustainable and effective development strategy. Existing strategies relying heavily upon large infrastructure projects and land concessions all involve significant risks and need to be complemented by policies to promote sustainable agriculture as well as manufacturing, service, and technologies industries. Those in turn require a well- educated, healthy, and skilled workforce that can only emerge as a result of sustained investment in health, education, children’s well-being, empowerment of women, social protection, and lifting people out of poverty and into productive employment.”

Neocolonialism of Vietnam over Laos 4

The Special Laos-Vietnam Friendship and Comprehensive Cooperation Treaty, signed in on July 18, 1977 for 25 years, and automatically renewable every 10 years. The treaty constituted a legal instrument for Vietnam to control, occupy, and annex Laos to the benefits of Vietnam. This was followed by a Pact signed in the following month (August), stipulating 5 additional point agreement that Laos and Vietnam to become One: 1.) In Military 2.) In Politics 3.) In Diplomacy 4.) In Economy, and 5.) In Socio-Cultural Affairs.

This had submitted Laos under the total sphere of influence of Vietnam unconditionally.

Hanoi has executed this Protocol point by point, and now in the final phase.

Ho Chi Minh’s evil dream to establish the Communist Indochinese Party began in Hongkong in 1930. Since then he never gave up. His wildest intention took shape when Saigon, Phnom-Penh, and Vientiane fell one after the other in 1975.

In Laos in particular, soon after the independence from France in 1949 and ratified in 1953, a portion of the main Lao Nationalist Movement led by prince Souphanouvong convincing themselves that the independence from France was not full and complete, Laos was still under the French Union Protectorate; thus parted away from the movement and were lured into association with the communist Vietnamese movement led by Ho Chi Minh, who preached the joining force of the three Indochinese countries in the fight to liberate their countries from France. Souphanouvong was later married to an ‘underground’ Vietnamese woman. The leftist faction called themselves the ‘Pathet Lao’, were fighting decades-long civil war against the royal government with massive help from the communist bloc, particularly communist Vietnam.

Numerous efforts and attempts with the help of the international community to unify political factions (two then three) for the national reconciliation failed. Each time, the work was sabotaged by communist North Vietnam. The 1962 Geneva Agreement guaranteeing Laos neutrality was violated. Again, communist North

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Vietnam violated the 1973 Paris Peace Agreement, that mandated total withdraw of all foreign troops from Cambodia, Laos and South Vietnam.

Then, Laotian People across the land were overjoyed when the 1973 Vientiane Peace and National Concord Treaty was signed by the 3rd new coalition government consisted of the royal government, the neutralists, and the leftists. Peace and national unification were finally here; no unfortunately, they didn’t last. The treaty was violated again, by the malicious engineering and manipulating of North Vietnam. It was the last time and last chance for Lao people to find solution for their national unification and lasting peace.

Once the Lao communists are in power, Hanoi installed Kaysone Phomvihanh, a Vietnamese born and Ho Chi Minh’s student, at the helm. Hanoi conducted Ho Chi Minh’s testimony in full swing, and that is to perform the invasion activities of Laos-- its expansionist ambitions.

Hundreds of thousands of communist Vietnamese troops who had helped overthrow the Lao royal government never left Laos, instead remained alongside the borders as civilians and many of them held advisor and expert positions in every level of the Lao central and local governments, working directly under their CP 38 command. Furthermore, every year Vietnamese people by tens of thousands enter Laos and settle in Laos. Some are legal and some others are illegal. Lao National Assembly President was pressed by her Vietnamese counterpart to proceed to give Lao citizenship to these legal and illegal Vietnamese people. Additional Vietnamese troops are sent into Laos on the ground of security threats in Laos. Marriage between Laotian and Vietnamese people are eagerly pushed and encouraged by Vietnam. Tens of thousands scholarships per year are provided to Lao students. Vietnamese language is taught to Lao officials and youth. Cultural exchanges take place frequently. Mass Unions regularly meet. Of course, constant high ranking officials’ discussions are top priorities.

At this point in time, one might ask:  Can Laos survive the iron grip of Vietnam?  Is Laos able to deter Vietnamese expansionism?  Can Lao Race be saved?

Development Triangle Area (TDA) 6

Establishing the Indochinese Federation is one of Ho Chi Minh’s wish list. So far, his expansionist ambition has not fully materialized as of yet. The visible obstacles are a)-the increasing presence and influence of China in both Cambodia and Laos, and b)-the two people’s national conscience is running high. However, a miniature model that Hanoi was focusing on in the past few years was to create a Development Triangle Area, consisting of 4 Eastern provinces of Cambodia (Kachaie, Mondon Khiri, Ratana Khiri, Strungteng), 4 Southern (Attapeu, Champassak, Saravane, Sekong ), and 5 Western provinces of Vietnam (Binh Phuc, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, Kong Tum).

The main goals of the Development Triangle Area are to create sustainable and inclusive development of the CLV Development Triangle Area, reducing poverty and economic and social disparities, improving the quality of life for people living in DTA; building upon the traditional relations of friendship, solidarity, mutual understanding, trust, comprehensive cooperation, and good neighborliness. One observation is worthwhile noting: the member composition of the development triangle: 5 overpopulated Vietnamese provinces, 4 unpopulated Cambodian provinces, and 4 abundant natural resource Laotian provinces. If the project is fully realized, who will benefit the most among the member countries?

Under the oversight of Vietnam, the current collective efforts are promoting youth exchange and interaction and enhance trade, investments and tourism flows into the area. The Development Triangle Area project cost $4 billion. Interestingly, in the one same province Champassak of Laos, China’s Mega Comprehensive Resort project, a special economic zone, that covers 7,000 ha of land costs $11 billion which will be completed in 2020.

I’d like to end with a significant and meaningful quote of the Victims of Memorial Foundation:

“Socialism enslaves…and communism kills”

Thank you.

Bounchanh Senthavong President, Union for Lao Nation-USA BoD, Study and Research Center on Laos and Asia Contact: [email protected], Web site: cerla.laoss.net 7