Laos 2017 Crime & Safety Report
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Laos 2017 Crime & Safety Report Overall Crime and Safety Situation U.S. Embassy Vientiane does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit cannot recommend a particular individual or establishment and assumes no responsibility for the quality of services provided. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE HAS ASSESSED VIENTIANE AS BEING A HIGH- THREAT LOCATION FOR CRIME DIRECTED AT OR AFFECTING OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. Please review OSAC’s Laos-specific webpage proprietary analytic reports, Consular Messages, and contact information. Crime Threats Vientiane is relatively safe when compared to most U.S. cities of a similar size. Americans do not appear to be singled out or targeted based on nationality, but foreigners are frequently the victims of crimes of opportunity. Since the 2016 CSR edition, RSO has seen a slight decrease in crimes against foreigners, despite an overall increase in crimes of opportunity and drug trafficking. Crimes against foreigners are usually non-confrontational and primarily consist of purse snatching, pickpocketing, and theft of unattended property. A common modus operandi involves thieves who grab bags or cell phones while riding motorcycles or mopeds. It is advised to walk with a purpose, as criminals may view travelers who are lost or wandering as particularly vulnerable. Criminals tend to target homes with poor security countermeasures (accessible windows, unlocked doors, absence of guards). Burglaries are not limited to nighttime hours. Car thieves tend to prefer areas outside of the city center that have less of a police presence. Although rare, there have been instances of violent crimes, sometimes involving the use of a firearm or other weapon. From February 2003 to November 2004, there were periodic bombings in Vientiane, Savannakhet, and other cities and provinces (Xieng Khouang, Xayabury, Houaphan, Xaysomboun). Areas of Concern Xaysomboun province remains an area of heightened concern due to violent clashes between military/police officials and an unnamed group of dissidents. These clashes, which occurred periodically from November 2015 through much of 2016, involved the use small arms fire and crude improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and resulted in a number of injuries and deaths. Many NGOs use armed military escorts and travel exclusively during daylight. U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling to the region. 2017 OSAC Crime & Safety Report - Laos There has also been violence along Route 13 North (from Km 220 north of Kasi in Vientiane Province to Km 270 at the Phou Khoun junction in Luang Prabang Province) and on the “new road” (from the Kasi junction to the Road 4 junction between Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng). Although reports suggest a recent decrease in violent activity, these areas continue to be off- limits to U.S. Embassy personnel due to security concerns. Large amounts of unexploded ordnance (UXO) left over from the Indochina War causes approximately 50 casualties each year. UXO can be found in parts of Savannakhet, Xieng Khouang, Saravane, Khammouane, Sekong, Champassak, Houaphan, Attapeu, Luang Prabang, and Vientiane provinces. In addition, numerous mine fields are left over from the Indochina War along Route 7 (from Route 13 to the Vietnam border), Route 9 (Savannakhet to the Vietnam border), and Route 20 (Pakse to Saravane). Travelers should never pick up unknown metal objects and should avoid traveling off well-used roads and paths. Travelers should exercise caution in remote areas along the border with Burma. Bandits, drug traffickers, other people pursuing illegal activities, and armed insurgent groups opposed to the government of Burma operate in these areas. Transportation-Safety Situation Road Safety and Road Conditions Road accidents are the principal safety concern for both Lao citizens and foreigners. As the number of vehicles in Laos increases, so does the number of drivers with little/no driving experience. Alcohol consumption is prevalent, and the police make very little attempt at enforcing drunk driving laws. Hundreds of people die every year on the roads in Vientiane, and Laos routinely reports over 1,000 deaths per year nationwide. Defensive driving is imperative; many drivers pay little attention to traffic laws or to other vehicles. Traffic is chaotic, and road conditions are very rough, particularly off the few main roads. Most roads have no lane markings. Where lane markings, road signs, and stoplights do exist, they are widely ignored. Many drivers are underage, unlicensed, inexperienced, and uninsured. Motorcyclists pay little/no attention to cars and may carry as many as five people, greatly impeding the driver’s ability to react to traffic. The evening hours are particularly dangerous. Roads lack illumination, many vehicles have no operating lights, few bicycles have reflectors, and trucks without reflectors commonly park on unlighted roads. Road construction sites are poorly marked, provide no advance warning, and can be difficult to see at night. Changes in road surface conditions due to weather occur frequently. Check with local authorities, transportation companies, other travelers, and the Embassy regarding road developments prior to travel. Public Transportation Conditions Public transportation is unreliable and is limited after sunset. Taxis or cars-for-hire are available at the airport, the Friendship Bridge, most major hotels, and near the Morning Market in Vientiane. The most common form of public transport is a three-wheeled, open-sided vehicle called a tuk-tuk. Tuk-tuks and taxis are frequently in poor condition, and drivers generally speak little/no English. 2017 OSAC Crime & Safety Report - Laos Inter-city transport is provided by buses, vans, pickups, and trucks, many of which may be in poor condition. Between February and April 2003, armed attacks on buses and other vehicles on Routes 13 (Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang) and Route 7 (Junction 12 to Phonsavan) killed at least 22 people. Small bombings and attacks on remote roads, as well as other incidents, have been reported. Aviation/Airport Conditions Generally, airline travel is safe in Laos, and a number of regional carriers established new routes to Vientiane and Luang Prabang in 2016. In 2013, a Lao Airlines flight crashed, killing all 49 aboard while trying to land in bad weather in southern Laos. In November 2015, a Lao Skyways aircraft went off the runway after landing at Vientiane Airport in clear weather conditions. There was major damage to the aircraft, but no injuries were reported. Terrorism Threat THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE HAS ASSESSED VIENTIANE AS BEING A LOW- THREAT LOCATION FOR TERRORIST ACTIVITY DIRECTED AT OR AFFECTING OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT INTERESTS. Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns There is no information to indicate specific, credible threats against U.S. citizens or interests. It remains possible that transnational terrorist operatives not identified by U.S. intelligence or law enforcement and/or individuals travelling with fraudulent documents could transit Laos, as its multiple land borders remain extremely porous. The threat of terrorism is not without precedent, and visitors should exercise caution. Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE HAS ASSESSED VIENTIANE AS BEING A LOW- THREAT LOCATION FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE DIRECTED AT OR AFFECTING OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT INTERESTS. The political situation is relatively stable. Civil Unrest Several small bombings have occurred in Vientiane; however, none directly targeted Westerners or Western interests. Perpetrators appear to have been a mix of local and expatriate Lao dissatisfied with the government. No incidents of this type have occurred in the last several years. Religious/Ethnic Violence Despite efforts by the central government to enforce laws and policies protecting religious freedom, district and local authorities in some provinces are suspicious of non-Buddhist or non- animist religious groups and occasionally display intolerance for minority religious groups, 2017 OSAC Crime & Safety Report - Laos particularly Christians. Restrictions on minority religions remain disproportionately high in certain provinces. There were reports of attempted forced renunciations, imprisonment, detentions, arrests, and an extrajudicial killing of a religious leader by individuals claiming to operate on behalf of police. Post-specific Concerns Environmental Hazards Laos been relatively less impacted by natural disasters in recent years than other countries in Southeast Asia. The most significant threat is the potential for flooding in the Mekong River Basin. The majority of the population base lives within the river basin and is affected by any significant river flooding. Economic Concerns Laws regarding intellectual property exist but are not enforced with any regularity. Counterfeit items are readily available. Privacy Concerns Security personnel may place foreign visitors under surveillance. Hotel rooms, telephones, and fax machines may be monitored, and personal possessions in hotel rooms may be searched. Drug-related Crime The number of reported drug-related arrests continues to rise. Cross-border illicit trade is increasing, and a commensurate increase in addiction and associated criminality has been observed. Some tourists have had drinks/food spiked with drugs. Be aware that some restaurants in popular tourist