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Vientiane TimesThe First National English Language Newspaper TUESDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2011 ISSUE 27 www.vientianetimes.la 4500 kip Transport Wetlands preservation under scrutiny officials to Sisouphan Amphonephong Authority, Mr Asang Laoly, and providing a habitat for chaired the meeting. thousands of species of fauna carry out bus The first meeting of the Mr Asang said Laos’ and flora. secretariat of the Ramsar commitments towards “Wetlands are one of safety checks National Management implementing the Ramsar the world’s most productive Authority took place in Convention included the need ecosystems housing incredible Somsack Pongkhao Lao, Thai media Vientiane yesterday to for strategic planning for biological diversity. Wetlands vow to enhance discuss progress made since wetland management. are essential for providing Transport officials will inspect cooperation Laos acceded to the Ramsar “Laos officially became subsistence and generating all buses departing from main PAGE 3 Convention in September, a party to the Ramsar incomes for the people living bus stations in a bid to ensure 2010. Convention on September on them,” Mr Asang said. passenger safety and minimise The meeting was convened 28, 2010, and two wetland “Much of Laos’ rural road accidents. to inform all committee sites of global importance population lives near wetlands The move is in line with a members and stakeholders of were nominated - Beung and depends on them for rice Ministry of Public Works and the significance of wetlands as Khiat Ngong in Champassak farming, fishing and countless Mr Asang Laoly talks about the Transport regulation issued in well as Laos’ commitment to province and Xe Champhone other livelihood activities.” importance of wetlands. response to a number of fatal manage and use the resources in Savannakhet province,” he “The government bus accidents on Laos’s roads wisely. The meeting discussed said. is committed to the Siamese crocodile, while in recent years. the Ramsar Convention and He also said that in implementation of the Beung Khiat Ngong includes Deputy Director General institutional arrangements joining the convention, Laos Ramsar Convention through the unique wetland habitat of the ministry’s Transport for wetland management, designated the country’s first the protection of its vital ‘peatland’. It is the largest Department, Mr Buaphet including the roles of two wetland areas of national natural resources, especially area of peatland found in Xayasan, said yesterday concerned institutions. significance. its wetlands, and through the country and contains a officials would not only check The discussions come From an environmental appropriate support of local rich reserve of fish species that buses are roadworthy, but ahead of a meeting on World conservation perspective, livelihoods and national important to the livelihoods of also ensure the driver is fit to Wetlands Day on February 2. wetlands perform several development over the long local communities. undertake a long journey. Talent contest picks Deputy Prime Minister important functions for the term,” he added. The Convention Inspectors will also assess and President of the National local ecosystem such as Xe Champhone supports on Wetlands, signed in TV’s rising stars the way luggage is loaded on Environment Committee flood control, maintaining the largest population in Laos Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 is an the roofs of buses to prevent PAGE 18 and Ramsar Management ground water, purifying water of the critically endangered CONTINUED PAGE 2 overloading and see that it is safely secured. “For the buses’ mechanical Pigs, poultry sufficient for New Year festivities condition, we will check the lights, brakes and horn,” he Khamphone Syvongxay said, adding that any bus that fails to meet standards will not The Agriculture and Food be allowed to leave the bus Processing Association has station without undergoing confirmed that the supply of repairs. pigs and poultry will meet Vice President of consumer needs over the Vientiane’s Northern Bus Chinese and Vietnamese New Association Mr Thongphan Year this week. Phommalith said most buses Association President in Laos are quite old, so Mr Phouvong Korakan told mechanical checks are very Vientiane Times last week the important to ensure safety. Fuel prices pursue Chinese and Vietnamese New In the worst cases, some upward trend Year is always celebrated in buses are modified to carry Laos, and the association is more passengers to make them PAGE B confident that livestock farms more profitable, but without will be able to supply enough approval from the Ministry of meat to satisfy public demand. Public Works and Transport. Vientiane market vendors Experts agree that the said the price of piglets and ministry needs to monitor poultry would increase during the modification of buses as the period of high demand. changes can affect vehicle Pig prices at farms are now Pork prices are stable at the farm but are rising in markets. safety standards. stable at 19,000 kip per kg, while Bus accidents occur every cut pork in the market is 33,000 Mr Acksone Naleuphay, said slaughterhouse anticipates other facilities in Vientiane year in Laos, usually caused by kip per kg, said Mr Phouvong. January 29-31 would see a big business will return to was stiff. mechanical failure or drivers Vientiane usually sources increase in the number of pigs normal. Mr Acksome said “Several years ago, my falling asleep or speeding at pigs from Khammuan and brought to slaughter. business always increases slaughterhouse killed more night. Borikhamxay provinces if pig The slaughterhouse during special occasions. than 100 pigs a day for market In November last year, farms in the city cannot supply normally kills about 70-80 pigs But Donedou slaughterhouse sale, but now many private a fully loaded 25-seat bus the market. a day, but this would increase would not increase the number slaughterhouses have been set travelling from Oudomxay to Traders and vendors in to about 100 pigs a day for the of pigs it kills for Chinese and up,” Mr Khampeun said. Luang Prabang skidded off a Get hot news in Lao and many markets are always ready New Year festivities. Vietnamese New Year, as there A Vientiane resident, hillside road in Kachet village English from Vientiane Times to work harder to prepare pork “Each year we have to kill were already enough pigs to Mr Sithone, said his family in Nambak district, Luang on your mobile phone via Lao and poultry products for sale more pigs because of high meet demand, said owner Mr always found that pork and Prabang province, about Telecom and Unitel networks. over the New Year, because demand from people throwing Khampeun Singkavongxay. poultry got more expensive 500km north of Vientiane. they always bring good sales. parties or holding ceremonies,” He said 50-60 pigs were when they celebrated special The accident killed 18 people Subscribe now! Owner of Vientiane’s said Mr Acksone. killed at his slaughterhouse events, but the price soon and injured seven others. For Lao Telecom Subscribers Nongdouang slaughterhouse, After the New Year, the every day as competition with returned to normal. CONTINUED PAGE 2 Just send ‘R’ to 1135 for news Vientiane Times in English on CD-ROM For Unitel Subscribers Issues of Vientiane Times from 2001 to Just send December 2010 have been recorded on ‘ON’ to 929 for news CD-ROM. in English Now available at Vientiane Times office. ‘ON L’ to 929 for news Corner Setthathirath/Pangkham Roads, Nam Phu, Vientiane. in Lao P.O. Box: 5723, For more information phone Tel: (856-21) 216364, 217593. 020 5607017 Fax: (856-21) 216365 Office: 216364 or 217593 Email: [email protected] 2 Tuesday February 1, 2011 Vientiane Times Home news Champassak ups tobacco Health institute appoints new director control efforts Times Reporters Times Reporters which indicate that tobacco is Newly appointed Director a serious obstacle to economic General of the National Champassak province is development. Institute of Public Health, gearing up to campaign for the The law states that Associate Professor Dr proper practice of the Law on hospitals and schools should Kongsap Akkhavong, said he Tobacco Control, which came be 100 percent non-smoking would continue to strive for into effect on December 10, zones, while government and effective health research to 2009. private offices, restaurants benefit the Lao people in years The Ministry of Health, and entertainment venues to come. together with the Ministry should define specific zones Dr Kongsap was speaking of Justice and the Adventist for smokers. at a ceremony last week to Development and Relief The 43 participants from hand over directorship of the Agency held a meeting various sectors in the province institute from Professor Dr last week at the provincial agreed that the meeting was Boungnong Boupha, who administration office. very important to protect was promoted to Deputy Office Deputy Head Mr people from the negative Head of the Foreign Affairs Bounsy Chitpasong and impacts of tobacco. Commission of the National Deputy Director General of the According to a Ministry Outgoing Public Health Institute Director Dr Boungnong Boupha (left) and new Director Dr Kongsap Assembly’s sixth legislature. Akkhavong sign a document to hand over the position, while Dr Ponmek Dalaloy (centre) looks on. Law Advertising Department of Health survey conducted “I realise that my work of the Ministry of Justice Mr in 2005, 40 percent or 1.5 will be hard but it is an Foreign Affairs skills,” she said. “The new director of the Boulom Douangmala co- million Lao people under 18 honour. I would like to thank Commission Deputy Head Dr Boungnong asked institute should expand the chaired the meeting. years of age smoke, with 67 the leadership of the Ministry Dr Boungnong said she was Dr Kongsap to continue positive outcomes of health The objective of the percent of those being male.