Laos 20240508: Safeguard, Predicament, Sizzle

Mekong Memo Laos Weekly: Business, politics, finance, trade & legal news.

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Headlines:

Laos Leads SEA in Banning Kid Beatings

Cracking Down on Dissent

Southeast Asia's Press Freedom Nightmare

Students Bail on Higher Ed in Droves

Vientiane Residents Fed Up with Water Woes

Debt Jitters Grow as Dollar Flexes

Inflation, Trade Woes Hammer Laos

Heatwave Scorches Crops, Endangers Health

VAT Restored, Interest Rate Hiked

Project Aims to Boost Rice Farming Efficiency

Hmong Artist's Spiritual Textiles Dazzle

Laos Leads SEA in Banning Kid Beatings

Laos has made history as the first Southeast Asian country to officially outlaw corporal punishment, giving kids full protection from all forms of violent discipline. The Ministry of Justice celebrated the ban on International Day to End Corporal Punishment of Children, making Laos the 66th nation worldwide to take this step. Recent surveys show violent discipline is on the decline, with the percentage of kids aged 1-14 experiencing physical punishment dropping from 77% to 62%. The amended Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Children, enacted in August 2023 and rolled out in December, is a major show of Laos' commitment to stamping out violence against children.

Read more: Laotian Times (Ban), UNICEF (Decreased Violence)

Cracking Down on Dissent

Laos is getting tough on critics, with a social media activist arrested for exposing police bribery and land rights protesters detained. Human rights groups say the government hasn't done enough to address UN recommendations on enforced disappearances and political participation. Basic freedoms are still heavily restricted, with attacks on activists going unpunished. Online criticism is also in the crosshairs, and a makeshift church was even attacked. Rights defenders face arbitrary detention, disappearance, and killings both at home and abroad.

Read more: CIVICUS Monitor (Crackdown on Critics)

Southeast Asia's Press Freedom Nightmare

Southeast Asia is a grim place for media freedom, with just two out of 11 countries ranking in the top half of the latest World Press Freedom Index from Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos are in a particularly dire state, with loads of journalists behind bars and tight controls on reporting. Malaysia took the biggest tumble, plunging 34 spots under PM Anwar Ibrahim, while Indonesia's Joko Widodo has broken promises on press freedom. Singapore keeps a tight leash on its media, and the Philippines remains a dangerous place for journalists despite a lively media scene. Timor-Leste, ranking 20th, is the region's sole bright spot.

Read more: The Diplomat

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Students Bail on Higher Ed in Droves

Thousands of Lao students have dropped out of higher education, vocational training, and teacher programs from 2021-2024. The Ministry of Education and Sports is pointing the finger at lackluster investment in educational development and families' struggle to pay tuition fees. Money troubles are forcing some students to work to cover living costs, leaving no time for classes. The ministry is hoping to boost enrollment and cut dropout rates in the coming academic year through projects in the National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2021-2025.

Read more: Asian News Network