Laotian government launches “solidarity” campaign to raise funds and control people
The government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic is strapped for cash and needs help to pay for the celebrations. Somvang Khuabsaphone, a member of the National Organising Committee for the anniversary events, told Radio Free Asia that the authorities are short of the money.
“The government provides 15 billion kip (US .9 million). That is not enough. We have to raise 15 billion (kip) more,” he said. For this reason, the authorities thought of getting the population to pay up.
One resident of the capital, who asked to remain anonymous, posted an open letter describing his frustration with the event preparations. The government, he wrote, is “now selling rubber bracelets for US each and pins for US .50 each to Vientiane residents in order to raise funds" for the celebrations. Government agencies, schools and the city are making sure that everyone does their “duty”.
“If you are a government worker, you must buy one. When you get home, you must one or two as a member of the village. If you have children who go to school, any school, you must buy at least one for each,” he explained. However, “Most Laotians are poor,” he lamented, “including public servants. Plus, the use of profits from sales is not entirely transparent.”
Everything will be tightly controlled. The government has issued specific directives calling on every Laotian to respect the country’s traditional culture in appearance and behaviour. Women will have to wear traditional dress: no miniskirts or skimpy shirts and pants. Men will not be allowed to wear earrings or long hair, or dye it.
In Vientiane, hotels restaurants and entertainment venues will also be required to follow the rules. Groups will have to stop their activities by 10.30 pm and fireworks are banned. Anyone hosting guests overnight will have to inform local authorities beforehand.
Some see in all this an attempt by the single party to prevent protests after some 100 pro-democracy activists took to the streets before being arrested in last year’s celebrations.
Fa Ngum founded the Laotian Kingdom of Lan Xang in 1354 with its capital in Lan Xang. King Setthathirath moved the capital to Vientiane on 15 November 1560.
The day of 2 December marks the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
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