Mr Choummaly Sayasone
Mr Thongsing Thammavong
Mr Bounnhang Vorachit
Dr Thongloun Sisoulith
Ms Pany Yathortou
Mr Asang Laoly
Lieutenant General Duangchay Phichit
Mr Somsavat Lengsavad
Dr Bounthong Chitmany
Dr Bounpone Bouttanavong
Dr Phankham Viphavanh
Dr Thongbanh Seng-aphone
Mr Chansy Phosikham
Mr Soukanh Mahalath
Major General Sengnouan Xayalath
Mr Cheuang Sombounkhanh
Dr Xaysomphone Phomvihane
Mr Somphanh Phengkhammy
Ms Onechanh Thammavong
Dr Phimmasone Leuangkhamma
Mr Khammanh Sounvileuth
Dr Chaleun Yiapaoher
Mr Soulivong Daravong
Ms Bounpheng Mounphosay
Dr Phandouangchit Vongsa
Mr Khamboun Douangpanya
Major General Chansamone Chanyalath
Dr Khampheuy Panmalaythong
Mr Vilayvanh Phomkhe
Mr Khamsane Souvong
Dr Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune
Dr Khamphanh Phommathat
Prof.Dr Somkot Mangnomek
Mr Sonesay Siphandone
Dr Nam Vinhaket
Mr Tong Yerthor
Ms Sisay Leudetmounsone
Major General Sanyahak Phomvihane
Prof. Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune
Mr Khambay Damlath
Mr Sommad Pholsena
Mr Somdy Douangdy
Mr Phouphet Khamphounvong
Prof.Dr Bosengkham Vongdara
Dr Lien Thikeo
Prof. Dr Eksavang Vongvichit
Mr Khamla Lorlonsy
Mr Xaysi Santivong
Dr Khampheng Saysompheng
Mr Khamhoung Heuangvongsy
Brigadier General Souvone Leuangbounmy
Mr Khammeung Phongthady
Brigadier General Somkeo Silavong
Mr Khamjane Vongphosy
Mr Pan Noymany
Prof. Dr Soukkongseng Saignaleuth
Mr Khamphanh Sitthidampha
Mr Khamla Lingnasone
Mr Khampheuy Bouddavieng
Ms Sounthone Xayachack
Brigadier General Thongloy Silivong
The first plenary session of the Party Central Committee elected an eleven-member Political Bureau, nine-member Secretariat and seven-member Inspection Committee.
Political Bureau
Secretariat
Inspection Committee
1. Mr Choummaly Sayasone
2. Mr Thongsing Thammavong
3. Mr Bounnhang Vorachit
4. Dr Thongloun Sisoulith
5. Ms Pany Yathortou
6. Mr Asang Laoly
7. Lieutenant General Douangchay Phichit
8. Mr Somsavat Lengsavad
9. Dr Bounthong Chitmany
10. Dr Bounpone Bouttanavong
11. Dr Phankham Viphavanh Mr Choummaly Sayasone is re-elected as Party Secretary General.
1. Mr Choummaly Sayasone
2. Mr Bounnhang Vorachit
3. Dr Bounthong Chitmany
4. Dr Bounpone Bouttanavong
5. Dr Thongbanh Seng-aphone
6. Mr Chansy Phosikham
7. Mr Soukanh Mahalath
8. Major General Sengnouan Xayalath
9. Mr Cheuang Sombounkhanh
Mr Bounnhang Vorachit is re-elected as Secretariat Standing Member
1. Dr Bounthong Chitmany
2. Mr Thongsy Ouanlasy
3. Mr Sinay Mienglavanh
4. Mr Khamsuan Chanthavong
5. Mr Khamsouk Bounyavong
6. Mr Singphet Bounsavatthiphanh
7. Mr Bounpone Sangsomsak Dr Bounthong Chitmany is elected as President of the Inspection Committee.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Party approves new measure to boost development
The Lao People's Revolutionary Party has come up with a new approach to accelerate and sustain national development.
The newly elected Party Central Committee of the 9th Party Congress yesterday approved a resolution giving the green light for the Party to implement the newly proposed ‘four breakthrough steps' to accelerate development of the landlocked country within next five years.
The introduction of the new breakthrough approach is in line with implementation of the Party's renovation policy, which was adopted in 1986, aiming to bring the country into socialism driven by a market oriented economy.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, re-elected Politburo member Mr Somsavat Lengsavad said that the first of the four breakthroughs, which the Party will complete within the next five years, is to relieve the minds of people from old stereotypes, complacency and extremism.
“If we want to develop our nation, we have to rely on specificity of the country. We cannot copy development models from other countries. But it does not mean that we do not want to learn development lessons from other countries,” he said in response to questions from foreign diplomats and journalists.
Mr Somsavat, who is also Standing Deputy Prime Minister, said that the second breakthrough was to develop human resources, which had an important role in socio-economic development in Laos as the country is living under a new era of the intellect based economy.
“Under international integration circumstances, there are both opportunities and challenges, therefore we have to have human resources with knowledge and competence so they can integrate Laos with the international community and ensure fruit from the integration,” he said.
He said that the Party had agreed to prioritise the development of human resources and invest more funds to develop the health sector to ensure that Lao people benefit from knowledge and health, adding that education development and health are two of the millennium development goals which the Party is striving to achieve.
“The Party Congress has backed public investment plans, which the National Assembly has already approved, to invest 30 percent of state funds in the economic sector, 35 percent into social sectors including education, health and cultural affairs, and 35 percent for development of public infrastructure,” he said.
The third breakthrough is to address administrative procedures and management which impede commercial productivity rates and services, he said, adding that the Party Congress has learnt that a number of business and trade barriers remain, hindering investment.
He said the government had already imposed a policy to set up a single window service to facilitate investment, but the move had not worked effectively.
“The third breakthrough is very important and needs to be addressed within five years otherwise we will not be able to boost commercial production,” he said.
He also said that implementation of the third breakthrough step would be made as the country joins other Asean member states to implement the Asean Free Trade Area, as well as continuing to work towards World Trade Organisation membership.
Mr Somsavat said the fourth breakthrough step was to address poverty, adding that the Party congress had given guidance to mobilise funds from all available avenues to address poverty, from both domestic and foreign sources, adding that the Party had agreed to allow the government to offer investment incentives in rural areas.
In terms of household poverty reduction, Mr Somsavat said the Party expected to reduce the proportion of poor families in Laos from 20 percent of the population to 10 percent in 2015.
The newly elected Party Central Committee of the 9th Party Congress yesterday approved a resolution giving the green light for the Party to implement the newly proposed ‘four breakthrough steps' to accelerate development of the landlocked country within next five years.
The introduction of the new breakthrough approach is in line with implementation of the Party's renovation policy, which was adopted in 1986, aiming to bring the country into socialism driven by a market oriented economy.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, re-elected Politburo member Mr Somsavat Lengsavad said that the first of the four breakthroughs, which the Party will complete within the next five years, is to relieve the minds of people from old stereotypes, complacency and extremism.
“If we want to develop our nation, we have to rely on specificity of the country. We cannot copy development models from other countries. But it does not mean that we do not want to learn development lessons from other countries,” he said in response to questions from foreign diplomats and journalists.
Mr Somsavat, who is also Standing Deputy Prime Minister, said that the second breakthrough was to develop human resources, which had an important role in socio-economic development in Laos as the country is living under a new era of the intellect based economy.
“Under international integration circumstances, there are both opportunities and challenges, therefore we have to have human resources with knowledge and competence so they can integrate Laos with the international community and ensure fruit from the integration,” he said.
He said that the Party had agreed to prioritise the development of human resources and invest more funds to develop the health sector to ensure that Lao people benefit from knowledge and health, adding that education development and health are two of the millennium development goals which the Party is striving to achieve.
“The Party Congress has backed public investment plans, which the National Assembly has already approved, to invest 30 percent of state funds in the economic sector, 35 percent into social sectors including education, health and cultural affairs, and 35 percent for development of public infrastructure,” he said.
The third breakthrough is to address administrative procedures and management which impede commercial productivity rates and services, he said, adding that the Party Congress has learnt that a number of business and trade barriers remain, hindering investment.
He said the government had already imposed a policy to set up a single window service to facilitate investment, but the move had not worked effectively.
“The third breakthrough is very important and needs to be addressed within five years otherwise we will not be able to boost commercial production,” he said.
He also said that implementation of the third breakthrough step would be made as the country joins other Asean member states to implement the Asean Free Trade Area, as well as continuing to work towards World Trade Organisation membership.
Mr Somsavat said the fourth breakthrough step was to address poverty, adding that the Party congress had given guidance to mobilise funds from all available avenues to address poverty, from both domestic and foreign sources, adding that the Party had agreed to allow the government to offer investment incentives in rural areas.
In terms of household poverty reduction, Mr Somsavat said the Party expected to reduce the proportion of poor families in Laos from 20 percent of the population to 10 percent in 2015.
Ninth Congress announces new Party leaders, adopts resolution
The Ninth Party Congress ended yesterday with the announcement of members of the Politburo, Secretariat, and Inspection Committee, and adoption of the resolution marking its successful outcome.
Retired Politburo member Mr Sisavat Keobounphanh (second right) congratulates Mr Choummaly Sayasone at the closing ceremony of the 9 th Congress yesterday, while former Party leader and President of Laos, Mr Khamtay Siphandone, looks on.
Mr Choummaly Sayasone was re-elected as Secretary General of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party for a second term .
The number of Politburo members remained at 11, of whom one is a woman, but the number of the new Party Central Committee increased to 61, of whom five are women.
Mr Sisavat Keobounphanh and Mr Saman Vinhaket, who were elected as Politburo members at the Eighth Party Congress, retired, opening up an opportunity for other Party Central Committee members to be promoted to a Politburo post.
The three new Politburo members elected at the congress are Dr Bounthong Chitmany, Dr Bounpone Bouttanavong and Dr Phankham Viphavanh.
Other Politburo members include Mr Thongsing Thammavong, Mr Bounnhang Vorachit, Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, Ms Pany Yathortou, Mr Asang Laoly, Lieutenant General Douangchay Phichit and Mr Somsavat Lengsavad.
The Secretariat Committee of the Party Central Committee comprises nine comrades, namely Mr Choummaly Sayasone, Mr Bounnhang Vorachit, Mr Bounthong Chitmany, Mr Bounpone Bouttanavong, Mr Thongbanh Seng-aphone, Chansy Phosikham, Soukanh Mahalath, Major General Sengnuan Xayalath and Cheuang Sombounkhanh.
Mr Bounnhang Vorachit was elected as Standing Member of the Party Secretariat Committee and Mr Bounthong Chitmany was elected as President of the seven member Inspection Committee of the Party Central Committee.
The 61 members of the Party Central Committee were elected from a total of 69 candidates and voted for by the 576 delegates, representing more than 191,700 Party members nationwide, who attended the five-day congress, which officially opened on March 17.
Just over 39 percent of the new executive committee is aged 60 or over, while just over 57 percent are aged between 45 and 59. The oldest committee member is 75 and the youngest is 42. Almost 36 percent of committee members hold a doctorate degree.
The Party delegates also approved the Resolution of the Ninth Party Congress, which stipulates the key goals for the country to achieve in the next five years, before the newly re-elected Mr Choummaly Sayasone delivered his keynote speech to officially close the congress yesterday.
The Ninth Party Congress was conducted in a constructive atmosphere, with all delegates taking on high responsibility and working hard to ensure its success.
The Party was founded on March 22, 1955, and the Party Congress is held every five years to highlight the preceding five years' achievements and to set goals for the next five years.
The first Congress of the Party was held in 1955 at Ban Nameo in Viengxay district, Huaphan province, with only 25 representatives out of 420 Party members nationwide in attendance.
The Eighth Party Congress took place in Vientiane in March, 2006, and saw Mr Choummaly Sayasone elected as Party Secretary General, replacing Party President Khamtay Siphandone.
Mr Somsavat Lengsavad and Mrs Pany Yathortou were first elected as Politburo members at the Eighth Congress, marking the first time that a woman was elected to this position.
The Eighth Congress was attended by 498 delegates representing 148,590 Party members nationwide.
A crowd of people will gather today in Vientiane to recognise the achievements of the Ninth Party Congress, as well as to mark the 56th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.
Retired Politburo member Mr Sisavat Keobounphanh (second right) congratulates Mr Choummaly Sayasone at the closing ceremony of the 9 th Congress yesterday, while former Party leader and President of Laos, Mr Khamtay Siphandone, looks on.
Mr Choummaly Sayasone was re-elected as Secretary General of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party for a second term .
The number of Politburo members remained at 11, of whom one is a woman, but the number of the new Party Central Committee increased to 61, of whom five are women.
Mr Sisavat Keobounphanh and Mr Saman Vinhaket, who were elected as Politburo members at the Eighth Party Congress, retired, opening up an opportunity for other Party Central Committee members to be promoted to a Politburo post.
The three new Politburo members elected at the congress are Dr Bounthong Chitmany, Dr Bounpone Bouttanavong and Dr Phankham Viphavanh.
Other Politburo members include Mr Thongsing Thammavong, Mr Bounnhang Vorachit, Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, Ms Pany Yathortou, Mr Asang Laoly, Lieutenant General Douangchay Phichit and Mr Somsavat Lengsavad.
The Secretariat Committee of the Party Central Committee comprises nine comrades, namely Mr Choummaly Sayasone, Mr Bounnhang Vorachit, Mr Bounthong Chitmany, Mr Bounpone Bouttanavong, Mr Thongbanh Seng-aphone, Chansy Phosikham, Soukanh Mahalath, Major General Sengnuan Xayalath and Cheuang Sombounkhanh.
Mr Bounnhang Vorachit was elected as Standing Member of the Party Secretariat Committee and Mr Bounthong Chitmany was elected as President of the seven member Inspection Committee of the Party Central Committee.
The 61 members of the Party Central Committee were elected from a total of 69 candidates and voted for by the 576 delegates, representing more than 191,700 Party members nationwide, who attended the five-day congress, which officially opened on March 17.
Just over 39 percent of the new executive committee is aged 60 or over, while just over 57 percent are aged between 45 and 59. The oldest committee member is 75 and the youngest is 42. Almost 36 percent of committee members hold a doctorate degree.
The Party delegates also approved the Resolution of the Ninth Party Congress, which stipulates the key goals for the country to achieve in the next five years, before the newly re-elected Mr Choummaly Sayasone delivered his keynote speech to officially close the congress yesterday.
The Ninth Party Congress was conducted in a constructive atmosphere, with all delegates taking on high responsibility and working hard to ensure its success.
The Party was founded on March 22, 1955, and the Party Congress is held every five years to highlight the preceding five years' achievements and to set goals for the next five years.
The first Congress of the Party was held in 1955 at Ban Nameo in Viengxay district, Huaphan province, with only 25 representatives out of 420 Party members nationwide in attendance.
The Eighth Party Congress took place in Vientiane in March, 2006, and saw Mr Choummaly Sayasone elected as Party Secretary General, replacing Party President Khamtay Siphandone.
Mr Somsavat Lengsavad and Mrs Pany Yathortou were first elected as Politburo members at the Eighth Congress, marking the first time that a woman was elected to this position.
The Eighth Congress was attended by 498 delegates representing 148,590 Party members nationwide.
A crowd of people will gather today in Vientiane to recognise the achievements of the Ninth Party Congress, as well as to mark the 56th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.
9th Party Congress aims to achieve four breakthroughs
(KPL) The Lao PDR will achieved development goal in the next five years once four breakthroughs including the relieving of people�s mind from old stereotype, complacency and extremism, human resource development are fulfilled, according to Politburo member Mr. Somsavat Lengsavad.
The addressing of administrative procedures and management that impede commercial productivity and service and poverty reduction of the Lao ethnic people are prioritized by the Party to achieve development goal in the next five years. He said that the Party aimed to achieve in reducing the number of poor families from 20 per cent of entire families at the moment to 10 per cent in 2015.
Mr. Somsavat told a press conference held in Vientiane on March 21 saying that the breakthrough approach was in accordance with the materialization of the Party�s new mechanism of which the introduction was recorded in 1986.
Mr. Somsavat said that the Party had agreed to prioritize human resource development, claiming the area played an important role in developing the country economically and socially as well as the national integration into international community.
He said that investment environment in the country was hindered by a number of business and trade barriers, meanwhile the government has implemented single window policy but in ineffective manners.
The addressing of administrative procedures and management that impede commercial productivity and service and poverty reduction of the Lao ethnic people are prioritized by the Party to achieve development goal in the next five years. He said that the Party aimed to achieve in reducing the number of poor families from 20 per cent of entire families at the moment to 10 per cent in 2015.
Mr. Somsavat told a press conference held in Vientiane on March 21 saying that the breakthrough approach was in accordance with the materialization of the Party�s new mechanism of which the introduction was recorded in 1986.
Mr. Somsavat said that the Party had agreed to prioritize human resource development, claiming the area played an important role in developing the country economically and socially as well as the national integration into international community.
He said that investment environment in the country was hindered by a number of business and trade barriers, meanwhile the government has implemented single window policy but in ineffective manners.
The addressing of administrative procedures and management that impede commercial productivity and service and poverty reduction of the Lao ethnic people are prioritized by the Party to achieve development goal in the next five years. He said that the Party aimed to achieve in reducing the number of poor families from 20 per cent of entire families at the moment to 10 per cent in 2015.
Mr. Somsavat told a press conference held in Vientiane on March 21 saying that the breakthrough approach was in accordance with the materialization of the Party�s new mechanism of which the introduction was recorded in 1986.
Mr. Somsavat said that the Party had agreed to prioritize human resource development, claiming the area played an important role in developing the country economically and socially as well as the national integration into international community.
He said that investment environment in the country was hindered by a number of business and trade barriers, meanwhile the government has implemented single window policy but in ineffective manners.
The addressing of administrative procedures and management that impede commercial productivity and service and poverty reduction of the Lao ethnic people are prioritized by the Party to achieve development goal in the next five years. He said that the Party aimed to achieve in reducing the number of poor families from 20 per cent of entire families at the moment to 10 per cent in 2015.
Mr. Somsavat told a press conference held in Vientiane on March 21 saying that the breakthrough approach was in accordance with the materialization of the Party�s new mechanism of which the introduction was recorded in 1986.
Mr. Somsavat said that the Party had agreed to prioritize human resource development, claiming the area played an important role in developing the country economically and socially as well as the national integration into international community.
He said that investment environment in the country was hindered by a number of business and trade barriers, meanwhile the government has implemented single window policy but in ineffective manners.
Resolution of the 9th Congress of the Lao People�s Revolutionary Party
(KPL) The 9th National Congress of the Lao People�s Revolutionary Party ran from March 17-21, 2011 in Vientiane and was attended by 576 delegates representing 191,780 Party members nationwide.
The congress tabled, discussed and adopted important issues of the Party and the nation in an atmosphere of positivity, cohesion and solidarity, and concluded with sound outcomes as follows:
The congress profoundly discussed and unanimously adopted the political report of the 8th Party Central Committee presented to the 9th Congress by Party Secretary General Choummaly Sayasone.
The congress agreed with the assessment of the implementation of the resolution adopted by the 8th Congress, particularly the outstanding achievements made in the national defence and security tasks, socio-economic development, improvements to and restoration of state administration systems, the united front and mass affairs of the Party, foreign affairs, international integration, and Party and personnel building. The achievements made over the past five years have laid a foundation to further boost the growth of our country along the set roadmap and destination.
Delegates contributed frank opinions on the shortcomings of the Party�s leadership, which caused the implementation of focal work in some areas to fail to achieve set targets, particularly the shortcomings in leadership and supervision attributed to the slow translation of guidelines into detailed plans and projects by line agencies and local organisations.
This caused time-consuming delays in implementation, particularly regarding issues of rural development associated with production promotion on a commercial basis to alleviate poverty. Additionally, economic growth is not sustainably strong as it is still based primarily on the mining sector and exports of raw natural resources. Other shortcomings included development in some areas of the social sector failing to meet set targets, and socially negative behaviour trends increasing.
The congress called for acceleration to intensively address the shortcomings in order to bring positive change in implementing the Party�s guidelines.
The congress clearly specified the causes resulting in the shortcomings and later adopted the conclusion of lessons learnt into the implementation of the Party�s guidelines. The five-point above mentioned lessons learnt are regarded as important for the further leadership and supervisory role of the Party in general, and Party Committees at all levels across the country.
The lessons learnt are as follows:
1. The strengthening of cohesive solidarity of all Lao people and unity within the Party are the basic factors to guaranteeing political stability and are associated with the creation of a social environment of security, safety and order, which are all basically important conditions for successfully implementing the nation�s two strategic tasks and international integration.
2. A need for enhancement of the role and ruling capacity of the Party to meet requirements in all sectors, particularly the leadership and supervision of all state organisations in translating the Party�s general guidelines and directions into detailed plans and projects in a correct and timely manner that is compatible with the potential and peculiarities of each locality.
Additionally, the enhancement of the potential of the economic sector and the people of all social strata to participate in the implementation is an essential condition for the successful execution of the Party�s guidelines.
3. Greater supervisory command coupled with unity and deep manners by Party Committees at each level and each sector across the country, combined with attention to nurturing and enhancing the knowledge and competence of officials and the follow up and motivation of Party members and officials to uphold their exemplary roles in implementing their duty with a high sense of responsibility to guarantee the successful implementation of the Party�s guidelines.
4. Focus work on projects at the grass-roots level continuously, regularly monitoring compatibility with local peculiarities and conducting regular assessments of each step of work. Define problems in accordance with reality and in association with rapid, vigilant and confident decision-making to address issues. Praising and rewarding those with good performance in a timely manner is important to implementing the Party�s guidelines successfully.
5. A consistent foreign policy of peace, independence, friendship, and constant cooperation, together with internal improvements for domestic strength and intensive commitment to fulfil obligations and commitments to create trust and be a good cooperation partner with international friends. This is the essential condition to attract support, assistance and cooperation from international friends in order to implement and realise the Party�s guidelines.
Based on important achievements in several aspects made over the past five years, the congress affirmed the decision made to lead the nation towards prosperity and strength, lead the people towards prosperity and create a cohesive and conciliatory society with democracy, justice, and civilisation under the slogan �Enhancing the cohesive solidarity of the Lao nation and unity within the Party, Upholding the leadership role and capacity of the Party, Devising a breakthrough approach for the implementation of the renovation policy, Creating a solid basis for lifting our nation from underdevelopment by 2020, and Advancing further towards the socialism destination�.
The congress tabled, discussed and adopted important issues of the Party and the nation in an atmosphere of positivity, cohesion and solidarity, and concluded with sound outcomes as follows:
The congress profoundly discussed and unanimously adopted the political report of the 8th Party Central Committee presented to the 9th Congress by Party Secretary General Choummaly Sayasone.
The congress agreed with the assessment of the implementation of the resolution adopted by the 8th Congress, particularly the outstanding achievements made in the national defence and security tasks, socio-economic development, improvements to and restoration of state administration systems, the united front and mass affairs of the Party, foreign affairs, international integration, and Party and personnel building. The achievements made over the past five years have laid a foundation to further boost the growth of our country along the set roadmap and destination.
Delegates contributed frank opinions on the shortcomings of the Party�s leadership, which caused the implementation of focal work in some areas to fail to achieve set targets, particularly the shortcomings in leadership and supervision attributed to the slow translation of guidelines into detailed plans and projects by line agencies and local organisations.
This caused time-consuming delays in implementation, particularly regarding issues of rural development associated with production promotion on a commercial basis to alleviate poverty. Additionally, economic growth is not sustainably strong as it is still based primarily on the mining sector and exports of raw natural resources. Other shortcomings included development in some areas of the social sector failing to meet set targets, and socially negative behaviour trends increasing.
The congress called for acceleration to intensively address the shortcomings in order to bring positive change in implementing the Party�s guidelines.
The congress clearly specified the causes resulting in the shortcomings and later adopted the conclusion of lessons learnt into the implementation of the Party�s guidelines. The five-point above mentioned lessons learnt are regarded as important for the further leadership and supervisory role of the Party in general, and Party Committees at all levels across the country.
The lessons learnt are as follows:
1. The strengthening of cohesive solidarity of all Lao people and unity within the Party are the basic factors to guaranteeing political stability and are associated with the creation of a social environment of security, safety and order, which are all basically important conditions for successfully implementing the nation�s two strategic tasks and international integration.
2. A need for enhancement of the role and ruling capacity of the Party to meet requirements in all sectors, particularly the leadership and supervision of all state organisations in translating the Party�s general guidelines and directions into detailed plans and projects in a correct and timely manner that is compatible with the potential and peculiarities of each locality.
Additionally, the enhancement of the potential of the economic sector and the people of all social strata to participate in the implementation is an essential condition for the successful execution of the Party�s guidelines.
3. Greater supervisory command coupled with unity and deep manners by Party Committees at each level and each sector across the country, combined with attention to nurturing and enhancing the knowledge and competence of officials and the follow up and motivation of Party members and officials to uphold their exemplary roles in implementing their duty with a high sense of responsibility to guarantee the successful implementation of the Party�s guidelines.
4. Focus work on projects at the grass-roots level continuously, regularly monitoring compatibility with local peculiarities and conducting regular assessments of each step of work. Define problems in accordance with reality and in association with rapid, vigilant and confident decision-making to address issues. Praising and rewarding those with good performance in a timely manner is important to implementing the Party�s guidelines successfully.
5. A consistent foreign policy of peace, independence, friendship, and constant cooperation, together with internal improvements for domestic strength and intensive commitment to fulfil obligations and commitments to create trust and be a good cooperation partner with international friends. This is the essential condition to attract support, assistance and cooperation from international friends in order to implement and realise the Party�s guidelines.
Based on important achievements in several aspects made over the past five years, the congress affirmed the decision made to lead the nation towards prosperity and strength, lead the people towards prosperity and create a cohesive and conciliatory society with democracy, justice, and civilisation under the slogan �Enhancing the cohesive solidarity of the Lao nation and unity within the Party, Upholding the leadership role and capacity of the Party, Devising a breakthrough approach for the implementation of the renovation policy, Creating a solid basis for lifting our nation from underdevelopment by 2020, and Advancing further towards the socialism destination�.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Slavery, African style, continues to prosper
Slavery still remains one of the most shameful phenomena in the life of modern mankind. On December 20, Interpol released 140 children in Africa's Gabon. The children were forced to work in markets and were virtually used there as slaves. Some of the children were not even six.
Criminals kidnapped the children or bought them from parents in other impoverished countries before taking them to Gabon's capital, Libreville. The rescued children have already been sent to orphanages.
Gabon is one of the most stable countries on the African continent. It is rich with oil, gas, manganese and uranium ores. As for income per capita ($13,900 in 2009), Gabon follows Equatorial Guinea and Seychelles.
According to unofficial sources, slavery also prospers in the countries where it was canceled not so many years ago. For example, slavery in Mauritania was abolished in 1980. However, many things were left in the country unchanged. Slaves were freed, but they had no place to go, so they just stayed with their owners to work for them.
In Niger, slavery was officially canceled in 1995. However, Timidria, an anti-slavery organization, said that over 870,000 people were enslaved in the country in 2003. The government of Niger denies the existence of slavery, but Timidria says that there are at least 43,000 slaves in the country nowadays. Many of them are known as "sadako" - female sex slaves. According to the UN and human rights organizations, the situation with slavery is also hard in Sudan, Somalia and Angola.
Sergey Karamayev, a specialist for Afric,a said in an interview with Pravda.Ru that slavery in Africa is still widely spread.
"Officially, slavery does not exist anywhere in the world, but the real state of affairs is absolutely different. Slavery continues to prosper in conflict-stricken countries, such as Congo and Sierra Leone.
Practically all feuding sides use slaves' services. There are several categories of slaves there. Combatants, for example, carry weapons and even struggle on the side of their kidnappers. Another category of slaves deals with servicing - they cook, do the laundry, perform sexual favors and do other things. There are also workers. They can often be seen in remote areas, where they live in special enclosures, mines and diggings, which may belong to Western enterprises.
"Slavery exists in other countries of the third world. Slaves can be found in South and South-East Asia (Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Burma), in the Middle East and in Latin America. Slave labor is used on all continents. The only exception is Antarctica," the specialist said.
In Europe, there are from 400,000 to one million slaves. First and foremost, it goes about sex slavery. Sex slavery is widely spread in the USA, Israel, Turkey and Hong Kong. In total, there are up to 30 million slaves in the world today. According to UN experts, one sex slave brings up to $7,000 of income to her owners monthly.
Criminals kidnapped the children or bought them from parents in other impoverished countries before taking them to Gabon's capital, Libreville. The rescued children have already been sent to orphanages.
Gabon is one of the most stable countries on the African continent. It is rich with oil, gas, manganese and uranium ores. As for income per capita ($13,900 in 2009), Gabon follows Equatorial Guinea and Seychelles.
According to unofficial sources, slavery also prospers in the countries where it was canceled not so many years ago. For example, slavery in Mauritania was abolished in 1980. However, many things were left in the country unchanged. Slaves were freed, but they had no place to go, so they just stayed with their owners to work for them.
In Niger, slavery was officially canceled in 1995. However, Timidria, an anti-slavery organization, said that over 870,000 people were enslaved in the country in 2003. The government of Niger denies the existence of slavery, but Timidria says that there are at least 43,000 slaves in the country nowadays. Many of them are known as "sadako" - female sex slaves. According to the UN and human rights organizations, the situation with slavery is also hard in Sudan, Somalia and Angola.
Sergey Karamayev, a specialist for Afric,a said in an interview with Pravda.Ru that slavery in Africa is still widely spread.
"Officially, slavery does not exist anywhere in the world, but the real state of affairs is absolutely different. Slavery continues to prosper in conflict-stricken countries, such as Congo and Sierra Leone.
Practically all feuding sides use slaves' services. There are several categories of slaves there. Combatants, for example, carry weapons and even struggle on the side of their kidnappers. Another category of slaves deals with servicing - they cook, do the laundry, perform sexual favors and do other things. There are also workers. They can often be seen in remote areas, where they live in special enclosures, mines and diggings, which may belong to Western enterprises.
"Slavery exists in other countries of the third world. Slaves can be found in South and South-East Asia (Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Burma), in the Middle East and in Latin America. Slave labor is used on all continents. The only exception is Antarctica," the specialist said.
In Europe, there are from 400,000 to one million slaves. First and foremost, it goes about sex slavery. Sex slavery is widely spread in the USA, Israel, Turkey and Hong Kong. In total, there are up to 30 million slaves in the world today. According to UN experts, one sex slave brings up to $7,000 of income to her owners monthly.
Brazil: From Lula to Dilma
The tremendous class and poise with which President Dilma Roussef, Brazil's first female President, received those who went to attend her taking of office ceremony at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia was a telling sign that here is a person ably prepared to deliver what Brazil and the rest of the world not only wants, but needs: More of the same!
The fact that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva enters the final three months of his Presidency with a 79 per cent approval rating says it all. It therefore comes as no surprise that the transition within the PT (Workers' Party) from President Lula to Dilma Roussef, now Brazil's first woman President, has run so smoothly as Lula's popularity overflowed to his Chief of Staff.
Lula's two-term Presidency was a wake-up call for Brazil, which has finally reached its potential and has occupied its rightful place on the center stage of international relations. Subservient to nobody, confident and righteous, in the last decade Brazil has developed externally into a major player on the international scene and internally, social programmes have lifted millions out of poverty and have done much towards implementing social justice in a sustainable development model.
Lula came from the people and governed for the people. In eight years, 30 million Brazilians moved upwards from poverty into the middle class and 19 million moved out of extreme poverty. 40 per cent of the poorest sector of the population increased their wealth by over three per cent.
Central to his policies were Bolsa Familia (Family Grant) through which 12 million poor families were given a monthly subsidy of between 12 and 117 USD per child; Fome Zero (Zero Hunger), expanding programmes launched by his predecessor, President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, the fruit of the creation of his new Ministry of Social Development and the Eradication of Hunger.
Great importance was given to helping small farmers to develop and a new irrigation scheme was set up in the arid interior of Brazil's north-east, while the Growth Acceleration Plan (PAC, Programa de Aceleração de Crescimento) strengthened infrastructure, creating jobs, bolstering the economy in a wide range of sectors.
Lula's sensible financial and economic policy saw Brazil pay off its debt to the International Monetary Fund two years ahead of schedule, saw the Sovereign Risk ratings plummet as the financial markets reacted, gaining confidence in Brazil, as the country grew in a climate of confidence and stability. Under Lula, Brazil passed for the first time from debtor to creditor.
Lula's two-term Presidency was not devoid of scandals but the fact is that he himself remained above any wrong-doing or abuse of influence and was quick to involve the Federal authorities in investigating corruption, and for the first time in its history, Lula leaves a Brazil where nobody is above the law.
External policy: Standing up for right and reason
Lula's external policy was equally successful, establishing Brazil not only as a major player in its geo-political sphere but also as a leader of the developing world, of Latin America, and on a wider stage, a power-broker in international relations, standing up for the precepts of debate, dialogue and discussion while others preached one thing and practised another.
Under Lula, Brazil stood for Latin American integration, forging closer relations among the MERCOSUR/MERCOSUL members, Brazil appeared as the mediator in the standoff between Venezuela and Colombia, assuming a leading role in the political crisis in Honduras and the humanitarian catastrophe in Haiti. Under Lula, Brazil deepened the relations among the BRIC members (Brazil, Russia, India, China) which is set to develop into a larger, massively powerful block including Iran, South Africa and Indonesia and possibly, Turkey. Under Lula, Brazil favoured a stance which favoured international law over hysteria and demonology (Iran's nuclear program) and led the developing world on a wide range of issues, from the environment to trading relations.
Under Lula, Brazil stood firm, defending positions which were not always popular with the EU or Washington and laying the foundations for an independent foreign policy gaining Brasilia much respect among the more reasonable members of the international community.
Lula could rightfully claim the title Man of the Decade.
Dilma: Same team, new captain
Those who claim Dilma Roussef has little international or Government experience and that she substitutes Lula because she was his protégé, basically ignore the fact that due to her personal merits, she saw her approval rating soar from 30 to over 55 per cent, winning the Presidential election clearly in the second round. Dilma Roussef is Brazil's real-life Action Lady.
Coming from a different social background from the Trade Union leader Lula, the economist Dilma Roussef from an early age became interested in social causes and after the military coup in 1964, she became a political activist in social justice organizations such as Comando de Libertação Nacional (COLINA) and Vanguarda Armada Revolucionária Palmares (VAR Palmares). Although her participation was political, and despite never having been involved in actions which caused human casualties, she was captured, imprisoned and tortured by Brazil's fascist and repressive regime, supported by the USA.
In 2005, speaking about this period of her life, she claimed: "I am not going to hide what I was and I do not have a negative view of it...I have rather a realistic view of that period. I was 22 years old, it was another world, it was another Brazil. We learnt a lot. It doesn't have anything in common with what I think today".
Freed from prison, she was later co-founder of the Democratic Worker's Party (PDT) and developed a career first as municipal secretary to the treasury in Porto Alegre, then as Secretary of the State of Minas Gerais for Mines and Energy. In 2001, she joined Lula's PT, drawing up his Government's plan for energy before becoming Minister of Mines and Energy, in which capacity she launched the campaign Electricity for All.
Her success in this post, her organizational skills and her tremendous skills in negotiating with all sectors of society laid the foundations for her being nominated as Chief Minister of the Cabinet Office.
As President Lula's Chief of Staff, she was deeply involved with all aspects of policy making behind the scenes; indeed, President Lula called her "Mother of the Growth Acceleration Plan (PAC, Programa de Aceleração de Crescimento)" and since 2007, she has been groomed as Lula's successor.
Dilma Roussef is therefore excellently prepared to take over the Presidency in Brazil and with the political machinery of the PT behind her, it is a question of the same winning team gaining a new captain, a captain who beat an aggressive form of cancer of the lymph glands in recent years...one awesome lady.
If Lula is the Man of the decade, Dilma is the promise of the century.
The fact that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva enters the final three months of his Presidency with a 79 per cent approval rating says it all. It therefore comes as no surprise that the transition within the PT (Workers' Party) from President Lula to Dilma Roussef, now Brazil's first woman President, has run so smoothly as Lula's popularity overflowed to his Chief of Staff.
Lula's two-term Presidency was a wake-up call for Brazil, which has finally reached its potential and has occupied its rightful place on the center stage of international relations. Subservient to nobody, confident and righteous, in the last decade Brazil has developed externally into a major player on the international scene and internally, social programmes have lifted millions out of poverty and have done much towards implementing social justice in a sustainable development model.
Lula came from the people and governed for the people. In eight years, 30 million Brazilians moved upwards from poverty into the middle class and 19 million moved out of extreme poverty. 40 per cent of the poorest sector of the population increased their wealth by over three per cent.
Central to his policies were Bolsa Familia (Family Grant) through which 12 million poor families were given a monthly subsidy of between 12 and 117 USD per child; Fome Zero (Zero Hunger), expanding programmes launched by his predecessor, President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, the fruit of the creation of his new Ministry of Social Development and the Eradication of Hunger.
Great importance was given to helping small farmers to develop and a new irrigation scheme was set up in the arid interior of Brazil's north-east, while the Growth Acceleration Plan (PAC, Programa de Aceleração de Crescimento) strengthened infrastructure, creating jobs, bolstering the economy in a wide range of sectors.
Lula's sensible financial and economic policy saw Brazil pay off its debt to the International Monetary Fund two years ahead of schedule, saw the Sovereign Risk ratings plummet as the financial markets reacted, gaining confidence in Brazil, as the country grew in a climate of confidence and stability. Under Lula, Brazil passed for the first time from debtor to creditor.
Lula's two-term Presidency was not devoid of scandals but the fact is that he himself remained above any wrong-doing or abuse of influence and was quick to involve the Federal authorities in investigating corruption, and for the first time in its history, Lula leaves a Brazil where nobody is above the law.
External policy: Standing up for right and reason
Lula's external policy was equally successful, establishing Brazil not only as a major player in its geo-political sphere but also as a leader of the developing world, of Latin America, and on a wider stage, a power-broker in international relations, standing up for the precepts of debate, dialogue and discussion while others preached one thing and practised another.
Under Lula, Brazil stood for Latin American integration, forging closer relations among the MERCOSUR/MERCOSUL members, Brazil appeared as the mediator in the standoff between Venezuela and Colombia, assuming a leading role in the political crisis in Honduras and the humanitarian catastrophe in Haiti. Under Lula, Brazil deepened the relations among the BRIC members (Brazil, Russia, India, China) which is set to develop into a larger, massively powerful block including Iran, South Africa and Indonesia and possibly, Turkey. Under Lula, Brazil favoured a stance which favoured international law over hysteria and demonology (Iran's nuclear program) and led the developing world on a wide range of issues, from the environment to trading relations.
Under Lula, Brazil stood firm, defending positions which were not always popular with the EU or Washington and laying the foundations for an independent foreign policy gaining Brasilia much respect among the more reasonable members of the international community.
Lula could rightfully claim the title Man of the Decade.
Dilma: Same team, new captain
Those who claim Dilma Roussef has little international or Government experience and that she substitutes Lula because she was his protégé, basically ignore the fact that due to her personal merits, she saw her approval rating soar from 30 to over 55 per cent, winning the Presidential election clearly in the second round. Dilma Roussef is Brazil's real-life Action Lady.
Coming from a different social background from the Trade Union leader Lula, the economist Dilma Roussef from an early age became interested in social causes and after the military coup in 1964, she became a political activist in social justice organizations such as Comando de Libertação Nacional (COLINA) and Vanguarda Armada Revolucionária Palmares (VAR Palmares). Although her participation was political, and despite never having been involved in actions which caused human casualties, she was captured, imprisoned and tortured by Brazil's fascist and repressive regime, supported by the USA.
In 2005, speaking about this period of her life, she claimed: "I am not going to hide what I was and I do not have a negative view of it...I have rather a realistic view of that period. I was 22 years old, it was another world, it was another Brazil. We learnt a lot. It doesn't have anything in common with what I think today".
Freed from prison, she was later co-founder of the Democratic Worker's Party (PDT) and developed a career first as municipal secretary to the treasury in Porto Alegre, then as Secretary of the State of Minas Gerais for Mines and Energy. In 2001, she joined Lula's PT, drawing up his Government's plan for energy before becoming Minister of Mines and Energy, in which capacity she launched the campaign Electricity for All.
Her success in this post, her organizational skills and her tremendous skills in negotiating with all sectors of society laid the foundations for her being nominated as Chief Minister of the Cabinet Office.
As President Lula's Chief of Staff, she was deeply involved with all aspects of policy making behind the scenes; indeed, President Lula called her "Mother of the Growth Acceleration Plan (PAC, Programa de Aceleração de Crescimento)" and since 2007, she has been groomed as Lula's successor.
Dilma Roussef is therefore excellently prepared to take over the Presidency in Brazil and with the political machinery of the PT behind her, it is a question of the same winning team gaining a new captain, a captain who beat an aggressive form of cancer of the lymph glands in recent years...one awesome lady.
If Lula is the Man of the decade, Dilma is the promise of the century.
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