Japan grants more than US$700, 000 for Lao UXO clearance
http://www.kplnet.net/english/news/edn2.htm

(KPL) Government of Japan has agreed to provide a grant total US$744,680 in support of UXO Lao operations in southern provinces of Saravane and Sekong, for 2011.

The grant contract was signed in Vientiane Capital, on 25 March between the Director of Lao National UXO, Mr. Bounpone Sayasenh and Ambassador of Japan to the Lao PDR, Ms. Junko Yokota.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Mrs. Onchanh Thammavong, UNDP resident representative a.i Ms. Kyoko Yokosuka and representatives from Lao Government.

Japan is one of the largest donors to the UXO Lao. The Japanese Government has provided more than US$8.7 million to the UXO Lao from 2006, supporting operation in Saravane, Sekong, Attapeu and Xiengkhouang provinces.

Since 1996, the UXO Lao has cleared more than 19,185 hectares of land, including 16,054 hectares of agricultural land with more than US$3.3 million beneficiaries.

It has also visited 8,494 villages, conducting community awareness activities on the dangers of UXO to more than 2,153,000 villagers. In the process of conducting operation, it has destroyed more than 973,274 items of UXO, of which 46 per cent are sub munitions from cluster bombs.

The UXO Lao currently receives support from donor countries including Australia, Germany, European Commission, Japan, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America. It also received support from private foundations of World Without Mines (WWM) and Intrepid Foundation.

Mme Onchanh expressed thanks the Japanese Government and people for providing financial support of UXOs clearance and human saving over the past five years.

The problem of UXOs pose a threat for Lao people and more than 300 Lao people per year fall the UXO victims.

The UXOs is also a barrier for agriculture production and socio-economic development.

�This grant is a great contribution to the reduction poverty programme,� she added.

Ambassador of Japan to Lao PDR Ms. Junko Yokota expected that, �today�s grant assistance will enable the UXO Lao to continue to implement their activities such as UXO clearance, survey tasks and capacity building of their staff in Saravane and Sekong provinces�.

�It will contribute not only to reducing the number of human casualties but also increasing the amount of the land available for agricultural production and other socio-economic activities in the two provinces,� she said.

�As you know, the first meeting of state parties of the Convention on Cluster Munitions was held in Vientiane last year. I hope that our grant assistance this time will contribute to the effort of Lao Government in meeting the legal obligations under the Convention, leading to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals until 2015,� she added.

Although Japan is now facing the unprecedented difficulty caused by the earthquake and tsunami, the government and people of Japan are united to overcome the hard time. On behalf people of Japan, I would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere gratitude to the government and people of Lao PDR and people of all other nation for their heartfelt inquiries and sympathies which have been a great consolation and encouragement to not only the families of victims but also the entire society of Japan, she added.

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Puak Gaauw needs to go! Out of LAOS!

Vietnam population is around 90 million. They can help clear UXO from Laos in less then 10 year if they want too. At the rate it going and short on fund and donation they say it will take at least 50 year or more to clear all bomb from Laos. Lao and Viet are ai nong, friends and allies. We should help each other with food shortage and removing UXO.

Lao government are pretty clever. They don't want Laos to tilts too much toward only one country. To counter Vietnam influence they open up the country and welcome China, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, India, US, Autralia. Just about anybody who want to invested in Laos. As a result Laos economy had grew 7.7% a year second fastest in Asia after China.

I like Japan too they been helping Laos without string attach. Nuclear power plant is bad for business because Laos is battery of ASEAN and selling electricity. No country want to build one now that mean hydropower business in Laos is good.


Larb Dip wrote on 26^th Mar, 2011 at 5:08am:

Not much we can do. Those in authority of power decide Laos destination. All Lao around the world should united to help build a beautiful, and modernized Laos. "Peace and love." Make love not war.

Western nation don't like to supported Communism country. Maybe our good buddy Vietnam, China, North Korea, Cuba should do more to help Laos clear UXO.


OMD wrote on 26^th Mar, 2011 at 9:10pm:

Capiatalist is all about business and making money. US is the largest investor in Vietnam and also do lot of business with China. Socialist buddy should stick with each other. Vietnam is the second largest rice producer in the world after Thailand. Vietnam, and China should help Laos more with food shortage and clearing UXO.