UPDATED at 5:07 p.m. EST on 2019-03-06
Surveys for a Chinese development project in Laos have been suspended indefinitely in three villages after pushback from locals scared to lose their homes, sources say.
In mid-January, developers had begun initial surveys in Phoudindeng, Huai Sa-ngoa and Pakpo villages, located near scenic Vang Vieng, about four hours north of Vientiane.
The project, managed by the Boten Specific Economic Zone Lao Group Company Ltd, met resistance when villagers were reportedly uncooperative with the surveyors.
Even after local authorities came to explain the situation they still resisted.
In response, the government has ordered that the surveys be put on hold indefinitely until an agreement can be reached.
“The surveys have been stopped. This means there won’t be new surveys at all, maybe until the government comes up with new orders,” said a local villager requesting anonymity in an interview with RFA’s Lao Service.
“I think they ordered them to stop because the complaints are coming from all sectors of society in Vang Vieng,” the villager said.
He said the dispute wasn’t merely an issue of rich developers against poor villagers. Rich land owners in the popular tourist district and merchants were also opposed to a Chinese developer coming in to make sweeping changes to the area, he said.
An official of the natural and environmental protection agency in Vang Vieng indicated that the government might have had additional reasons to stop the project.
“The survey stoppage order comes from a very high level. The governor has ordered the stop because there are problems that he doesn’t know the causes for. In addition to the villagers’ complaints, the government might have another reason to issue this order,” said the official. He did not elaborate.
Meanwhile, another project that would affect 22 villages was awarded to the Chinese-owned Lao-Vang Vieng Company is slated to run in three phases over 15 years at a cost of U.S. $5.5 billion, and was expected to create 50,000 jobs, according to Lao media sources.
“The company tried to survey the villagers’ homes and land, but the villagers objected, and there were verbal confrontations,” one village leader said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
“The confrontation ended only when district authorities came by to calm things down,” he added.
“Most of the villagers here don’t want the Chinese company to survey their land, because they are afraid that their homes and property will be taken from them. If this happens, where will they go to live?” said the leader.
A tourism official from Vang Vieng, meanwhile said the company was merely “exploring the possibilities for what can be done.”
Environmentalists are concerned that these projects could potentially destroy natural beauty of the area and which is the main attraction for tourists visiting Vang Vieng. Others are concerned it would disrupt the livelihoods of villagers.
As one of the least developed Southeast Asian nations, Laos has become a target for massive foreign investment, especially from companies from neighbors China, Thailand, and Vietnam, which receive attractive investment incentives from the Lao government.
Reported by RFA’s Lao Service. Translated by Sidney Khotpanya, Written to English by Eugene Whong.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report incorrectly stated that the three named villages were a part of the Lao-Vang Vieng Company’s project that would affect 22 villages and that the entire project had been suspended. These are two separate projects and only the surveys in the three villages have been suspended. Both projects are still active.
The Laotian govt must stand up to the constant overreach and encroachment of the common peoples traditional living and farming areas. The Chinese are taking advantage of Laos through ignorance and corruption. Many projects have little long term benefit going to the common folk. Those taking advantage need punished and justice served.
Apr 01, 2019 04:30 AM
Oh NO NO YOU CAN NOT POLLUTE THIS AREA
THESE ARE THEIR PURE SPRING DRINKING WATER IF YOU POLLUTE A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE SICK AND DIE ALSO LIVE STOCKS AND WILD LIFE ANIMAL WILL DIE UNLESS YOU WANT TO INDIRECTLY KILL THEM TO MAKE ROOM FOR YOU TO MOVE IN LATER.
Mar 04, 2019 08:54 PM
Dear villagers, this time you have managed to push them back but the Chinese will come again more determined. With help from the blood-sucking and dollar-hungry party-state of Laos they will kick you out your land. Either you accept to be paid with peanuts or you've nothing. Sad case huh.
Mar 04, 2019 04:28 PM
