REPRESENTATIVE MCCOLLUM'S DISCUSSIONS ON UNEXPLODED

UNCLAS VIENTIANE 000053 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, PM/WRA (Hutchens),AND H E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OREP MOPS PREL PHUM PGOV SCUL KFLU KHDP ECON LA SUBJECT: REPRESENTATIVE MCCOLLUM'S DISCUSSIONS ON UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE AND SOCIAL ISSUES ¶1. (SBU) Summary: During her visit to Laos, Representative McCollum got a first-hand look at the problems related to unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Xieng Khouang province. She visited a hospital where UXO victims were being treated, a mine clearance site, and a school where children demonstrated mine awareness activities. At meetings with Lao UXO officials and the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Representative McCollum discussed U.S.-Lao cooperation to rid Laos of UXO. In a meeting with a leading member of the Lao Front for National Construction, a body that oversees political and social organizations, she emphasized the importance of freedom of religion and encouraged the Lao government to allow respected international organizations to monitor developments such as population resettlements. Representative McCollum also exchanged ideas about microenterprise and health issues with the Vice President of the Lao Women's Union. End summary. Representative McCollum Observes UXO Activities -------------- -- ¶2. (U) On December 23, Representative McCollum, accompanied by DCM and consular officer, traveled to Xieng Khouang Province to see firsthand the effects of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos and to visit UXO clearance, education, and victim's assistance programs and organizations supported by the USG. ¶3. (U) At a school that participates in a Consortium/World Education mine-risk education (MRE) curriculum program funded by PM/WRA, Representative McCollum watched students put on a play and a puppet show describing the dangers of unexploded ordnance. She visited an 80-hectare farming site being cleared of UXO by the Mines Advisory Group (MAG),a PM/WRA and USDA grantee in Laos. At the provincial hospital in Phonsavan, which recently completed USAID-supported building upgrades and trauma treatment training, she met with doctors and talked with children who were receiving treatment for severe injuries caused by UXO. One girl had lost an eye and several fingers in the explosion of a piece of ordnance her father had collected as scrap metal. Meeting with UXO Officials -------------- ¶4. (U) On December 28, Representative McCollum met with Dr. Maligna Saignavongs, Director of the Lao UXO National Regulatory Authority, and Bounpone Sayasenh, Director of UXO Lao. The directors shared with Ms. McCollum their organizations' history, current challenges, and successes in shaping Lao UXO policy and in ongoing efforts to clear land of UXO, educate the Lao people on the dangers of UXO, and respond to the needs of victims of UXO accidents. Representative McCollum commended the directors on their work and noted that she and the USG were committed to working with the Government of Laos (GOL) to clean up the explosive remnants of the Indochina war. She said that the close coordination among mine action organizations, the GOL, and donors and the pragmatic approach to UXO clearance can serve as a model for other UXO-affected countries to follow. Minister of Labor and Social Welfare -------------- ¶5. (U) In a meeting with Onchan Thammavong, Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Representative McCollum commended the Minister on her government's dedication to UXO clearance and education, noting that she appreciated the GOL's planning to maximize the dollar effectiveness of donor-supported clearance. She pointed out that, not only does UXO clearance help to protect Lao families and children from the dangers of UXO, it also helps Laos to move towards attaining Millennium Development Goals. Minister Onchan thanked Ms. McCollum for her support of Lao UXO activities and urged her to continue her support for USG assistance to Laos. ¶6. (U) Representative McCollum said that, apart from clearance assistance, the USG could be a partner in developing Laos' health care capacity. She explained that the US military has medical specialists who could work with Lao doctors to develop techniques and use technologies to treat UXO accident victims. The same techniques would be useful in treating other trauma patients, such as road and construction accident victims. The Minister replied that Laos needs both technical and financial medical assistance and that she would discuss Representative McCollum's proposal with the Cabinet. ¶7. (SBU) Comment: Representative McCollum expressed strong support for continued USG assistance to the Lao UXO sector. She emphasized in various meetings with GOL officials her personal commitment to continuing support for the Lao UXO program. Representative McCollum said she would be speaking to her colleagues in Congress about the UXO problems that continue to plague Laos and would seek further funding in Congress to support efforts to clear land and educate the Lao about the dangers of UXO. End Comment. Lao Front for National Construction -------------- ¶8. (SBU) On December 28, Representative McCollum met with Ton Yeu Thor, Vice President and Head of Ethnic Affairs at the Lao Front for National Construction, an important body that oversees various political and social organizations. Mr. Ton complained that people in foreign countries are receiving false information about conditions in Laos because of rumors spread by former residents of Laos living abroad. He urged Representative McCollum to help set the record straight. Representative McCollum said that allowing respected organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross to monitor developments such as population resettlement would be helpful in this regard. ¶9. (SBU) Mr. Ton said that he believes in freedom of religion. He told Representative McCollum that he himself is not a Buddhist; his own religion emphasizes respecting ancestors. Every religion has good teachings, he said, but if bad people abuse freedom of religion it becomes a problem. This is why the government had to issue a decree to control people who want to use religion in the wrong way. The purpose of the decree as it applies to Christianity, he said, is to make sure that people use the teachings of the Bible rather than taking advantage of people. This principle applies to other religions as well. For example, people should not become Buddhist monks just to get free food or use animist beliefs to practice black magic. Representative McCollum said that the United States has learned the lesson, often following unacceptable practices such as forced conversions of Native Americans, that tolerance, transparency and dialogue are the best practices when it comes to respecting religious diversity and freedom. Lao Women's Union -------------- ¶10. (U) On December 29, Representative McCollum met with Lao Women's Union Vice President Bandith Pathoumvanh. Representative McCollum praised the Lao Women's Union's efforts to educate the Lao population on avian influenza and other public health issues. She recommended that the organization, in coordination with the Embassy, study programs in African and India in which women have increased profits in microenterprise programs by eliminating middlemen. Representative McCollum and Ms. Bandith also shared views on other challenges such as combating HIV/AIDS and malaria. ¶11. (U) Representative McCollum did not have a chance to clear on this cable. HASLACH