Do we lost our human resources?

[Peter]

Of course JD after I finish my studies I will go home...JD but while I am here I use my time to learn and do a lot researches of many things so my mind will be open more, not narrow minded, take advantages of Australia Libraries lots of books...nearly every corners of this world, so see you back home 'at barn Nar kuaoi', I will have some 'tum mark hoong' for sure.

[Joseph]

Hey JD Peter is a liar nothing he wrote are true, when I watch the news I never believe a thing they said...likes this morning ' a small plane caused chaos in Washington' I think they just put up some shown, Usa is very famous about shown things, so Peter he just read and watch all those things and wrote down, it never happenned the world is a wonderful place...nothing happenned just Hollywood showns...Everydody love each other.....peaceful likes 'Narm korng jam laeng'.

[Uncle Sam]

Peter he is my friend, he doesn't even live in any country but at Barn Nar kuaoi, Peter is english name which his english teacher gave him,...he learnt all those things from friends who told him..see how a 'Barn Nar kuaoi boy' could fool you all around the world....'Lao Xieng Mieng'.

[JD]

Everyone is entitle to all opinions but I don't believe everything I read or agree to including Peter's materials. However, when I see some sort of truths (from its writer's point of views ) in it I shall admit it. We all should check our facts from different sources like internet search engines and librarie of independent sources. Remember, many governments write their own histories and tend to tailor to their version of the events.

Peter, you still have not answer my question. Yes you said going back home to Laos with the education you are learning but what kind of implementation tools do you plan to employ to administrate the positive changes that may materialize as a result of your higher "western" thinking views yourself? Some of the Lao students went back home but there's currently nothing much their in Laos for them to improvise their skills. So what is causing this unprogession events in Laos right now?

I believe until there are changes in the current lao government policies in the political freedom, freedom of speech, and economic freedom sectos; then I think lao may make some positive progresses in its economic and social endeavers. You can study all you want but if you have an oppressive government's policy you won't go far. So look yourself in the mirror and say "am I studying for my country or for myself?" Good luck to you all.

" Let my people go."

[KOEY PEN LAO]

Well, Peter, ur talking is very nice about history..and everyone can appreciate it. Yeah..JD, i agree with u too. Well, now all of us talk and talk again and again here..One thing i know about Vietamese, chinese or Cambodchean people living abroad, they are all patriotic for their country. They can lead in one way to do some concret acte..for helping their country. If all lao people can join together in each country where they live, we can begin and give some help for our country. But however...almost of actions were failed 'cos, lao people never agree with each others, each one likes being a leader and have all for himself and family (too selfish..) well if we all here, living overseas, can join and start to help our country, it should very good. Even we funded some associations...each one only works to it own way in the place where they live now and do not really help the homeland..So what's ashamed....For me, i have just tried to spend my holidays and money as i can in Laos now ( i know, only a water drop in ocean but if many water drops like i do, it should be nice too and become the bigger one..we can help indirectly the micro-economic grows up...). For sure that, if we all can give our knowlege and skills in any branches in condition that the lao government allows us to help, i will do it with pleasure....!

[Thong Dee]

Don't you all think, Lao people are dum because we even now still fighting, and the french in the past when they ruled Indochina, they thought Lao and Cambodian people still wrote on leaf instead of paper...so to the person stated that ' Let my people go' then Lao government should Let them go...USA is for them, Lao is not good enough for them...hamburgers waiting for you.GO.

[Lao American]

Very funny Thong Dee! Too much hamburgers make you fat and lazy!

[Lao dor]

In Lao now we have cable Tv and we can watch more than 30 tv programs around the world so we learnt more things about everything 'Do not think' we did not known anything...I did not agree with the guy who said when he watched tv and news he never believed about them...'News are true it have to happenned, only views are varied, likes in Aghanistan and Pakistan lots of people demonstrated against USA...they shouted 'Death to USA' are true...so how can he say is not true...acid pool was true that's why the senior monk in Saigon at that time sat, meditation and burnt himself, I saw this book and Published by USA and printed in Italy...how can he say...not true. For lao people still wanted to fight may be they won't acheive much things...look at USA when George Bush started the war people demonstrated but he still went on and now stucked...the reality about western democracy is the late you shout or bark but if they wanted to do something, they just do...things likes a bomb blow poeple up and pieces but they never saw that as serious as religious freedom, human rights problem...but look at Saddam and Bill Laden they are all creation of USA is the american themselve told the world about this...so how could it not be true...the reason because they could not see the small plane and caused chaos in Washington is also true...because the plane flied too low that why radar did not see it.

[Belle]

I for one remain an optimist that one day Laos will prosper and become a better country. Obviously, Laos is not going to change any time soon. Yes, we are moving slower than most countries but that’s okay because we need a strong, educated leader to run the country. Where is this person? That remains to be seen. We can argue all we want at LaoUpdate because we all have different view points.

Whether you are studying or living abroad, I feel you should do whatever you feel is best for yourself. This sounds selfish but it’s the truth. Let’s stop our bickering because this topic has no winners or losers.

If you do find ways to help Laos, well, more power to you and we applaud you. As for me, the only thing I can do to help Laos is bring in tourism. When the right time comes, we’ll know what to do to help Laos more.

With that said, it was great to share and read everyone’s opinions/ideas.

[Lao American]

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Don't look to far to learn how to run the country. Look closely at your neighboring country, Thailand. Do you see how modernized they are? How they work together? They have people all over the world too. My friends and I took a trip to Thailand and Laos every year for our vacations. Why? Simply because we want to help our homelands. Spent our money there, helped our relatives, friends... If you can not help physically then there are ways you can help too...

That's my story. ;D

[Kon lao barn hai sok]

For many people asked when lao students graduated what they 're going to do back home, honestly I don't known all of them, but many went back and had job and worked with Lao government, what I saw in the past we Lao have to be honest about this, was people who have different back grounds who lived in Lao for many generations when their children born in Lao, Lao Monarchy regime still regarded them as foreigners, even their motorbikes had to carry different plates, that's why after the war to stay or go was the same for them, still many chinese people came back and invested in Lao likes the Tang freres or brothers...so people have different views and ambitious...likes I said I known students who came back and worked in Lao, this is proove, likes Dr.Boon Lai in Mahoossot, Dr Lam, gruduated at Western Australia university he came back and once he together with other, translated english and french Text books to Lao language...another friend long ago during Lycee time when the french still provided education for Lao, he was 2 class above me...he came back from France and lived in Lao now,..he is singing to make his living at The Anou Night Club...so depend on what you are talking about...I think his name is Kham Phar.

[TTT]

Hey Mr. Khon Lao Yuu America

It is interesting to hear someone working with a big American company wanting to work in Laos. I am a Lao student in US. I have met some Lao people here in the US, but only a small number of those who I met finish university degree. So, your parents must be proud of you. By the way, I just want to say that there is a lot of misperception about Laos from Lao people in US. Many Lao people in US ask me whether this and that are true. Many people only hear about the bad things, rarely about the good thing. However, I am not surprised because, media loves bad news and people are addicted to bad news. Fox and CNN all make a lot of money from bad news, but I am not sure if some Lao people who spread bad news gain something from their words, the sure thing is that the country is losing. It makes people who wants to come and work in Laos afraid to come.

There are of course some bad experiences or stories that you can hear in Laos, but that is life, it happens everywhere. However, there are many good experiences and stories about Laos that you can find from those who have visited this country. I have read so many from visitors website and very pleased to hear how they perceive our country. It is no wonder why the torists number to Lao increases every year.

Many people say Lao economy now is bad or suck, I think they may not have known well about economy. I would say that it was, but now it is improving. If they look at GDP growth of the country estimated by the World Bank, UNDP, IMF, or ADB, Lao economy is doing good, though not excellent. In fact, Lao economy is growing faster than most countries around the world.

I have so many good things to say about our country because I am an optimist, and because I have heard enough of criticism. Criticism is good as long as it aims at making contribution to improvement. However, I should stop, otherwise those who have the opposite opinion will throw up to their computers. They are expensive, be careful. By the way, I can be a good friend of those who are optimistic about Lao future. If you want to do something good in Laos, I can be a source of infomation, it is free of charge.

[Victor Rattanavong]

In my opinion, for the short term we will definitely lose valuable human resources if our students abroad immigrate to the nations they studied in. However, as one of the postings have said that each individual will pursue his economic interests and advancements before considering any strategic issues of national interest. This point of view is not neccessarily wrong, morally, no one has to feel guilty if they have moved on to another country for economic purposes as long as its done legally as oppossed to illegal economic migrants who go on tourist visas and decide to stay permanently (most of whom are uneducated) merely corrode the graces of rich countries that have developed for centuries. If lao students abroad are to move overseas after finishing their education and weighing all the advantages and disadvantages, it will still be a big blow in the short term for our economy since we desparately need western-educated people or people that have studied in countries where a western system has been installed (IE, japan, singapore, etc) as opposed to socialist vietnam or something where most of our leaders who have means to send their sons and daughters to western schools usually do. ANYWAYs my point is that considering yourself interests and making yourself rich by earning a living abroad while also keeping strategic interests in mind such as returning to laos in the future to invest, start companies and create jobs for the lao people is not a bad idea at all. in fact it is a proven successful concept as you can see almost half of the investment that has spurred rapid development in china has come from its overseas chinese population that have immigrated to rich nations and made themselves rich while never forgetting their country. Some if not most overseas chinese even come back permanently cause they're making more money in china than they ever will in the countries that they've immigrated to previously. for those of you considering future careers abroad, i suggest you weigh the benefits carefully as the future growth and rise in terms of national economies will like in asia. The west rose already and is fairly stable right now led by the US and europe. Now, china and japan are leading asia to growth and modernity....and thats where the opportunity lies for laos because growth means more business opportunies for those educated enough to see through and find them !


I can talk fairly long on this subject as i am fairly engaged and take serious about the development progress of this nation of mine. anyone interested can add me to their MSN Messenger list which is [e-mail] or email me at [e-mail]. Of course i only expect to discuss matters in a civilized and cultured manner.....meaning no non-rational criticisms that bash every issue in a destructive manner. I use logic and reason to make my point. anyone interested enough.....and i find few laotians that are.......please contact me.

[Victor Rattanavong]

Hey i agree somewhat with your view that when students return from an overseas education, they wont find any space to exert or apply their newly acquired knowledge in the present political environment. However i must say that that is only a superficial assessment of the situation that you have not yet deeply researched or read about. In my opinion, which i dont expect you to heed or completely agree with immediately, the lao government has its flaws and yes we do contain certain freedoms and extreme thinking that the government deems a threat to national security or repute....but thats all about government...the western press is always giving political bullnuts about freedom and democracy cause they're simply air-headed in trying to apply their systems to ours in a comprehensive matter rather than selectively applying the appropriate positive aspects. If you look at singapore which was ruled by only 3 prime ministers of the same political party for 30 years untill now since its independence.....they seem to be getting somewhere and making progress with the same government curbs and limits on certain liberties, this is in the nature of asian countries....we cant accept complete freedom of the press and democracy like the west because it just wont work. its not our culture, we are bound by tradition to accept authority. The present progress of our development merely depends on our leaders' leadership if they have any and tactful strategic diplomacy. Look....we depend on foreigners for everything ok, and in todays globalized world who doesn't? I think the system we have now, a one party ruled country is suitable for the current stage of development cause what we need is stability...not chaotic political parties vying for control of the country like we had during the vietnam war. The royal government at the time was simply too corrupt to gain support of the people, yet it was not ******** so it gained support of the US which thinks of it as the next best thing. The pathet lao (predecessor to our current government) was of pure inspiration from the patriots that simply wanted a stable national and cohesive uncorrupt government and thats why it gained support of the people , pretty much was influenced by political inducements from our neighbors, vietnam and china which were backed by the then soviet union, and thats why we went that way ideologically in order to gain those countries' military support. ........and now to the reasons of our progress, but a slow one, instead of a fast paced one like china and vietnam. Basically the main problem is that we are riding the boat against the tide. we're not flowing with the current, meaning we are too suspicious of the west (our former enemy) for us to open up completely and i mean completely such as open strategic military and economic ties in which even vietnam is pursuing now with the US as a counter weight against a strong china in the future. all this can be blamed on our leaders lack of education and disinclination to keep up with the times fully, they only make changes once they feel pressure to do so, but not in advance. I think that this will all change once this generation of the leadership ends. As we all know the tide of prosperity is all in the west. if we are to prosper we need to find a way to link ourselves with the west ....and who leads the west.....the US. we basically have to pursue a more cooperative and strategic alignment withthis country because our rapid economic advancement relies on this one force heavily. we should stop our retarded hard-line stance against the US such as denouncing it in our history books as "imperialists" or whatever, this is merely the workings of old-party beareaucrats who cant keep up with the times.

Please contact me if u want to discuss in detail. I support Laos in its imperfect situation because i feel as most people here do that the future is not totally bleak and there is still room and time for improvement.......so never lose hope and just rot on welfare in developed countries and critize on topics which u really dont understand. no offense.......

Guest-JD said:

Everyone is entitle to all opinions but I don't believe everything I read or agree to including Peter's materials. However, when I see some sort of truths (from its writer's point of views ) in it I shall admit it. We all should check our facts from different sources like internet search engines and librarie of independent sources. Remember, many governments write their own histories and tend to tailor to their version of the events.

Peter, you still have not answer my question. Yes you said going back home to Laos with the education you are learning but what kind of implementation tools do you plan to employ to administrate the positive changes that may materialize as a result of your higher "western" thinking views yourself? Some of the Lao students went back home but there's currently nothing much their in Laos for them to improvise their skills. So what is causing this unprogession events in Laos right now?

I believe until there are changes in the current lao government policies in the political freedom, freedom of speech, and economic freedom sectos; then I think lao may make some positive progresses in its economic and social endeavers. You can study all you want but if you have an oppressive government's policy you won't go far. So look yourself in the mirror and say "am I studying for my country or for myself?" Good luck to you all.

" Let my people go."

[Peter]

Let me bring back Singapour examples, for years under Lee Kwan diew, despited many critics from western countries, singapour sticked to its policy, the government told young singapourean ' study hard, because is the tool for your future and the country, fun and family come later' in the West they said 'Social Ingeneering' and we can see Singapour became modern country and advanced society...so for JD if I go home, my ability is to help training young people in Administrations how to set up an office...what kind of things you need first things first...etc that's my field, one of my friend also went back, he graduated at ANU 'in Stock Exchange and now I learnt from his cousin he is the head of Department of Finance....I understand we all have problems because that's what war and conflict are all about....long ago when I was not born yet, during the French ruled Indochina, one of my uncle was arrested by the french and his head was chopped off...so that why war is nuts.