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O 231049Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2792
INFO ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
AMCONSUL SYDNEY

UNCLAS VIENTIANE 000458 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS - EMERY AND S/GPI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM EAID EINV BEXP BTIO OEXC OIIP SCUL
SMIG, LA 
SUBJECT:  LAOS REACHES OUT TO "DIASPORA" 
 
REF: STATE 78535 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  The GOL estimates one million Lao live overseas, mostly in the 
U.S., France, Australia, Japan, Germany, and Belgium.  In the U.S., 
Lao-Hmong and Lowland Lao make up the majority of the Diaspora. 
Although in the past the GOL made little attempt to engage with its 
Diaspora, the GOL now actively seeks opportunities to work with its 
overseas compatriots for cultural and economic reasons.  The GOL 
formed an association with Lao Diaspora in France and looks to do 
the same in the U.S.  The GOL also is drafting a new decree to offer 
"honorary citizenship" to former Lao citizens to facilitate 
investment by this community.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Background 
---------- 
 
¶2.  An estimated 350,000 Lao fled the country as refugees following 
the 1975 victory by the communist Pathet Lao over the Royal Lao 
Government.  The U.S., France, and Australia received large numbers 
of the refugees (along with Germany, Japan, and Belgium), other 
refugees soon followed the original outflow, and a number of Lao 
people have since emigrated to join relatives in these countries. 
The GOL estimates one million Lao reside overseas. 
 
¶3.  Two groups make up the majority of the Lao in the U.S., the 
Lao-Hmong and the Lowland Lao.  Although both groups of refugees 
opposed a communist takeover of Laos, ethnic differences between the 
groups and separate political agendas inhibit clear identification 
as a single socio-cultural group in the U.S.  Both groups are active 
politically at the national and local level in the U.S. and try to 
influence USG policy toward Laos.  The Lao-Hmong tend to focus more 
on Lao-Hmong specific issues, such as the Lao-Hmong migrants in 
Thailand, the few remaining Lao-Hmong opposing the GOL, and the 
treatment of ethnic minorities in Laos. 
 
Overseas Activities 
------------------- 
 
¶4.  Because of the vocal (and sometimes vociferous) opposition to 
the GOL among Lao refugees in the U.S. and strained relations with 
the U.S., the GOL did not engage with that community for many years 
after 1975.  However, as more Lao made return visits to Laos and 
relations with the U.S. improved, the GOL found value in reengaging 
with the overseas Lao for political, economic, and social reasons. 
 
¶5.  The GOL has established a program to work with overseas Lao to 
promote Lao culture and to encourage overseas Lao to return to Laos 
and establish business enterprises.  The GOL recently located the 
Lao Outreach Department (LOD) in the MFA, removing it from the 
Commission for External Relations, Central Committee, Lao People's 
Revolutionary Party.  Phonekham Inthaboualy, Director General of 
LOD, told us some of the younger overseas Lao, especially those born 
outside of Laos, have weak Lao language skills.  In addition to 
improving the language skills of the younger generation, the GOL 
also wants to work with the overseas Lao to promote Lao cultural 
awareness within the host country's population. 
 
¶6.  The MFA, through its Embassy in Paris, worked with Lao in France 
to create an official association that hosts social and cultural 
events, as well as allowing Lao officials to brief them on 
developments inside Laos.  The GOL would like to form a similar 
association in the U.S. to learn from the Lao people in the U.S. 
what life is like for them and to help preserve their cultural 
values. 
 
Closer to Home 
-------------- 
 
¶7.  In order to attract investment from overseas Lao, the GOL is 
drafting a new decree that would award "honorary citizenship" to 
former Lao citizens who have since naturalized in other countries. 
The new status as currently conceived would allow the recipients to 
hold a Lao passport, reside in Laos, and own property in Laos.  The 
honorary citizens, however, could not participate in political 
activities. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8.  The GOL's outreach to the overseas Lao has a pragmatic, economic 
element and a deeper, cultural aspect.  The GOL is well aware of the 
role of the overseas Vietnamese in aiding Vietnam's rapid economic 
development.  Even if the few return to invest, remittances can help 
its balance of payments and provide for some economic growth. 
Western Union's billboards in Vientiane tout the happiness that 
comes from "uncle's" money transfers to Lao children. 
 
¶9.  On a socio-cultural level, the GOL worries about the increasing 
foreign influences on Lao youth.  Western and, especially, Thai 
cultural influences pervade much of urban Laos.  Promoting a sense 
of "Laoness" among the diaspora can help the GOL define what it 
means to be Lao within a worldwide setting and contribute to a more 
cosmopolitan outlook -- needed as Laos projects itself more into the 
world community -- while maintaining its unique cultural identity. 
 
Huso