ncr
31-03-06, 03:05 AM
Did anyone notice this?
From the Nation (http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/03/23/opinion/opinion_20003380.php), 23 March 2006.
(The article does contradict itself, though: In the headline it promises a "boost", only to state later on: "Unfortunately, it appears Khamtay was not bold enough in making his choice. His successor is little different from him in terms of leadership style and political outlook." Also note that in true communist tradition, the new guy's already 70 years old.)
EDITORIAL
Shift at the top a boost for Laos
Progress in our communist neighbour depends on willingness of new leaders to implement much-needed reform
The ruling Lao communist party, which concluded its eighth congress on Tuesday, has made significant changes in the country's leadership with Khamtay Siphandone, who had held the top job for 14 years, stepping aside to let his protege, Choummaly Sayasone, take the helm. Khamtay's departure at the ripe old age of 82 makes a lot of sense simply for the fact that he could no longer be expected to carry on the hard work of running the party and the country.
He was quoted as telling his comrades in Vientiane that he had called it quits because he wanted to take a rest after spending more than half a century serving his nation. Khamtay together with elderly party advisor Nouhak Phoumsavanh, 94, agreed to retire from all positions in the party. Khamtay will also step down from the top position as head of state after the April 30 election, ending all his official roles.
Now that the old guard are leaving the stage, one would expect their younger successors, in possession of more energy and creativity, to take over and introduce reforms and fresh ideas to put this tiny, land-locked country on the path toward realising its potential. Unfortunately, it appears Khamtay was not bold enough in making his choice. His successor is little different from him in terms of leadership style and political outlook.
Many diplomats in Vientiane are already resigned to the prospect that Choummaly might not bring any positive changes to Laos. Like Khamtay, Choummaly employed his rise in the military to launch a political career that has taken him to the top position in the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. Choummaly, 70, joined the Lao People's Revolutionary Party as a fighter in the early years of the struggle to topple the Lao royal family.
Since the communist takeover in 1975, he has risen through the ranks as chief of staff, army chief and then defence minister. He stepped into the inner circle of the party decision-making body as an alternate member of the politburo during the third party congress in 1981 before becoming a full member five years later. Choummaly who closely followed in Khamtay's footsteps, needs to assert his leadership by first stepping out of Khamtay's shadow. In this fast-changing world, he cannot afford to simply take over power and then maintain the status quo by perpetuating the Communist Party's monopoly on power.
After three decades of Communist Party rule, Laos is still struggling to raise itself out of abject poverty and the unenviable position of being one of the least developed countries in the world. Some two-thirds of its six million people are desperately poor, earning less than US$2 per day. The Communist Party and the state apparatus are not in good shape. Many officials are stuck in an inefficient, corruption-prone bureaucracy that offers few incentives for them to improve their performance in order to better serve their country. The party's announcement of an ambitious goal to eradicate poverty and shed least-developed-country status by 2020 might be too ambitious.
The majority of Lao people, who have been suffering in isolation from the outside world, lack the wherewithal to lift themselves out of poverty and destitution. New party chief Choummaly badly needs to employ radical ideas and energetic management to tackle the situation.
Some of the new members in the party's central committee and those in government who are well-educated and relatively young, could make a positive contribution to the country's national development. How successful the new Lao government will be depends on how well the top leadership handles this pool of talent, which must be given the freedom to make full use of their youthful enthusiasm and new ideas.
From the Nation (http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/03/23/opinion/opinion_20003380.php), 23 March 2006.
(The article does contradict itself, though: In the headline it promises a "boost", only to state later on: "Unfortunately, it appears Khamtay was not bold enough in making his choice. His successor is little different from him in terms of leadership style and political outlook." Also note that in true communist tradition, the new guy's already 70 years old.)
EDITORIAL
Shift at the top a boost for Laos
Progress in our communist neighbour depends on willingness of new leaders to implement much-needed reform
The ruling Lao communist party, which concluded its eighth congress on Tuesday, has made significant changes in the country's leadership with Khamtay Siphandone, who had held the top job for 14 years, stepping aside to let his protege, Choummaly Sayasone, take the helm. Khamtay's departure at the ripe old age of 82 makes a lot of sense simply for the fact that he could no longer be expected to carry on the hard work of running the party and the country.
He was quoted as telling his comrades in Vientiane that he had called it quits because he wanted to take a rest after spending more than half a century serving his nation. Khamtay together with elderly party advisor Nouhak Phoumsavanh, 94, agreed to retire from all positions in the party. Khamtay will also step down from the top position as head of state after the April 30 election, ending all his official roles.
Now that the old guard are leaving the stage, one would expect their younger successors, in possession of more energy and creativity, to take over and introduce reforms and fresh ideas to put this tiny, land-locked country on the path toward realising its potential. Unfortunately, it appears Khamtay was not bold enough in making his choice. His successor is little different from him in terms of leadership style and political outlook.
Many diplomats in Vientiane are already resigned to the prospect that Choummaly might not bring any positive changes to Laos. Like Khamtay, Choummaly employed his rise in the military to launch a political career that has taken him to the top position in the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. Choummaly, 70, joined the Lao People's Revolutionary Party as a fighter in the early years of the struggle to topple the Lao royal family.
Since the communist takeover in 1975, he has risen through the ranks as chief of staff, army chief and then defence minister. He stepped into the inner circle of the party decision-making body as an alternate member of the politburo during the third party congress in 1981 before becoming a full member five years later. Choummaly who closely followed in Khamtay's footsteps, needs to assert his leadership by first stepping out of Khamtay's shadow. In this fast-changing world, he cannot afford to simply take over power and then maintain the status quo by perpetuating the Communist Party's monopoly on power.
After three decades of Communist Party rule, Laos is still struggling to raise itself out of abject poverty and the unenviable position of being one of the least developed countries in the world. Some two-thirds of its six million people are desperately poor, earning less than US$2 per day. The Communist Party and the state apparatus are not in good shape. Many officials are stuck in an inefficient, corruption-prone bureaucracy that offers few incentives for them to improve their performance in order to better serve their country. The party's announcement of an ambitious goal to eradicate poverty and shed least-developed-country status by 2020 might be too ambitious.
The majority of Lao people, who have been suffering in isolation from the outside world, lack the wherewithal to lift themselves out of poverty and destitution. New party chief Choummaly badly needs to employ radical ideas and energetic management to tackle the situation.
Some of the new members in the party's central committee and those in government who are well-educated and relatively young, could make a positive contribution to the country's national development. How successful the new Lao government will be depends on how well the top leadership handles this pool of talent, which must be given the freedom to make full use of their youthful enthusiasm and new ideas.