edited by Alastair Carthew and Simon Winkelmann
Laos’s media remains strictly controlled by the ruling Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), but no journalists were incarcerated during 2010 and there were small, encouraging signs of the private sector becoming more involved in a State dominated media.The authorities are particularly strict on reporting Government policies, such as the controversial issue of repatriation of the ethnic Hmong people from Thailand in December, 2009. Despite allegations that the refugees had little food and supplies, the English language Vientiane Times described good living conditions in what is termed government run “development villages”.
Under a 2008 law foreign media can establish offices in Laos for the first time, but cannot invest in local media businesses. While this law contained a right to access publication information, it has so far not resulted in an opening up of information. Reports on socio-economic problems, bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption are allowed, but they must not denounce or embarrass individual officials, according to a report by Freedom House, a London based media watchdog.
Editors in Laos are government appointees assigned to ensure the media is a link between the party and the people, as stated in the constitution. Under the criminal code individuals can be jailed for up to one year for reporting news that “weakens the state” or importing a publication that is “contrary to national culture.”
At present, there are no international media agencies in Laos and foreign journalists must apply for a special visa to enter the country, where they are accompanied by official escorts throughout their stay.
Main dailies in Laos are Passasson, Vietiane Mai, Viengchanmay and Pathet Lao (Lao language), Le Renovateur (French) and Vientiane Times (English), KPL is the Lao press agency in English, French and Lao. LNR is the national broadcaster and Voice of America the international broadcaster. There are a number of Internet sites, Mahasan the only one in Lao language. The rest are foreign ISPs in English. They include Big News Network, EIN News, Inside Laos, Laos Globe, Laos Post, One World and Vientiane Times.
Despite the government owning all newspapers and broadcast media, newspaper readership is very low and Thai broadcasting channels compete heavily with Laos channels for viewers. Community radio is proliferating under the government which is aiming to introduce stations in the country’s 47 poorest districts.
There is increasing liberalisation, with some media run by state appointed heads looking for private sector funding and private companies can now buy air time on government television channels. International agencies also work with private production houses to create material aired in the country, according to Freedom House.
Internet penetration in Laos is low at around 5% with all internet service providers (ISPs) government controlled. Websites are regularly blocked. There were 61,000 Facebook users as of 31 August, 2010, a 0.9% penetration rate.
Laos was 168th on the Reporters Without Borders press freedom index in 2010.