Exploiting research results on the implementation of ethnic policies in the lao people’s democratic republic, serving the compilation of training materials to foster ethnic knowledge for Lao cadres at the Vietnam academy of ethnic minorities
KHOA HỌC, GIÁO DỤC VÀ CÔNG NGHỆ
EXPLOITING RESEARCH RESULTS ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF ETHNIC POLICIES IN THE LAO
PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, SERVING THE
COMPILATION OF TRAINING MATERIALS TO FOSTER
ETHNIC KNOWLEDGE FOR LAO CADRES AT THE VIETNAM
ACADEMY OF ETHNIC MINORITIES
Ngo Thi Trinha
Tran Ngoc Nganb
a Vietnam Academy for Ethnic Minorities
Email: [email protected]
b Political Academy, Ministry of Defense
Email: [email protected]
Received:
Reviewed:
Revised:
Accepted:
Released:
09/6/2021
15/6/2021
06/9/2021
20/9/2021
30/9/2021
he Lao People's Democratic Republic is a multi-ethnic country. Therefore, during the process of
T
revolutionary leadership, the Lao People's Revolutionary Party always considered ethnic issues and
implementing ethnic policies as one of the important tasks in order to improve the material and spiritual
life of ethnic minorities, consolidate and promote national unity bloc; striving to build the Lao People's
Democratic Republic with economic development and political stability. To implement that policy, Laos
has implemented many national guidelines and policies. The article focuses on clarifying the achievements
and limitations in the implementation of ethnic policy in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. At the
same time, exploit research results to serve the work of compiling documents and training according to
Resolution 16/2018-ND/CP at the Vietnam Academy for Ethnic Minorities today.
Keywords: Ethnic policy; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Ethnicity; Document compilation;
Training program.
1. Introduction
the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, the Lao people
stood up to fight for victory and national liberation,
giving birth to the Lao PDR on December 2, 1975.
After gaining independence, the Lao Party and State
always took care of the lives of the ethnic groups,
identifying ethnic issues with an important and long-
term strategic position. Ethnic policy is considered
a part of the national policy system, is strategic,
synthesizes the views, principles and solutions of the
Party and State in various fields, associated with the
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao
PDR) is located in Southeast Asia, with an area of
236,800km2, bordering China to the North, Myanmar
to the Northwest, Thailand to the Southwest,
Cambodia to the South and Vietnam to the East.
During the development process, 49 ethnic groups
of Laos ethnic groups have always stood side by side
to live, produce and fight against foreign invaders,
build and protect the country. Under the leadership of
Volume 10, Issue 3
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KHOA HỌC, GIÁO DỤC VÀ CÔNG NGHỆ
development of the country. ethnic groups in order discrimination. The document also strengthens
to strengthen the national unity bloc to carry out the great unity and unified bloc of the nations and
protects and develops the fine customs and culture
of the ethnic groups, creating an environment for the
ethnic groups to unite to implement the guidelines
and policies of the Party and State. The document
provides a full range of names of ethnic groups in
Lao PDR according to the actual situation of life
and culture of the ethnic groups today. The National
Assembly’s Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs
(2009), “49 ethnic groups in the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic”, Vientiane, have shown the
correct views and concern of the Party and State
for the ethnicities; clearly see the unified structure
and richness and diversity of cultures, lifestyles
and voices of ethnic groups in Lao PDR, the book
summarizes the major views and policies of the Lao
Party and State on the ethnic issue.
the cause of national construction and development
along the road to socialism.
2. Research overview
In recent years, there have been many research
works on the implementation of ethnic policies in
the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, such as:
Cay Son Phom Vi Han (1982), “Promoting the
tradition of national unity in the unified Lao family,
determined to defend the Fatherland and complete
socialist construction”, Lao National Publishing
House, Vientiane, outlined the basic principles of
Marxism-Leninism on national issues; thereby
raising some of the Party’s views on the nation and
the policy of strengthening the great national unity
bloc in the unified Lao family. The author gives
some views of the Lao People’s Democratic Party
on the nation and the resolution of ethnic issues;
state the characteristics of the nation in the unified
Lao family. Author Ma Ha Bun My Thep Sy Muong
(1994), “History of formation and development
of the Lao ethnic community”, Lao National
Publishing House, Vientiane, has summarized the
history of formation and development through
historical periods of the Lao people; provide many
documents and data on Lao ethnic groups in each
period. At the same time, some content related to
ethnic policy is also mentioned. Government Office
(2015), “Poverty eradication and poverty reduction
is the responsibility of modern people”, Vientiane,
has summarized the geography of Laos, the history
of formation and development of society and ethnic
groups through historical periods, lives and cultures
of peoples; organization and management system
of ethnic groups; from there, giving some views
and policies of the Lao Party and State on ethnic
issues in Laos. The book is a valuable document
in approaching and researching ethnic issues,
especially the basic views of the Lao Party and
State on ethnic issues, the history of formation and
development of ethnic groups in Lao PDR.
The above works have mentioned a number
of issues related to policies and organization of
implementation of policies for ethnic groups,
however, how effective are the implementation
of ethnic policies and how much lessons learned
from practice has not been clarified by the
authors. Therefore, in-depth research to clarify the
effectiveness of ethnic policy implementation and
lessons learned in ethnic policy implementation in
Laos is very necessary for Vietnam.
3.Research Methods
In the research process, the author mainly uses the
method of inheriting secondary documents related to
the implementation of ethnic policies in Laos, which
inherits published research results, documents,
reports of the Lao’s Party and State, doctoral theses,
research articles in scientific journals...
4. Research content
4.1. Achievements in implementing ethnic
policy in Lao PDR today
InheritingtheviewsofMarxism-Leninismandthe
thought of Cay Son Phom Vi Ha on national issues,
the Lao’s Party and State have creatively applied,
supplemented and developed to suit the specific
conditions of Laos in order to ensure equality, unity,
harmony, mutual respect and help among ethnic
groups,andcreatestrengthinthegreatunityblocinthe
great Lao national family. The document of the 10th
National Congress of the Lao People’s Democratic
Party in 2016, affirmed: “Strengthening national,
class and religious solidarity under the leadership of
the Lao People’s Democratic Party is a fine tradition,
a winning strength and a decisive factor in winning
the cause of national independence, national defense
and development of the country as well as political
stability and the existence of the country along the
way towards the goal of socialism” (Lao People’s
National Assembly Committee for Ethnic
Minority Affairs (2009), “Document on
Dissemination of Ethnic Names and Indexes in
Lao People’s Democratic Republic”, Vientiane
was released and disseminated under Decision No.
September 14, 2008 on the recognition of ethnic
names and indexes in Lao PDR, with the aim of
making people properly aware of the Party and
State’s guidelines and policies in recognizing the
names of 49 ethnic groups in Laos, in accordance
with practice and science. Along with that, there is
the suppresion, resolution and gradual eradication
of inappropriate ethnic names which leads to
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JOURNAL OF ETHNIC MINORITIES RESEARCH
KHOA HỌC, GIÁO DỤC VÀ CÔNG NGHỆ
Revolutionary Party, 2016, p.16). To concretize Party has continuously grown, internally united,
the Party’s views, many consistent and cross- closely unified, the leadership method has many
cutting national guidelines and policies have been innovations, the leadership role of the Party has
promulgated such as: Decree No. 03 in 2004 of the
Central Committee of the Lao People’s Democratic
Party on building grassroots politics; Directive No.
09/BCT, of the Politburo of the Central Committee
of the Communist Party of Laos on the construction
of the Development Boards and Clusters of June
2004; Directive No. 04/BBT of the Secretariat of
the Party Central Committee on the education and
strengthening of solidarity among the Lao peoples,
July 2007; Additional Directive No. 13/TTg of the
Prime Minister on the development of Development
Plates and Clusters, June 2008; Directive No. 14/BBT
of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee on
the organization and implementation of grassroots
construction, October 2009; Directive No. 01/TTg of
the Prime Minister on building the province into a
strategic unit, a district into a budget planning unit
and an implementing organization (referred to as the
3-build program), in December 2010…
been increasingly promoted in all aspects of social
life. The contingent of party members has grown in
both quantity and quality, from the initial 400 party
members, up to now, the number of party members
has reached nearly 350,000 people, an increase of
nearly80,000partymemberscomparedto2016(Lao
People’s Revolutionary Party, 2021). The people’s
democratic government has been systematically
and consistently built from the central to the local
level. The political system is organized neatly, the
quality and efficiency of operations are increasingly
improved,andthepreventionofnegativephenomena
is strengthened, and social order and safety are
ensured. Organizations in the grassroots political
system have well organized to perform their roles
and tasks; Front organizations, mass organizations
and veterans’ associations have been consolidated
in both organization and operation form to suit
the new situation. The grassroots political system
is strengthened, grassroots cadres are trained in a
basic and systematic way, contributing to creating
synergy in the cause of national development. The
right to mastery of the people in all ethnic groups
is practically guaranteed, the nations unite with
one heart, promote their mastery based on the
constitution and law, the people always believe in
the regime and the future. of the country.
Ethnic policies of the Lao’s Party and State
focus on comprehensively solving problems of
social life, in which the following main contents are
shown: Economic development in ethnic minority
areas in order to bring into play the potentials
and strengths of the Lao ethnic minority region,
in association with the general development plan
of the whole country; Social policies focus on
issues of education - training, culture, health... in
order to improve capacity, realize equal rights
among ethnic groups in Laos, and create premise
and opportunities for ethnic groups to have all
the conditions to participate in the development
process, on that basis, constantly improve the
material and spiritual life of the people; policies
related to national defense and security, in order to
consolidate strategic areas, well solve the problem
of national unity and ethnic relations in the multi-
ethnic country and in international cooperation.
The process of organizing and implementing ethnic
policies in Laos has had a comprehensive impact
on social life, contributing to strengthening and
strengthening relations between ethnic groups. That
is specifically expressed as follows:
On economics:
Ethnic policies have contributed to promoting
economic restructuring and accelerating growth.
The State prioritizes investment in infrastructure
development to create favorable conditions for
socio-economic development and solve social
pressing problems in disadvantaged areas. State
budget investment mainly focuses on building
infrastructure such as: road system, power
grid system, irrigation, clean water, health
station, hospital, school... Structure economic
transformation in a positive direction, promoting
and creating turning points of the economy.
Ethnic policies have promoted the transformation
of production methods, bringing science and
technology to serve agricultural production, which
is very important to create jobs, increase farmers’
incomes, and increase productivity and the quality
of agricultural products in the direction of a multi-
crop and sustainable agriculture; preserve and
process agricultural, forestry and fishery products,
improve processing quality and increase added
value of agricultural, forestry and fishery products.
Although there are still many difficulties, especially
On politics:
TheLaoParty’sethnicpolicyandguidelineshave
gathered the people of all ethnic groups into a unified
block under the Party’s leadership, overcoming all
difficulties and challenges, successfully carrying
out the revolutionary task in each historical period,
and at the same time promote the role of ethnic
groups in building political systems at all levels.
Thanks to that, the Lao People’s Democratic the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, from 2016
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KHOA HỌC, GIÁO DỤC VÀ CÔNG NGHỆ
to 2020, the economy of Laos still achieves an for patients. Integrate investment capital sources
average growth rate of 5.8%/year. Gross domestic for new construction, repair, upgrading and
product (GDP) per capita in 2020 reached 2,664 procurement of medical equipment for medical
stations. The health system has been built, upgraded
andexpandedtodistricts,villagesanddisadvantaged
areas in remote and isolated areas. Every year,
Laos focuses on building and upgrading hospitals
from central to local levels, renovating lower-
level medical examination and treatment facilities,
contributing to ensuring health care conditions
for the people. Especially, in 2020, although the
situation in the region and the world has many
complicated developments, plus the rapid spread of
the COVID-19 pandemic, Laos has to face many
difficulties, but with the leadership of the Party, the
unity of people of all ethnic groups, together with
the support and assistance of international friends,
Laos has overcome difficulties, the economy
continues to develop, People’s living standards are
improving day by day...
USD, more than 23 times higher than the figure of
114 USD in 1985. Of which, agriculture grew by
1.9%, accounting for 15.9% of GDP, and industry.
industry grew by 8.7%, accounting for 31.7% of
GDP, services grew by 4.2%, accounting for 41.2%
of GDP, product and import taxes increased by
5.1%, accounting for 11.1% of GDP... (Lao People’s
Revolutionary Party, 2021).
On culture and society
The Lao’s Party and State always attach great
importance to improving the material and spiritual
life of the people, ensuring the harmonious and
sustainable development, building a national
environment and cultural space on the basis of
continuing receive the quintessence of international
culture. The level of spiritual cultural enjoyment
for the people and the preservation and promotion
of national cultural identity are always concerned
by the Party, State and local authorities. The work
of reforming and improving the quality of teaching
and learning, ensuring the quantity of educational
infrastructure; health systems in big cities have been
upgraded, service quality is increasing; improve the
quality of labor skills according to the needs of the
market; interested in organizing the construction
of political foundations associated with rural
development and solving hunger eradication and
poverty reduction. The number of poor households
decreased from 76,604 households (equivalent
to 6.59% of total households) in 2015, to 62,384
households (equivalent to 5.16%) in 2019. In
2015, Laos completed universalization of primary
education nationwide (Lao People’s Revolutionary
Party, 2021). New constructions, outstanding socio-
cultural achievements, together with millions of
tourists each year and the successful organization
of many important international conferences,
are proof of the great and proud change of the
country. In addition, socio-cultural activities,
physical training and sports activities are promoted,
outdated customs and superstitions are eliminated,
contributing to building a harmonious and healthy
living environment for people. People increasingly
believe in the leadership of the Party, thereby
realizing their role and responsibility in building a
prosperous and strong Laos.
On defense, security and foreign affairs
The Lao People’s Democratic Party has
actively implemented the line of comprehensive
national defense and security, firmly safeguarding
independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,
ensuring the country’s stability, solid security, and
creating favorable conditions. for the cause of
national construction and development, creating
stability for people to work and live. Although the
situation in the world and region is complicated,
hostile forces have carried out many anti-sabotage
activities, causing difficult situations, especially
in terms of political security and social order and
safety. However, with the power of uniting the
people of all ethnic groups, with the effective
operation of the political system at the grassroots
and local levels, it smashed the plots and tricks of
the hostile forces and maintained National security.
Along with that, Laos has also expanded relations
and cooperation, enlisted support and help with
many countries around the world to contribute to the
country’s development. To date, the Lao People’s
Revolutionary Party has relations with nearly 140
political parties while the Lao PDR has diplomatic
relations with 143 countries and economic relations
with more than 50 countries around the world
(Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, 2021). These
relationships and cooperation have elevated Laos’
position in the regional and international arena.
4.2. Some shortcomings and limitations in the
implementation of ethnic policy in Lao PDR today
The medical and health care work has been
paid attention to, investment in construction and
upgrading of facilities, equipment and medical
staff has been enhanced, gradually meeting the
requirements of medical examination and treatment
In addition to the achievements, the process of
formulating and implementing ethnic policies in
Laos still has some limitations that need further
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KHOA HỌC, GIÁO DỤC VÀ CÔNG NGHỆ
attention and overcoming.
exploit research results on Vietnam - Laos relations
to serve the training of cadres, it is necessary to
perform well a number of contents such as: When
compiling training materials for Lao cadres, it is
necessary to must inherit the research results on
Vietnam - Laos relations. This content needs to
be done during the implementation of the training
program for Lao cadres of the VietnamAcademy for
Ethnic Minorites. The inheritance of research results
on Vietnam - Laos cooperation will contribute to
the compilation of documents to foster an overall
picture of Vietnam - Laos relations. Therefore, it
is necessary to effectively exploit research results
on Vietnam - Laos to meet the requirements of
training and retraining programs; The inheritance of
research results on Vietnam-Laos relations should
closely follow the program and goal of training
Lao cadres. On the basis of training programs and
objectives, to select and exploit research results in
accordance with the requirements set forth by the
training program; It is necessary to combine the
exploitation of Vietnam - Laos research results with
the implementation of document compilation tasks
and staff training programs of the VietnamAcademy
for Ethnic Minorites, this is a measure to improve
the effectiveness of the document compilation.
of training materials at the Vietnam Academy for
Ethnic Minorites…
Propaganda and mobilization of people of all
ethnic groups to implement programs and projects
on socio-economic development in many localities
is not specific, so the effectiveness is not high.
The awareness of people of all ethnic groups on
implementing ethnic policies is still limited, the
sense of self-reliance is still low, especially there
are some parts that still carry a heavy mindset of
relying on the State’s subsidies. The coordination
between levels and departments is still not tight, not
synchronized, not dynamic in time, so the results
are not high.
Economic development is slow compared to
the potential of the region, some localities have
developed, but not yet stable. The economic
structure and labor structure changed slowly. The
level of commercialization of agricultural products
is still low; manufactured products do not have a
stable consumption market, low competitiveness
and economic efficiency. The socio-economic
infrastructure is lacking and weak, the awareness
level of ethnic minorities is still limited, leading
to the people’s right to mastery in implementing
ethnic policies have not been promoted. effective.
The gap between rich and poor, development
gap between regions, regions, and ethnic groups is
increasing; the poverty rate in ethnic minority and
mountainous areas is many times higher than the
national average rate, especially difficulties and
deprivations in extremely difficult areas, ethnic
minority and mountainous areas. from the provinces
of Laos. There have been many policies to develop
essential infrastructure and to develop production,
but for ethnic minority areas, especially areas with
high poverty rates, these policies have not made a
fundamental change in the livelihoods, therefore,
have not been able to narrow the gap in income
and living standards of ethnic minorities with other
regions. Vocational training and poverty reduction
policies have not been regularly implemented for
the poor, poor households, policies for near-poor
households need to be formulated and implemented,
creating conditions for the realization of sustainable
poverty reduction goals. Although the market
mechanism has helped identify the comparative
advantages of each region, there is still a lack of
zoning policies to develop production based on
specific natural and socio-economic conditions of
each region…
6. Conclusion
With a preeminent ethnic policy system,
effectively organized and implemented, it has
contributed to the rapid change in the face of Laos.
Especially, after the Lao People’s Democratic Party
set out a comprehensive and principled renovation
policy, up to now, social life in Laos has undergone
a comprehensive and positive change. From an
agricultural economy besieged and embargoed,
the beautiful country of Laos has risen strongly to
become an independent, self-governing country,
politically stable, national defense and security
guaranteed, social order ensured, economy
constantly developing, people’s life constantly
improving and foreign relations are increasingly
expanded; The cultural identity and fine traditions
of the ethnic groups are preserved and promoted.
Laos has made strong moves towards prosperous
development, has an increasingly enhanced
position in the region and in the international arena.
These are important prerequisites to strengthen the
great unity bloc of the whole people, ensure solid
political stability, implement the reform approach in
depth, and create strong changes in socio-economic
development. in the direction of new quality,
improve the quality of people’s life, continue to
bring the country out of underdevelopment and
move to socialism.
5. Discussion
Research has shown that the issue of exploiting
research results on ethnicity, ethnic policy in Laos
and Vietnam-Laos relations has not been done
regularly. Therefore, in the coming time, in order to
Volume 10, Issue 3
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KHOA HỌC, GIÁO DỤC VÀ CÔNG NGHỆ
References
People’s Democratic Republic. Vientiane.
Lao People’s Revolutionary Party. (2016).
Documents of the 10th National Congress of
Deputies. Vientiane: Lao National Publishing
House
Lao People’s Revolutionary Party. (2021).
Document of the 11th National Congress of
Deputies. Vientiane: Lao National Publishing
House
National Assembly Committee on Minority
Affairs. (2009b). Document on dissemination
of names and indexes of ethnic groups in
the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
Vientiane.
Institute of Social Sciences. (2009). Learn about
the ethnic groups in Laos. Vientiane: Lao
National Publishing House
NationalAssembly Committee on Ethnic Minority
Affairs. (2009a). 49 ethnic groups in the Lao
KHAI THÁC KẾT QUẢ NGHIÊN CỨU VỀ THỰC HIỆN
CHÍNH SÁCH DÂN TỘC Ở CỘNG HÒA DÂN CHỦ NHÂN DÂN
LÀO, PHỤC VỤ CÔNG TÁC BIÊN SOẠN TÀI LIỆU ĐÀO TẠO,
BỒI DƯỠNG KIẾN THỨC DÂN TỘC CHO CÁN BỘ LÀO
TẠI HỌC VIỆN DÂN TỘC
Ngô Thị Trinha
Trần Ngọc Ngânb
a Học viện Dân tộc
Email: [email protected]
b Học viện Chính trị, Bộ Quốc phòng
Email: [email protected]
Ngày nhận bài:
09/6/2021
Ngày phản biện: 15/6/2021
Ngày tác giả sửa: 06/9/2021
Ngày duyệt đăng: 20/9/2021
Ngày phát hành: 30/9/2021
ộng hoà Dân chủ Nhân dân Lào là một quốc gia đa dân tộc. Vì vậy, trong suốt quá trình lãnh đạo
C
cách mạng, Đảng Nhân dân Cách mạng Lào luôn coi vấn đề dân tộc và thực hiện chính sách dân
tộc là một trong những nhiệm vụ quan trọng, nhằm nâng cao đời sống vật chất và tinh thần cho đồng bào
các dân tộc, củng cố và phát huy khối đoàn kết dân tộc; phấn đấu xây dựng Cộng hòa dân chủ Nhân dân
Lào phát triển về kinh tế, ổn định về chính trị. Để thực hiện được chủ trương đó Lào đã thực hiện nhiều
chủ trương, chính sách dân tộc. Bài viết tập trung làm rõ những thành tựu, hạn chế trong thực hiện chính
sách dân tộc ở Cộng hòa dân chủ Nhân dân Lào. Đồng thời, khai thác kết quả nghiên cứu phục vụ công tác
biên soạn tài liệu, bồi dưỡng theo Nghị quyết 16/2018-NĐ/CP ở Học viện Dân tộc hiện nay.
Từ khóa: Chính sách dân tộc; Cộng hoà Dân chủ Nhân dân Lào; Dân tộc; Biên soạn tài liệu; Chương
trình bồi dưỡng.
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