Surprising cabinet reshuffle in Laos

The reshuffle was proposed by Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh and endorsed by the National Assembly.

Douangsavat Souphanouvong, deputy secre¬tary in the Prime Minister's Office was promoted to minis¬ter attached to the Premier's Office.

Douangsavat is the first member of the Souphanouvong clan to take a position in the Cabinet since former finance minister Khamsay Souphanouvong, the eldest son of Prince Souphanouvong, sought political asylum in New Zealand in late 2000.

The key change in the reshuffle was seen at the Finance Ministry, where minis¬ter Chansy Phosikham, who had served in the position since the previous government, was replaced by deputy finance minister Somdy Douangdy.

Chansy will become the gov¬ernor of Vientiane province.

Vientiane provincial gover¬nor Somphet Phetmala was promoted to vice minister of the Defense Ministry.

Former vice president of the Asian Development Bank, Khempheng Pholsena, was appointed as a minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office to oversee water supply and environmental protection.

Phouthong Saengakhom, chief of national sports affairs, was promoted to be a minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office overseeing sport. He also retained his position at the national sports organisation.

Laos already has five minis¬ters in the Prime Minister's Office.

Prime Minister Bouasone told the Assembly the reshuffle was made to improve adminis¬trative efficiency, as the com¬munist country was on a mis¬sion to fight corruption.

"It's time to crack down on corruption, the luxury (of our officials) and wrongdoers who violate the laws," he told the leg¬islative body, "No one can help us. We must do it ourselves."

Analysts said the changes at the Finance Ministry and in Vientiane province - a separate administration from the capital city - were directly related to the corruption crackdown.

by Supalak G Khundee

The Nation