Lao Traffic Police Ensure Smooth Flow for Cluster Munitions Ban Meeting

The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is hosting the Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) in Vientiane from September 14 to 18. As host, the Lao government has mobilized traffic police to ensure the smooth proceedings and convenience of delegates attending this international conference. In an interview with the Pasaxon newspaper on September 14, Lt. Col. Khonsavan Chanthavong, Head of the Order, Protection, and Route-Opening Division at the Traffic Police Department, General Department of Police, Ministry of Public Security, stated that traffic police forces have been deployed since September 11 to serve the guests attending the CCM conference. According to Lt. Col. Khonsavan, police officers have been performing their professional duties with a high sense of responsibility, including leading vehicles for participating guests from Wattay International Airport to their accommodations and from their accommodations to the National Convention Centre. Additionally, personnel have been stationed at various intersections to regulate traffic, ensuring that delegates and guests traveling to the conference experience convenience, order, and security. Lt. Col. Khonsavan also called upon all sectors and the general public to facilitate traffic, strictly observe traffic laws, cooperate with the authorities, and act as good hosts to ensure the resounding success of this conference. 2nd Lt. Sengthong Rasabouth, Deputy Head of the Order, Protection, and Route-Opening Division, added that the traffic police assigned to serve the CCM conference have actively fulfilled their political duties with high responsibility. Since September 11, they have led convoys and opened routes for guests from Wattay International Airport to their hotels. Despite difficulties and heavy traffic congestion along various routes, they have successfully guided the guests to the conference venue on schedule. Laos has been increasingly engaging with the international community through hosting international conferences. The country maintains close relations with its neighbors, particularly China and Vietnam, while seeking foreign investment for economic development and infrastructure projects. However, concerns persist regarding its one-party system and economic reliance on larger regional powers, notably China. The hosting of the CCM conference serves as an opportunity for Laos to demonstrate its commitment to international norms and showcase its capacity for domestic security and operational management on the international stage. The traffic police's efforts are a visible aspect of Laos's role as a host nation. Source: KPL Laos News