VIENTIANE - Laos and Thailand share both land and river borders. But they also share similar cultures, in terms of language and consumption habits.
Furthermore, transportation between the two countries is very convenient, so people from both are to cross easily between both countries, and it is not surprising that some inappropriate measures have been adopted in the past to deal with trading between the two countries. All of these factors have combined to accelerate goods smuggling between the two countries, particularly between Vientiane Capital in the Lao PDR and Thailand's province of Nongkhai.
Beyond Sayaboury province, the Mekong River goes on to form the boundary between Laos and Thailand for hundreds of kilometres, down to the Lao southern province of Champassak.
The length and difficult terrain along the course of the Mekong have created great difficulties for both Lao and Thai customs officers in monitoring people and goods moving across the river.
Even though in recent years the cooperation between Laos and Thailand has improved, goods smuggling remains rife, albeit much less than before.
Located on the left bank of Mekong River, the Sikhotabong district in Vientiane shares a 28-kilometre water border with Sixiengmai district of Thailand's province of Nongkhai. With a population of 98,000, Sikhotabong is one of main municipal districts of Vientiane , and has 61 villages with 17,000 families, and provides the main gate to the Vientiane markets.
The Sixiengmai district of Thailand is also a convenient place to access the Nongkhai markets. The people of both districts engage in agriculture, trading and fishery in the Mekong River.
Fishery and trading has thus been the impetus for many people of the local area who are now engaged in goods smuggling.
Constructed in 2004, the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge has also facilitated the transportation between the two countries, particularly Vientiane and Nongkhai. However, people living near the river still prefer using small boats to cross the river to buy and sell goods, because the Mekong has been closely connected with livelihood of such people for a long time.
The Sikhottabong district now has 400 motorboats and 19 small river ports. Kaoleow, the biggest river port in the district, is used mainly to send and receive goods and passengers from the upstream of Mekong River as well as from the neighbouring country. Mor village, in the Sixiengmai district of Thailand, also has river port to facilitate boat users, passengers and goods transportation.
Although a new local border checkpoint between Don Kham village in Sikhottabong district of Laos and Mor village in Sixiengmai district of Thailand, has been opened temporarily for the convenience of the public, good smugglers rarely use them, even though both districts, Sikhottabong and Sixiengmai, have river ports.
BOUND BY CULTURE
The smuggling trade has thus been the result of a combination of many factors. Communication and trade has been facilitated by the similar language and culture of Laos and Thailand.
Furthermore, these two areas have long history of family relations. Many residents of the Sikhotabong district in Laos have relatives who live in Thai district of Sixiengmai, while many residents of Sixiengmai also have relations living in the Lao side.
Almost all believe in Buddhism, and participate in similar events, such as boat-racing festivals for the Buddhist Lent End festival. Because of this, the consumption habits of people living along Mekong River are inevitably quite similar.
In the past, because of these close relations, many impediments to the transportation of illicit goods have been removed. In the late 1980s, for example, bans on goods to Laos, including 273 so-called "strategic items" were lifted. This involved everything from consumer goods to aviation fuel. Smugglers have used this golden opportunity to bring in other banned goods to sell illegally. But not all have been lucky, and many of them have been forced into bankruptcy because customs officers of both sides have confiscated their goods.
On the other hand, cooperation between the two countries, particularly in trading and investment, has been enhanced. Both countries have focused strongly on curbing smuggling, with the aim of providing fair trade for business people and entrepreneurs.
However, even though measures on illicit trade have been lifted, the size of the border, the convenient transportation and the similar cultures still indicate challenges for both nations in dealing with the smuggling issue.
HEADWAY BEING MADE, OFFICIALS SAY
The smuggling of goods between Laos and Thailand has taken place for long time, being an endemic practice within both cultures.
The two countries have long cooperated to eradicate smuggling, however, despite these efforts, goods smuggling still remains, but much declined compared with before.
According to Lao officials, the main goods illegally imported from Thailand, especially Nongkhai province into Vientiane, are electric appliances, clothing, television sets and foodstuffs, particularly seafood, poultry, cage fish, port and vegetables, among others.
The majority of people interviewed in Thabor district, Nongkhai province of Thailand said the goods smuggled from Vientiane Capital to Nongkhai are water buffalo, tiger bones, pangolins, agar woods, tobacco, homemade rice whisky, handicrafts and carvings.
Goods smuggling spread widely throughout the 1980s and '90s, and was mainly caused by limitations on imports and exports of everyday consumer goods.
Laos, like Thailand, has made continuous efforts to eradicate the practice. Thanks to the good relationship between the two countries, and the agreement to broaden import and export laws, smuggling has declined since 2000.
ARRESTS ARE DOWN