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Viewing cable 08VIENTIANE339, 2008 REPORT ON INVESTMENT DISPUTES AND

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08VIENTIANE339 2008-06-13 04:33 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Vientiane
VZCZCXRO8277
RR RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHVN #0339/01 1650433
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 130433Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2062
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENTIANE 000339 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EAP/MLS BESTIC 
FOR EB/IFD/OIA GOETHERT 
FOR EB/IFD/OIA BUTLER 
FOR L/CID SWINEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC EINV ECON KIDE OPIC PGOV LA
SUBJECT: 2008 REPORT ON INVESTMENT DISPUTES AND 
EXPROPRIATION CLAIMS FOR LAOS 
 
REF: STATE 43784 
 
1.  The Embassy is unaware of any changes to the below noted 
disputes since submission of the 2007 report.  Please note 
the Embassy no longer has contact or biographical information 
for the Claimants. 
 
2. a.  Claimant A 
 
   b.  1991 
 
   c.  According to Claimant's attorney, Claimant A asserts 
that he entered into a joint venture agreement with the GOL 
in 1989 to develop hotel and tourist properties.  The parties 
amended the lease agreement in 1990 at the GOL's request, to 
substitute the property originally agreed upon for properties 
near the Lane Xang Hotel, near the Mekong River.  Claimant A 
further asserts that in 1991 the GOL 
requested a $200,000 loan to assist in moving 20 families 
squatting on the premises, and then terminated the joint 
venture lease when Claimant refused to forward the money. 
 
Claimant A's attorney met with GOL officials in Vientiane in 
May 1997 to discuss an amicable resolution of the dispute, 
but on June 30, 1997, Claimant A filed suit in Federal 
District Court, Portland, Maine.  In May 1998, the U.S. 
Embassy sent a diplomatic note to the Lao Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs containing procedural questions on the deposition of 
witnesses in Laos for use in the case.  The 
Ministry responded to the note in July 1998.  According to 
Claimant A's lawyer, the court case was dismissed without 
prejudice on Claimant A's motion in the spring or summer of 
1998.  After dismissal, Claimant A's attorney informed the 
U.S. Embassy that a European government, which he declined to 
identify, had offered to mediate the claim.  Although the GOL 
reportedly refused such mediation, the attorney believed the 
GOL might change its position.  The U.S. Government is aware 
of no recent action on this claim.  Claimant A has not 
recently communicated with the Embassy on the status of this 
claim, and the Embassy no longer has any contact information 
for Claimant A. 
 
3.   a.  Claimant B 
 
     b.  2000 
 
     c.  Claimant B signed a Cooperation Agreement with the 
GOL in 1992 to explore and mine gold and in 1993 was granted 
a twenty-year mining license and a 10 square kilometer 
concession in Phaphon, Pak Ou District, Luang Prabang 
Province.  Claimant B reports investing 
over $10 million in the mining project. 
 
In 1995, Claimant B subcontracted with a Chinese company to 
perform mining and extraction services at one of its sites. 
The sub-contractor refused to leave the site after the 
contract expired and claims to have a contract dispute with 
Claimant B.  Between 1995 and 2000, Claimant B made repeated 
representations to the GOL to remove the sub-contractor from 
the site, to no avail.  Claimant B was unable to access and 
work at the site due to its occupation by the former 
sub-contractor.  During this period, the Embassy sent several 
letters under cover of diplomatic notes to high-ranking Lao 
officials, noting U.S. Government concern about Claimant B's 
situation.  None of these letters were answered.  Embassy 
personnel also raised the case with Lao officials in the 
central government and in the province.  In 2000, the Lao PDR 
government accused 
Claimant B of various "mistakes," including violations of the 
concession agreement and of Lao law, and incorrect reporting 
of financial information.  Lao authorities repeatedly 
required Claimant B to appear for questioning and to provide 
additional documentation, sometimes at short notice.  In 
early 2001, Claimant B left Laos and reportedly was 
consulting with American attorneys regarding possible 
legal options.  The Embassy has not heard from Claimant B 
since 2003 and has no current contact information. 
 
4.   a.  Claimant C 
 
     b.  2000 
 
     c.  Claimant C, a U.S. citizen, owns a 12 percent share 
in a mining company in Laos.  The company's majority 
investors are from Denmark and New Zealand.  Claimant C has 
not taken an active part in the management of the company. 
In 1994, the company signed a concession agreement with the 
 
VIENTIANE 00000339  002 OF 002 
 
 
Lao government for a sapphire mine in Bokeo province.  In 
1999, the government appointed an ad hoc committee to 
investigate internal disputes concerning claims by other 
parties to ownership of the company.  The Lao government 
reported that the company had provided false financial 
information and caused environmental damage, among other 
problems.  In December 1999, the company received a notice 
from the government suspending its export of raw and 
semi-processed sapphires, the company's main source of 
income.  In April 2000, the government notified the company 
that it was terminating the concession agreement.  The 
majority investors left the country. 
 
The majority investors subsequently were accused of criminal 
misconduct in the operation of their business.  In November 
2000, the company informed Lao government officials that it 
would not continue to attempt to resolve the dispute through 
negotiations and instead would file a lawsuit against the Lao 
government.  The majority investors were convicted in 
absentia in February 2001, and sentenced to 20 years 
imprisonment and fined $55 million in damages. 
No action has been taken against Claimant C.  Claimant C 
informed the Department of State that he intends to request 
the assistance of the U.S. Congress and U.S. Government and 
was considering taking his own legal action against the Lao 
government.  The Embassy has not recently been contacted by 
Claimant C and has no current contact information. 
 
4.  Claimant A:  Mr. Donald Scott 
    Claimant B:  Mr. Chris Yip 
    Claimant C:  Mr. Somkhit Vilavong 
 
MCGEEHAN