The Lens: Laos government must take safety seriously after mass poisoning incident

The incidents of mass poisoning in Northern Laos will negatively affect the reputation of the country.

This is a significant incident involving many injuries and deaths; it would make tourists question their safety in the town of Vang Vieng and deem it unsafe to visit.

The local tourism industry would decline since tourists’ comfort level and feeling of safety contribute significantly to the popularity of attractions and destinations.

With lower levels of confidence in Vang Vieng, there would be less spending as tourists would be reluctant to go to bars or order drinks at restaurants.

The tourist industry in Vang Vieng could improve by making a visible effort to follow global health guidelines in restaurants.

They could also prepare food in more sanitary conditions in order to relieve customers’ worries. Servers and chefs could wear obvious safety equipment; for example, even though chefs typically wear aprons, they could wear gloves and protective eye goggles to prepare food. Businesses may also undergo frequent sanitation and cleaning.

In addition to improving the sanitary conditions of these businesses, these actions would also reassure customers that they are safe.

The government of Laos should do its part to make amends for the situation. An official apology to Australia and the people affected is in order. The government should also send out health officials to ensure all businesses follow health regulations.

They could take more proactive approaches, like sanctioning businesses that do not follow the rules, closing them down, or prosecuting those who repeatedly violate regulations.

This would send a message to the global community that Laos will take hygiene and food standards seriously from now on.

Read up on the issue in last week’s The Lens

A new report from Amnesty International Indonesia found evidence of at least 116 cases of police brutality from January to November this year, including 29 extrajudicial killings.

The group also closely examined police misconduct during nationwide protests over changes to the election law in August and said at least 579 civilians were subjected to arbitrary arrests, physical violence, and improper use of tear gas.

Calls to end police brutality in Indonesia were echoed by the Jakarta-based rights group Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras).

The group recently reported that it had evidence of 62 acts of torture by law enforcement between January and November of this year, with a total of 128 victims.

Of all victims, 93 were civilians while 35 were crime suspects, with the police being the perpetrators in most cases, Kontras said.

Accusations of excessive force came under fresh scrutiny last month when a police officer in the city of Semarang in Central Java gunned down a 17-year-old high-school student, allegedly due to a minor motorbike accident.

In one version of the story, the officer, Second Adjunct Inspector Robig Zaenudin, allegedly tried to prevent a brawl between two local gangs by firing four warning shots, including one that killed Gamma Rizkynata Oktafandy.

In the second version, Robig’s scooter was bumped by Gamma’s. CCTV footage showed Robig later parked his scooter in the middle of the street before shooting at Gamma and two others.

Robig was fired from the force and named a criminal suspect following an ethics trial by the internal affairs division.

Gufron Mabruri is a member of the National Police Commission, an external oversight body of the national police. He urged authorities to find a comprehensive solution to the police’s continued pattern of violence.

Staff writer

• What steps should be taken to address police brutality in Indonesia? Should officers be punished? If so, how?

• What do these incidents say about law enforcement in Indonesia?