Energy and mines minister dies

Lao Minister of Energy and Mines, Dr Bosaikham Vongdara, died yesterday at the age of 60.

According to a press release from the government, Dr Bosaikham's health deteriorated this week.

Dr Bosaikham, who was also a member of the Party Central Committee, was offered extensive medical care by a team of local and foreign doctors but sadly died yesterday morning.

Dr Bosaikham was born on April 15, 1948 in Phonsavanh village, Paek district, Xieng Khuang province. He married Ms Vansy Vongdara and they had two children.

Dr Bosaikham joined the revolutionary movement in 1974 and worked as a technical official at the Central Economic Affairs Office in Viengxay, Huaphanh province until 1975.

From 1978 to 1982, he studied in the former Soviet Union and obtained a Doctorate in Geology. He was a secretary of the Lao student youth union while in Moscow .

From 1996 to 1999, he was Ministry of Industry and Handicraft Office Head and Party committee member for this ministry.

He was the Lao Trade Union President in 2005 and was e lected to the Party Central Committee in 2006.

Dr Bosaikham was Minister of Energy and Mines from 2006 until his death.

The Party Central Committee, National Assembly and government agreed to hold a memorial service to pay tribute to him. It started yesterday and will continue until Sunday in a hall of the Prime Minister's Office in Vientiane .

The Party Central Committee Secretariat has appointed a committee to host the memorial service for Dr Bosaikham. Minister of Labour of Social Welfare, Ms OnchanhThammavong, has been named committee president and Minister of Education Dr Somkot Mangnomek as vice president.


By Vientiane Times
(Latest Update July 25, 2008)