Fed: Laos yet to respond to Downer warning over Danes

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2001
Fed: Laos yet to respond to Downer warning over Danes

Australian ambassador to Laos, JONATHAN THWAITES, says Laos has failed to respond to
Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER'S warning that continuing detention of an Australian
couple is effecting bilateral relations.

Australia is one of the top four aid donors to Laos, allocating $20.4 million under
AusAID in 2000/01 for development programs.

But Mr THWAITES says that meanwhile, conditions in which KERRY and KAY DANES are being
held are becoming increasingly intolerable as temperatures rise.

Mr DOWNER on Wednesday told parliament that Laos must charge the couple, if authorities
believe they have committed crimes, or immediately free them.

Mr DANES, 42, and his 33-year-old wife have been held since December 23 on suspicion
of gem stone theft from the country's largest sapphire-miner, Gem Mining Lao PDR.

Both have denied any wrongdoing.

AAP RTV kjp/daw/wz

KEYWORD: LAOS DANES (CANBERRA)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.