A reader has written about allegations (and here) that a large number of students and other protesters were arrested in Laos before the SEA Games. The Lao government has denied that such arrests ever occurred. The reader writes:
The government seems to be implying that anti-Lao government elements overseas have made up the story to try to discredit the government prior to the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane. I was in Laos during the SEA Games and could not find any evidence that these arrests occurred. However, some Lao in the US believe that the Lao government has covered things up, and that there is ample evidence to suggest that the arrests really did take place. In any case, it would be good to get a bit of a discussion going about whether these arrests took place or not. Maybe there are some out there with more information than me?