Australia Summons Laos Envoy Over Methanol Poisoning Deaths

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing Reuters and ABC, Australia on Friday, July 17, summoned Laos' ambassador in Canberra and said it was “extremely disappointed and frustrated” that Laos had not pursued tough criminal penalties over the deaths of two Australian citizens poisoned after drinking methanol-contaminated alcohol. Reuters said the two 19-year-old Australians, Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, died in 2024 after drinking the tainted alcohol in Vang Vieng. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement that Canberra expects any charges to reflect the severity of the tragedy that killed Bowles and Jones in November 2024, and said she would raise Australia’s concerns directly with the Lao foreign minister at next week’s ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila. ABC reported, without citing a source, that Lao authorities may bring two charges carrying a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a fine of up to A$1,600, and said the families of the two victims were “angry” over the proposed minor charges. Reuters also said four other Western tourists, including two Danes, one American and one Briton, died in Laos after drinking contaminated alcohol.