Our Member in Laos, Sompawn Khantisouk, co-founder of award-winning Ecolodge "The Boat Landing Guesthouse" suddenly dissappeared on his way to the town in early 2007, escorted by men in "green uniforms" according to some reports. I had dedicated my presentation at the World Ecotourism Conference to him in May 2007 and enquired for info through contacts, to no avail. Three years after his family is still waiting for him to return... One hypothesis at the time was that he would 'resurface' when things were quiet so that various "stakeholders" could "save face", as is supposedly the cultural norm in these parts. Another hypothesis was that he had stepped on the toes of powerful private interests. An alternative theory, published in an annual review of the region was that Sompawn was made 'an example' , a victim of geopolitics in a border region. Geopolitics is a polite word to describe all those, on all sides, who play bloody chess games on the backs of ordinary people and communities, for profits and domination. The best reply to the forces of darkness is for ecotravellers to Laos to make an extra effort to stay at The Boat Landing Lodge to support his family and legacy.