Was in Laos a couple of years ago for a couple of months. Yes violence is sporadic and country is generally peaceful. However it is a communist country with a gereatric, corrupt leadership way out of touch with the real world. Whel I was there in the capital I saw an unoffical curfew (but only if you're on a mootorbike - cars are for the rich) and various locals picked up by the army and taken off to god knows where for "questioning". Gives you a creepy feeling when you see it happening.
I guess this regime won't last forever and there are tensions in the government between Chinese and Vietnamese backed factions. Also the Thais have some concerns - border incidents etc.
As one french guy who owned ran a business said to me "At some point something will happen and the foreigners will be blamed - my bags are alwys packed and will leave the country within minutes".
I guess the problem for OXR is that they can't pick up the mine and leave.
Having said that - the above post and info seems reassuring and accurate as far as I know. The roads are so bad in Laos that the Sepon mine is a couple of days driving from Vang Vieng where the incident occured. So I'd guess say no problem really but can't discount the country risk.
Cheers hots
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