History of Laos

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History of Laos Kingdoms flourished on Lao territory for thousands of years, but written records are scarce before 1353, when Lan Xang (“land of a million elephants”) was established. Under King Fa Ngum, Lan Xang became a major trading center. Over the centuries, the kingdom struggled with neighbors for control of trade routes. Vientiane was a center of art, Buddhism, and culture under King Surinyavongsa, who ruled from 1637to 1686. In 1713, Lan Xang’s three provinces split into separate principalities that came under the influence of Siam (now Thailand) by the end of the 18th century. The French gained control of parts of eastern Siam in the late 1800s. In 1893, the Kingdom of Luang Prabang became a French protectorate and the remaining Lao areas became a French colony. The Japanese occupied Laos during World War II, but the French returned in 1946. Internal rule over a united Laos was granted to the King of Luang Prabang (King Sisavang Vong) in 1949, but Laos was still part of the French union until independence was achieved in 1953. A northern leftist group, Pathet Lao (“land of the Lao”),aided by North Vietnam, gained strength during the 1950s and eventually took control of many eastern parts of the country. Upon a cease-fire, the Pathet Lao joined a 1962 coalition government headed by Prince Souvanna Phouma. The Pathet Lao withdrew from that coalition in 1964. As the Vietnam War escalated, the Pathet Lao aligned with the Viet Minh (a communist movement) and fought against the governments of South Vietnam and Laos until a 1973 cease-fire. The Pathet Lao briefly participated in a new coalition but then took control of the country in 1975, declaring the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Kaysone Phomvihan, the Pathet Lao leader, became prime minister and Prince Souphanouvong (the Red Prince) became president. The United States bombed Lao territory intensively in the early 1970s in an effort to disrupt traffic along the Ho Chi Minh Trail that ran from North Vietnam through Laos and into South Vietnam. The bombing extended well beyond the trail and left permanent craters and unexploded weapons in many rural areas. After 1975, relations with the United States were strained but never broken. They began to improve in 1989. Since the 1990s, Laos’s leadership has focused on implementing economic reforms and attracting foreign investment. Political reforms are progressing at a slower pace. In 1991, anew constitution allowed for an elected National Assembly, but Laos Page 1 of 2 History of Laos remains a one-party state. Although independents may run for office, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) selects most candidates. References: “Laos (Lao People’s Democratic Republic).” CultureGrams World Edition. 2008. Page 2 of 2 .

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Iron Man of Laos Prince Phetsarath Ratanavongsa the Cornell University Southeast Asia Program
* fll!!I ''{f'':" ' J.,, .,.,Pc, IRON MAN OF LAOS PRINCE PHETSARATH RATANAVONGSA THE CORNELL UNIVERSITY SOUTHEAST ASIA PROGRAM The Southeast Asia Program was organized at Cornell University in the Department of Far Eastern Studies in 1950. It is a teaching and research program of interdisciplinary studies in the humanities, social sciences, and some natural sciences. It deals with Southeast Asia as a region, and with the individual countries of the area: Brunei, Burma, Indonesia, Kampuchea, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The activities of the Program are carried on both at Cornell and in Southeast Asia. They include an undergraduate and graduate curriculum at Cornell which provides instruction by specialists in Southeast Asian cultural history and present-day affairs and offers intensive training in each of the major languages of the area. The Program sponsors group research projects on Thailand, on Indonesia, on the Philippines, and on linguistic studies of the languages of the area. At the same time, individual staff and students of the Program have done field research in every Southeast Asian country. A list of publications relating to Southeast Asia which may be obtained on prepaid order directly from the Program is given at the end of this volume. Information on Program staff, fellowships, requirements for degrees, and current course offerings is obtainable· from the Director, Southeast Asia Program, 120 Uris Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853. 11 IRON MAN OF LAOS PRINCE PHETSARATH RATANAVONGSA by "3349" Trc1nslated by .John B. �1urdoch F.di ted by · David K. \-vyatt Data Paper: Number 110 -Southeast Asia Program Department of Asian Studies Cornell University, Ithaca, New York .November 197·8 Price: $5.00 111 CORNELL UNIVERSITY SOUTHEAST ASIA PROGRAM 1978 International Standard Book Number 0-87727-110-0 iv C.ONTENTS FOREWORD • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .
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