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35-493: Up to 23,000 people lived in the caves, which contained a hospital, a school, Pathet Lao offices, bakeries, shops, and even a theatre. The area was home to the communist forces, who were fighting the royalist forces , based in Vientiane . The caves were used for living and working in because the U. S. Air Force was bombing the area so heavily. Locals say that farmers had to farm at night to avoid bombing raids. Viengxay served as

70-727: A base for the communist forces (and holding facility for captured US servicemen) because it was close to the North Vietnamese border for logistical and political support. The Lao government intends to promote the caves as a tourism destination, similar to the Củ Chi tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and the Killing Fields Memorial near Phnom Penh in Cambodia . It is an unusual site in that it offers

105-738: A degree from École Libre des Sciences Politiques (now called Sciences Po ) in Paris, where French diplomats were trained. The young heir continued his studies in France, and after a decade overseas, he could no longer speak Lao . Upon his return, he had to be instructed by a palace functionary for years. On 7 August 1930, he married Queen Khamphoui and they had five children, Crown Prince Vong Savang , Prince Sisavang Savang , Prince Sauryavong Savang , Princess Savivanh Savang , and Princess Thala Savang . The family played tennis together, and liked to attend major tournaments on their travels abroad. The prince

140-555: A series of coups and countercoups resulted in the final alignment of the Pathet Lao on one side and the neutralist and right-wing factions on the other. From this point, the Pathet Lao refused to join any offers of coalition or national elections and the Laotian Civil War began. On 23 August 1975, Pathet Lao forces entered Vientiane , the last city to be captured. The Phouma Government became effectively powerless for

175-593: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . 20°24′N 104°14′E  /  20.40°N 104.23°E  / 20.40; 104.23 Kingdom of Laos The Kingdom of Laos was the form of government in Laos from 1947 to 1975. Located in Southeast Asia at the heart of the Indochinese Peninsula , it was bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, North Vietnam to

210-562: The Lao People's Democratic Republic , which has controlled Laos ever since. Given self-rule with the new Constitution in 1947 as part of the French Union and a federation with the rest of French Indochina , the 1953 Franco-Lao Treaty finally established a sovereign, independent Laos, but did not stipulate who would rule the country. In the years that followed, three groups, led by the so-called Three Princes , contended for power:

245-675: The Paris Peace Accords between the United States and North Vietnam. In April 1974, another Provisional Government of National Unity was established, with Prince Souvanna Phouma as Prime Minister. However, by this time, Pathet Lao forces controlled large areas of the country, and following the fall of Saigon and Phnom Penh to communist forces in April 1975, removed any chances of a coalition government forming in Laos. Following

280-576: The Pathet Lao and the North Vietnamese Communist movement. During 1957, the United States spent more per capita on foreign aid for Laos than it had on any other nation. That worked out as US$ 150 per Laotian, twice the average person's annual income. Some of the money went to support pro-American candidates in an election, while other money went to a program to support the local currency, the kip . King Savang Vatthana visited

315-585: The Royal Lao Government took control of the country. This treaty established a constitutional monarchy, with Sisavang Vong as King and Prince Souvanna Phouma as Prime Minister . Many attempts were made by the Three Princes and King Sisavang Vatthana to establish a coalition government. The First Government of National Unity was established in 1958 under Prince Souvanna Phouma , but collapsed after two months. The Prime Minister, who under

350-597: The Royal Palace of Luang Prabang , the son of King Sisavang Vong and Queen Kham-Oun I . He was the second of five children along with Princess Khampheng, Princess Sammathi, Prince Sayasack, and Prince Souphantharangsri. He was also a distant cousin of Prince Souvanna Phouma and Prince Souphanouvong . At the age of 10, Prince Savang was sent to study in France . He attended a lycée in Montpellier and obtained

385-716: The Communist Party was named Minister of Religion and Fine Arts. The legislature of the Kingdom was bicameral. The Kingdom of Laos was divided into five military regions. The Royal Lao Armed Forces were responsible for the defense of the country, comprising three branches of service: the Royal Lao Army , the Royal Lao Navy , and the Royal Lao Air Force , which was under the control of

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420-645: The Ministry of Defence in Vientiane. The United States supplied the Royal Lao Navy with twenty river patrol boats and sixteen amphibious landing craft. Between 1962 and 1971, the United States provided Laos with an estimated US$ 500 million in military assistance. The Royal Lao Government had close relations with the United States , which gave the country aid and assisted it in the campaign against

455-542: The Pathet Lao fight the Royal Lao Army. The attack resulted in the army largely demobilizing, leaving the conflict to irregular forces raised by the United States and Thailand. Massive aerial bombardment against Pathet Lao and PAVN forces was carried out by the United States. It has been reported that Laos was hit by an average of one B-52 bombload every eight minutes, 24 hours a day, between 1964 and 1973. US bombers dropped more ordnance on Laos in this period than

490-475: The United States in 1963 to meet with President Kennedy . Laos was also supported by France , Australia , Burma , Thailand and Japan . In 1960, amidst a series of rebellions, fighting broke out between the Royal Lao Army and the Soviet Union -backed, communist Pathet Lao , a second Provisional Government of National Unity formed by Prince Souvanna Phouma in 1962 proved to be unsuccessful, and

525-580: The United States initiated a bombing campaign against the North Vietnamese positions, supported regular and irregular anticommunist forces in Laos, including those led by Hmong General Vang Pao , and supported Army of the Republic of Vietnam incursions into Laos. It also provided supplies, training and funding for the central government. In 1968, the PAVN launched a multi-division attack to help

560-674: The capital to give the new government his blessing. In 1962, the king formed a coalition government which soon collapsed. In March 1963, accompanied by his prime minister, Souvanna Phouma, the king toured 13 countries signatory to the Geneva Conference that guaranteed the "neutrality" of the Kingdom of Laos on "diplomatic missions", starting with the USSR, where he received gifts of GAZ-13 "Chaika" limousines, before meeting US president John F. Kennedy in Washington, D.C. In 1964,

595-464: The communist victories in both countries, they advanced on to Vientiane. On 2 December 1975 in Vientiane, Prince Vong Savang submitted the letter of abdication of King Savang Vatthana to the Pathet Lao. The Lao People's Democratic Republic was established with Prince Souphanouvong as President . Kaysone Phomvihane acted as Prime Minister and Secretary-General of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party . About 30,000 to 40,000 citizens and members of

630-580: The constitution appointed his ministers and received advice from the King, made a deal with his brother Prince Souphanouvong . Souvanna Phouma gave the Communists two seats in the Cabinet, and in return Souphanouvong would integrate 1,500 of his 6,000 Communist troops into the royal army. Prince Souphanouvong was given the post of Minister of Planning, Reconstruction and Urbanization, while another member of

665-413: The east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and southwest. The country was governed as a constitutional monarchy beginning with its independence on 22 October 1953. It survived until December 1975, when its last king, Sisavang Vatthana , surrendered the throne to the Pathet Lao during the civil war in Laos , who abolished the monarchy in favour of a Marxist–Leninist state called

700-416: The former government. During his time in the camp, he and other members of the royal family were allowed to move freely around their compounds during the day, and were often visited by members of the politburo, including Souphanouvong himself. Vatthana was the oldest prisoner in the camp and turned 70 during the earlier months of his imprisonment, whereas the average age of prisoners was around 55. In 1978,

735-409: The government reported that Vatthana, Queen Khamphoui , and Crown Prince Vong Savang had died from malaria. The World Press Review reported that they had suffered from the effects of forced labor and starvation. More recent accounts suggest that the King died in mid-March 1980. However, according to Kaysone Phomvihane , Vatthana died in 1984, at the age of 77. Following the deaths of Vatthana and

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770-531: The issue of who would rule. As a result, the position of prime minister was disputed between three princes: Prince Souvanna Phouma , a neutralist, operated from Vientiane , whose claim was recognized by the Soviet Union ; Prince Boun Oum of Champassak in the south, right-wing and pro- United States , dominated the Pakse area and was recognized as prime minister by the US; and in the far north, Prince Souphanouvong led

805-468: The leftist Pathet Lao resistance movement, drawing support from North Vietnam and having his claim backed of the Communists. To avoid argument over whether any of the three princes was the "legitimate" Prime Minister, all sides would deal through the pro-Western king. In 1961, a majority of the National Assembly had already voted Boun Oum into power and the king left Luang Prabang , visiting

840-462: The neutralists under Prince Souvanna Phouma , the right-wing party under Prince Boun Oum of Champassak, and the left-wing, North Vietnamese -backed Pathet Lao under Prince Souphanouvong and future Prime Minister Kaysone Phomvihane . The Pathet Lao would eventually emerge victorious in the Laotian Civil War and establish the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 1975. The Kingdom of Laos

875-521: The next few months. On 2 December, Vatthana was forced to abdicate the throne by the Pathet Lao, abolishing the 600-year-old monarchy, and was appointed to the meaningless position of "Supreme Advisor to the President". He refused to leave the country and in 1976 he surrendered the royal palace to the Lao Government, which turned it into a museum, and moved to a nearby private residence where he

910-608: The old government, including the royal family, were taken to re-education camps in remote areas of Laos. The King, Queen and Crown Prince all died in captivity. 17°58′N 102°36′E  /  17.967°N 102.600°E  / 17.967; 102.600 Sisavang Vatthana Sisavang Vatthana ( Lao : ພຣະບາທ ສົມເດັຈ ພຣະເຈົ້າ ມຫາຊີວິຕ ສຼີສວ່າງ ວັທນາ ) or sometimes Savang Vatthana (full title: Samdach Brhat Chao Mavattaha Sri Vitha Lan Xang Hom Khao Phra Rajanachakra Lao Phengdara Parama Sidha Khattiya Suriya Varman Brhat Maha Sri Savangsa Vadhana ; 13 November 1907 – 13 May 1978)

945-487: The opportunity to explore a largely intact revolutionary base. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Netherlands Development Agency and Asian Development Bank have been asked to help develop the site for international visitors. A project plan has been drawn up in conjunction with the Caves Office and implementation has begun, with improved signage and interpretation at sites. This Laotian location article

980-551: The situation steadily deteriorated thereafter as the conflict in Laos became a focus for superpower rivalry. During the North Vietnamese invasion of Laos , the Pathet Lao were backed militarily by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and Vietcong . Laos was also dragged into the Vietnam War after parts of Laos were invaded and occupied by North Vietnam for use as a supply route for its war against South Vietnam . In response,

1015-721: Was a strong advocate of the Convention on Cluster Munitions to ban the weapons and assist victims and hosted the First Meeting of States Parties to the convention in November 2010. In 1975, the Pathet Lao, along with the PAVN and backed by the Soviet Union, overthrew the royalist Lao government, forcing King Savang Vatthana to abdicate on 2 December 1975. A ceasefire was finally attained in February 1973, following

1050-673: Was also a devout Buddhist and became an authority on the Sangha , and would later take his role as protector of the state religion seriously. During World War II , he represented his father with the Japanese forces. His father sent him to the Japanese headquarters in Saigon , where he vigorously protested about the Japanese actions, when they invaded Laos and forced them to declare independence from France. In 1951, Savang served as prime minister, and when his father became ill on 20 August 1959, he

1085-525: Was dropped during the whole of the Second World War. Of the 260 million bombs that rained down, particularly on Xiangkhouang Province on the Plain of Jars , some 80 million failed to explode and continue to injure and kill residents to this day. Laos is the most heavily bombed country, per capita, in the world. Because it was particularly heavily affected by cluster bombs during this war, Laos

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1120-545: Was later placed under house arrest. In March 1977, fearing Vatthana might escape to lead a resistance, the Communist authorities arrested him along with the Queen, Crown Prince Vong Savang , Prince Sisavang , and his brothers Princes Souphantharangsri and Thongsouk and sent them to the northern province of Viengxai . He was transported to Xam Neua and imprisoned in "Camp Number One," which held high-ranking officials from

1155-479: Was named Regent . On 29 October 1959, he informally acceded upon the death of his father. He was, however, never officially crowned king, deferring his coronation until the cessation of civil war. The king was active in politics as he was trying to stabilize Laos after the political turmoil started with the Geneva Conference of July 1954, which granted full independence to the country but did not settle

1190-494: Was officially proclaimed when the new Constitution was promulgated in 1947, as part of the colonial French Union , and obtained full independence in 1953. The monarchy lasted until 2 December 1975, when the last king Sisavang Vatthana abdicated the throne to the Pathet Lao , who abolished the kingdom and proclaimed Laos as a communist state . Following the Franco-Lao Treaty of 1953, which gave Laos independence,

1225-473: Was the last king of the Kingdom of Laos and the 6th prime minister of Laos serving from 29 October to 21 November 1951. He ruled from 1959 after his father's death until his forced abdication in 1975. His rule ended with the takeover by the Pathet Lao in 1975, after which he and his family were sent to a re-education camp by the new government . Prince Savang Vatthana was born on 13 November 1907 at

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