Royal Lao Government

The Royal Lao Government was the ruling authority in the Kingdom of Laos from 1947 until the communist seizure of power in December 1975 and the proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.[1] The Franco-Lao Treaty of 1953 gave Laos full independence but the following years were marked by a rivalry between the neutralists under Prince Souvanna Phouma, the right wing under Prince Boun Oum of Champassak, and the left-wing, Lao Patriotic Front under Prince Souphanouvong and future Prime Minister Kaysone Phomvihane. During this period, a number of unsuccessful attempts were made to establish coalition governments.[2]

Pre-1975 Royal Lao flag

Notable members of the RLG

Other members of the Royal Lao Government included:

  • Prince Souphantharangsi – the secretary-general of the royal palace and brother of the king.
  • Prince Bovone Vatthana – former provincial governor and half brother of the king.
  • Prince Thongsouk – director of protocol of the royal palace and half brother of the king.
  • Prince Souk Bouavong – former provincial governor and minister.
  • Touby Lyfoung – deputy Minister for telecommunications.
  • Pheng Phongsavan – Minister of Interior

First Coalition Government

The First Coalition Government was founded on the basis of the Vientiane Agreements of 1957. It would last until May 1958.[3]

Second Coalition Government

The Second Coalition Government was founded as a condition toward enacting the International Agreement on the Neutrality of Laos in 1962. The Royalist defeat at the Battle of Luang Namtha weakened their bargaining position so that they agreed to the coalition.[4]

Aftermath

After the communist takeover in 1975, the communist Pathet Lao government killed members of the Royal Lao family, including:

  • King Savang Vatthana,
  • Queen Khamphoui,
  • Crown Prince Vong Savang, along with other former government officials, civil servants and those suspected of aiding forces that opposed the communist government.[5]
gollark: So it's more like "things Denmark and Sweden do and why I think they're great"?
gollark: Vaguely relatedly, I would be a bit dubious of a plan to "change the economy and political structure for a better, stronger, richer country that puts citizens first", inasmuch as presumably if there was an easy/comparatively obvious way to do that some countries would likely already try this.
gollark: I don't know. Sure, if you want?
gollark: Learning about electronics might be interesting.
gollark: Hmm. Well. It seems like you've gone through basically everything I might suggest and also a large amount of things I haven't, so no idea then.

See also

Sources
  1. Library of Congress – Laos – Glossary
  2. Laos: Royal Lao Government (RLG)
  3. Stuart-Fox, pp. 105, 366.
  4. Stuart-Fox, pp. 120, 292–293.
  5. Indigenous Peoples' Human Rights – History of the Hmong

References
  • Stuart-Fox, Martin (2008) Historical Dictionary of Laos. Scarecrow Press. ISBNs 0810864118, 9780810864115.
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