| Communist takeover of Laos | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofLaotian Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Pathet Lao North Vietnam |  Kingdom of Laos United States Thailand | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| SouphanouvongKaysone PhomvihaneLê Duẩn | Savang VatthanaOudone Sananikone (AWOL)Kouprasith Abhay (AWOL)Vang Pao (AWOL)Gerald FordKukrit Pramoj | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Between 30,000-40,000 Hmong soldiers had been killed in combat and between 2,500-3,000 were missing in action in the end of the war[1] | |||||||
| 300,000+ people displaced | |||||||
TheCommunist takeover of Laos was culminated by a final offensive launched byPathet Lao forces supported by theNorth Vietnamese Army in April 1975 that resulted in the proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on 2 December 1975.
The U.S. pulled out of Laos in 1973, as stipulated by theParis Peace Accords. Thailand likewise began to withdraw its troops from Laos following the signing of the Paris Accords.[2] North Vietnam was not required to remove its forces under the terms of the treaty.
The national government was forced to accept the Pathet Lao into the government.During 1974 and 1975 the balance of power in Laos shifted steadily in favour of the Pathēt Lao as the U.S. disengaged itself from Indochina. Prime MinisterSouvanna Phouma was tired and demoralised, and following a heart attack in mid-1974 he spent some months recuperating in France, after which he announced that he would retire from politics following the elections scheduled for early 1976.
The anti-communist forces were thus leaderless, and also divided and deeply mired in corruption. Souphanouvong, by contrast, was confident and a master political tactician, and had behind him the disciplined cadres of the communist party and the Pathēt Lao forces and the North Vietnamese army. The end of American aid also meant the mass demobilization of most of the non-Pathēt Lao military forces in the country. The Pathēt Lao on the other hand continued to be both funded and equipped by North Vietnam.
In May 1974 Souphanouvong put forward an 18-point plan for "National Reconstruction", which was unanimously adopted – a sign of his increasing dominance. The plan was mostly uncontroversial, with renewed promises of free elections, democratic rights and respect for religion, as well as constructive economic policies. But press censorship was introduced in the name of "national unity", making it more difficult for non-communist forces to organise politically in response to the creeping Pathēt Lao takeover. In January 1975 all public meetings and demonstrations were banned. Recognising the trend of events, influential business and political figures began to move their assets, and in some cases themselves, to Thailand, France or the U.S.
On 14th April, heavy fighting erupted nearSala Phou Khoun with Vientiane side sending four 105mm howitzers and one divisions to counter communist advances.[3]
On 23rd April, Pathet Lao captured the strategic junction atSala Phou Khoun after four days of fighting, with right-wing claiming that two of their fighters were killed and four injured.[4]
On 26th April, rightists were reportedly pushed out ofPhouphanang,Dane Soung andNa Hnang.[5]
On 7th May, Pathet Lao troops supported by tanks and artillery captured two outposts north ofMuang Kasi.[6] A day later they captured Muang Kasi after 10 minutes of fighting.[7] On 9 May five rigt-wing ministers resigned from the government including the Defense Minister,Sisouk na Champassak, and Finance MinisterNgon Sananikone;Khamphai Abphay, Minister of Public Health;Tianethone Chantharasy, the Deputy Foreign Minister, andHoumphanh Saignasith, the Deputy Minister of Public Works.[8] On 14 May troops inVang Vieng revolted and joined communists. Meanwhile the Lao Air Force was grounded by the new communist defence minister.[9]
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On 21st May, protesters occupied and looted the USAID compound inVientiane demanding all employees to leave. Meanwhile Pathet Lao security guards were preventing American families from the military base neighborhood.[10] On 26th May a U.S. backed guerilla unit reportedly surrendered to communist in the Ban Chieng village north of Vientiane near Muong Kassi.[11] On 28th May, it was reported that Pathet Lao deployed a number of 23mm and 37mm anti-aircraft guns on the runaway of theWattay International Airport.[12]
On 20th June, Pathet Lao capturedTha Deua port, followed by theXaythany district north of Vientiane on 26th June.[13] On 23 August 1975, a contingent of 50 Pathet Lao women symbolically liberated the city. On 2 December, the day after the Pathet Lao-organizedNational Conference of People's Representatives voted to immediate abolition of the monarchy (on 1 December), KingSavang Vatthana agreed to abdicate andSouvanna Phouma resigned. TheLao People's Democratic Republic was proclaimed, with Souphanouvong asPresident.Kaysone Phomvihane emerged from the shadows to becomePrime Minister and the real ruler of the country.[14]
On 28th May[15] or 3rd June[13] Pathet Lao troops enteredSainyabuli, followed byLuang Prabang (9th June) andHouayxay (14th June).[16] On 20th June locals inPak Lay andBorikham revolted against the government and set up a new left-wing administration.[17]
On 16th May Pathet Lao enteredPakse[18], followed byThakhek and Kengkok (19th May),Savannakhet[19] andSeno (20th May)[20],Phonthong (24th May)[15] andChampasak (25th May).[13]
On 1st June the anti-communist base inKong My surrendered to communists.[21]
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On 14th May, communists overran CIA-backed base atLong Tieng which housed Hmong guerillas fighting against Pathet Lao.[22] On 18th May, Hmong bases atSam Thong andBouamlong fell without any significant fighting.[23] Six days later it was reported that around 50,000 Hmong people, some of them armed, have gathered in their former base ofBan Xon attempting to follow their leader and flee to Thailand.[24]
On 29th May 1975, about 10,000Hmong people, attempted to crossHin Heup bridge traveling toVientiane. As the group crossed the bridge Pathet Lao forces open fire on the column using mortars,M16s, and bayonets. Many people jumped into the river to flee the firing troops, by the end of the massacre 14 civilians were killed and over 100 wounded.[25][26]
What nobody had anticipated was how tens of thousands of Hmong, left behind inLong Tieng and Laos, would followVang Pao and other Hmong leaders to Thailand. By the end of 1975, about 40,000 Hmong had succeeded to reaching Thailand, traveling on foot through the mountains and floating across theMekong River.[27] How many died or were killed in their attempt to escape Laos is not known, but the flight of Hmong and other Laotian highland peoples into Thailand would continue for many more years. They faced repression at home from the communist government for their collaboration with the Americans. Most of the Hmong in Thailand would eventually be resettled in the United States and other countries. Between 1975 and 1982, 53,700 Hmong and other highland Laotian refugees wereresettled in the United States and thousands more in other countries.[28]
About 90 percent of Laos's intellectuals, technicians, and officials left Laos following the communist takeover. Many of the professional and intellectual class, who had initially been willing to work for the new regime, changed their minds and left; a much easier thing to do from Laos than from either Vietnam or Cambodia. In proportional terms, Laos experienced the largest refugee flight of the Indochinese nations, with a full 10% of the population – 300,000 people out of a total of 3 million – crossing the border into Thailand.[29]
In May 1975 multiple important figure in the government fled the country to Thailand in the face of communist offensive, including chief of staffOudone Sananikone, major generalKouprasith Abhay,[30] commander of the south Souchay Vongsavan,[31] and prince of ChampassakBoun Oum. GeneralVang Pao together with his wifeMay Song Vang were evacuated to Thailand shortly before the fall of Long Tieng.[32]