Laos is a small landlocked nation that is largely unheard of in global affairs. It is a developing country that boasts a rich history. One closely connected with Thailand and Vietnam, but also distinct. It became one of the Cold War centers of attention after being a French protectorate meaning this is the first time for these histories that we will be looking at a French colonial holding. The main themes will be noticeably similar: Indian customs and traditions, European colony, Japanese occupation, and a subsequent struggle towards modern development. Its beginning to become clear just how much Southeast Asia has in common. However, when you talk about something as complicated as Indian customs and traditions, colonial interest, or reactions to imperial Japan there are always unique interpretations, characters, and other factors that mould their history differently.
Opening Facts
Rather than start with the details of Laos early beginnings I will instead begin by outlining some shocking facts from the 20th century that still plague the nation in the 21st:
Over two million tons of bombs were dropped on Laos by the US during the Vietnam War between 1964-1973 making it the most heavily bombed nation in history.
An average of eight bombs per minute were dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War through over 580,000 bombing missions against the North Vietnamese overshadowing all of World War Two.
Laos continues to be burdened with recurring deaths and injuries caused from the unexploded ordinance that scatter their fields and forests
I start with these facts as many people, myself included, did not know of Laos existence or struggle until these events were brought to light. The war operations in Laos have been popularly dubbed the “Secret War” as the country was supposed to be considered neutral during the war happening in neighboring Vietnam. The North Vietnamese, however, were closely engrained with the Laos people dating back to their earlier French colonial times when both nations were French protectorates.
This unfortunate outcome had little to do with Laos earlier history. The country was swept up in global affairs that they had little knowledge or impact on. However, the country would be changed forever because of it. As it began opening itself for tourism in the 1990s the cloud has been lifted and there is interest in their story. Keeping these facts in mind we will proceed through their formation to modern times.
Early History
Laos early history is one shared with Thailand. They were are a branch of the Tai peoples that shared a similar language and customs. They were likely an accumulation of various Tai groups that lived around northern Laos and Southern China. Their civilization wouldn’t have been considered sophisticated by the standards developing all around them. From the north the Mongol invasion would force them south into what would grow to be Luang Prabang. Legend has it that the Buddha smiled when he rested during his travels in Luang Prabang. The town, beautifully situated on the Mekong river had its early begins as “Muong Swa”. The word muong having clear similarity with the Thai word discussed in our previous blog.
Lan Xang
Laos enters recorded history with the Lan Xang kingdom. Popularly translating as “The Kingdom of a Million Elephants”. The kingdom was founded by Fa Ngum who is believed to have been part of a family that was banished to Angkor where he grew up. He would prosper and grow in power before returning on military conquest that would end with him proclaiming himself a king. This was the 14th century notably later than their Tai, Burmese, Khmer, and Chinese counterparts.
The Lan Xang followed Theravada Buddhism consistent with their relative Tai kingdoms. They grew their modest kingdom before they would be swept into neighboring affairs. A recurring theme in Laos history. Later in the 15th century the Vietnamese would invade and the 16th century would see conflict with Burma and Ayudhya. At one point a king had succeeded on placing his son on the Chiang Mai throne, but this would be short lived. Conflict continued and the capital was moved from Luang Prabang to Vien Chan, near the modern capital of Vientiane.
Luang Prabang & Vien Chan
The 17th century would see Laos split into northern and southern kingdoms. From Vien Chan leadership entered treaties to secure their borders with the Thai and Vietnamese kingdoms. An opportunistic nephew of a dying king sought the help of the Vietnamese to bring him to power as ruler of a vassal state. Member of the royal family in the northern provinces refused to accept this status and formed an independent kingdom based in the old capital of Luang Prabang. The beginning of the 18th century would see a third kingdom rise in the south, Champassak. Laos had rapidly gone from being one unified state to three rivals. Each had differing allegiances with Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
These conflicts would add one more dominant player shifting much of the region into its own hands and bringing about a new era.
Colonial Government
French Indochina* consisted of territory in modern Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Southern China. Being close to China and having access to resources was important for competing European powers and the region was selected by France in the mid to late 19th century. However, given Laos mountainous and landlocked geography the French presence was less pervasive. Some estimates state that France never had more than a thousand officials in the country which pales in comparison to their deeper involvement in Vietnam.
*The name Indochina was used by France because of the noticeable Indian and Chinese influence on the region.
Given that most of their resources were focused along the Vietnamese coastline the colonial economy was run on what can be dubbed the:
Three beasts of burden
Opium
Alcohol
Salt
The monopolization of these three items ran the colonial economy for France. The usage of these products was encouraged, which was evidently not positive for the locals.
Earlier we highlighted that the North Vietnamese were closely engrained with Laos. This was encouraged through French common ownership of both territories. As Laos was less populated the Vietnamese settled in large numbers to the point that by 1943 some estimates state that they represented 60% of the region’s population leaving the Laos a minority in their own country. The Laos people were the majority in the royal capital of Luang Prabang, while the French administrative capital was in Vientiane, the site of their modern capital. This fact is not very significant while Laos was a French protectorate quietly living its agricultural existence, but it would become important as affairs in Vietnam change in modern history.
At this point the French and Laos appeared to have a strong relationship compared with other colonial systems. Some have said that the protectorate system was celebrated as it did appear to benefit the local societies.
The elite were educated by the French in Vietnam, France, or Vientiane. They safeguarded their cultural buildings and refurbished ancient monuments. Most of the people were too poor to afford French architecture, but one can notice its influence walking the modern streets of Luang Prabang. In some cases, the Frenchmen and Laos women would form relationships creating a “metis” population. French literature and poetry were brought to the area with works such as “Les Filles de Luang Prabang” detailing their affections for the Laos women. As far as colonial outposts go it did not seem to be one looked upon with importance by the overall administration based in France. Through its beasts of burden, it probably sought to sustain itself rather than generate any noticeable income for France.
As is consistent with other histories, once the elite children leave their humble surroundings and enter the comparatively free European societies they begin wanting it for their own homeland. One such figure is Ngimm.
Modern History
French control continued into the Second World War when an opportunistic Japan occupied in 1940 with France caught up in defending their own borders.
In the aftermath of the war the world was expected to decolonize. Laos was first promised independence within the French Union in 1950 before further expectations were outlined at the 1954 Geneva Conference for French rule to be fully discontinued. Japan ceded all the areas they occupied and as we have learned through our histories of Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines. Europe and the United States were also expected to coordinate independence for their nations.
The French, however, did not want to part with their Indochina. They were willing to ease but still wanted ultimate control. Neighboring Vietnam erupted in war receiving communist backing, and their geographic and cultural proximity would act to pull Laos into the equation. Internally, Laos had already been divided with some parties interested in a fully autonomous Laos and others interested in remaining French.
The world became a place where democracy was on one side and communism was on the other. The great powers were willing to fight and provide significant resources in order to bring the lesser nations over to their side. Quietly, the Cold War affected Laos, as directly as it was seen in Vietnam and Korea but certainly not as publicized.
This leads us into the Laos Civil War that is dated from 1959 – 1975.
Laos Civil War
A political party known as the Pathet Lao (PL) emerged in 1950 amidst their tension with France. They were supported by the North Vietnam Communists, the Viet Minh, who would eventually use it as a strategic route to access the south along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The large presence of Vietnamese people certainly assisted them. The other side of the fence was the Royal Lao Government (RLG), which was favoured in the Geneva Conference to assume control of the country. Given the Pathet Lao’s progress in the north however, there were zones that they held de facto control. The instability would eventually erupt into war.
In 1975 the Pathet Lao emerged victorious against the Royal Lao Government (RLG) as part of the overall Indochina communist victory. They would initiate the Laos People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR) ending six centuries of monarchy.
Post-War Laos Forms a Communist Government
By 1976 Soviet “experts” were at work and even occupied former U.S. compounds after U.S aid was driven out of the area. They wanted to introduce socialist policies into Laos that would lead them to prosperity. They sought a process known as “Agricultural Collectivisation” along with basic co-operatives. Complicated terms for centralized farming where all the farming output would be pooled and then distributed.
It was poorly planned from the start and was met with near immediate resistance from local farmers. Some of the farmers reacted defensively abandoning farms and seeking other work. The change was too rapid and disruptive for people that had been living without much disturbance and applying traditional farming methods. This quickly shifted to a form of “market socialism” which utilized market pricing instead of those centrally set by the government. These attempts continued into the 80s and 90s before socialist economic structures began to be dismantled by Kaysone Phomvihane, Laos Prime Minister and President from 1975 to 1992.
As the communist bloc fell so too did its aid for foreign nations. This was serious for Laos who relied upon it to offset their trade deficits. One such program was Comecon, “Council for Mutual Economic Assistance”, an agency formed initially to provide support for Eastern European countries under the Soviet bloc. In the 80s the agency provided Laos with $52M in 1988, and by 1989 this fell to $1M and finally $0 by 1990.
During this era of the Pathet Lao’s leadership there did emerge prison camps consistent with the Soviet Siberian gulags or those in neighboring Vietnam and Cambodia. They are significantly less documented, but some stories have been retained. For instance, members of the royal family were sent to the mysterious “Camp 5” never to return, and there is another story of prisoners being sent to “Camp 6” near the Vietnamese border. The prisoners had not heard of it when they were being transported, and upon arrival were dropped off in the woods and instructed to build the prison that would hold them.
Many of prisoners were told that they were being sent to education seminars or re-education to learn the nations new way of operating. Their expectation of being away for days or weeks extended to weeks and years.
Unexploded ordinance & Opium
The Vietnam War or its “Secret War” that occurred in Laos unfortunately did not end in the 1970s. The people are still restricted and affected by unexploded cluster bombs that scatter Laos territory.
Here is where we arrive at our opening facts, and Laos struggle to overcome them. Removal attempts are done by clearance teams that risk their lives every day to clear these remnants. Though it is increasingly infrequent lives are claimed or seriously altered by injury from surprise explosions. Many of the victims need prosthetic limbs that supporting funds provide. To assist with rectifying the issues US President Obama visited the nation in 2016 and promised $90M over a period of three years to assist the Laos government. A significant improvement on the $100M that was spent in the twenty years leading up to his visit. No formal American apology was given. In the markets of Luang Prabang locals seek to turn this scrap metal into products for sale to tourists. They manipulate it into spoons, key chains, and ornaments as a way of finding some prosperity out of a tragic past. One can hope that people are not at risk searching for these materials.
In addition, Opium continues in a region known as the Golden Triangle where the borders of Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand meet. It is primarily driven on the Myanmar side of the border, but Laos does have some involvement in the drug trade. It isn't encouraged like in their colonial days but it could materialize as a growing problem.
Concluding Facts
As we opened with some staggering facts of their struggle, we will close with facts of hope and promise:
Since 1996 Laos has cleared more than 1.8 million items of unexploded ordinance. Brave Laos people risk their lives everyday for a safer future for farmers and children.
GDP has been consistently growing at a range of 6-7% driven by agriculture and tourism
Laos joined ASEAN in 1997 and the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2013
Higher margin coffee growth has been introduced and is replacing some rice cultivation
China has a planned railroad stretching through Laos and into Cambodia
Facts like the above give reason for optimism and demonstrate incredible progress. Our histories have thus far been focused on developing Asia and it is reasonable to say that undeniable progress has been seen in each of the countries we’ve covered. For many, the simple fact of our ability to visit as travellers displays this fact. it quickly becomes apparent how fortunate we are. In many ways this is an unparalleled golden age. As the bar continues to lower for what we see as acceptable it sometimes blinds us in thinking we haven’t progressed. In some ways that may be true, our mental world is complex, and we don’t quite understand the implications of our advances yet, but our physical world is undeniably safer. Countries like Laos still have a long way to go, but in more and more places, necessities are being met*. One of the best ways to help is to spend your money and visit. Travelling to these places gives you gratitude for the abundance of the west, and learning their story gives you appreciation for how far we’ve all come.
*For anybody that holds doubts about this or is an optimist in need of some useful debating facts we would encourage you to check out Enlightenment Now by Stephen Pinker.
We will soon be saying goodbye to Asia for awhile. In just over a week we depart South Korea for Dubai to begin a month exploring parts of the Middle East. Stay tuned and we can learn together just how much similarity or difference we find. If you have any comments, questions, or criticism we’re always open for discussion. Reach out to us at camraineventures@gmail.com and subscribe for more content.
Sources:
General History
A History of Southeast Asia – Arthur Cottrell
A Short History of Laos: The Land in Between by Grant Evans (2002)
French Indochina
Unexploded Ordinance