183. Editorial Note

On June 13, members of the Nationalist Party and the Party of Independents dissolved their existing political organizations and joined together in a united party under the name “Rally of the Lao People” (RLP) or as it was also known, “Lao Hom Lao” (LHL). Other unaffiliated deputies in the National Assembly joined the RLP. The new party then elected members of a provisional executive committee as follows:

  • President: Souvanna Phouma
  • First Vice President: Katay D. Sasorith
  • Second Vice President: Phoui Sananikone
  • Secretary General: Ngon Sananikone
  • Deputy Secretary General: Ounheaun Norasing
  • Treasury General: Chao Nith Nokham
  • Deputy Treasury General: Leuam Insisiengmay
  • Councilors: Pheng Phongsavan, Nouphat Chounramany, Phagna Khammao, Tane Chounlamountri.

The official communiqué of the “Rally of the Lao People” is in telegram 2149 from Vientiane, June 16. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/6–1658) An analysis of the potential impact of the new Lao party is in telegram 2152 from Vientiane, June 16. In it, the Embassy noted that the temporary executive committee of the RLP included, as could only realistically be expected, the same personalities which had dominated Lao politics in the past. The next objective, according to the Embassy, was to encourage appointment of younger Lao politicians to working-level positions of the party. (Ibid.)

On June 17, the official Lao Presse announced formulation on June 15 of a “Committee for the Defense of National Interests” (CDNI). The organization was an anti-corruption, anti-Communist group of 111 self-proclaimed young “merchants, industrialists, farmers, workers, [Page 457] intellectuals, police, functionaries civil and military.” The CDNI supported the creation of the “Rally of the Lao People,” called for other Lao to support it, and encouraged the RLP to get to work immediately to fulfill its professed goals. (Despatch 178 from Vientiane, June 19; ibid.,751J.00/6–1958)

The Country Team in Vientiane, in telegram 2233 from Vientiane, May 26, recommended a program for civic action, internal security, and administrative reform to keep Laos from falling under control of the NLHX at the next general election. The formation of the RLP was the first step; the next was formation of a government without the NLHX. (ibid., 751J.00/5–2658)

The documents described are included in the microfiche supplement.