Lao Issara

Kingdom of Laos
ພຣະຣາຊອານາຈັກລາວ
Phra Ratxa A-na-chak Lao
Provisional government (1945-1946), Government-in-exile (1946-1949)
←
1945-1949 →


Flag

Anthem
Pheng Xat Lao
Hymn of the Lao People
Capital Vientiane (official), Luang Prabang (ceremonial)
Capital-in-exile Bangkok
Languages Lao (official), French
Religion Theravada Buddhism
Government Constitutional monarchy (1945), Provisional government (1945-1946), Government-in-exile (1946-1949)
King
 •  1945 Sisavang Vong
Prime Minister
 • 1945 Phetsarath (first)
 • 1945-1949 (in exile) Phaya Khammao (last)
Historical era World War II
 •  Independence declared 1 September 1945
 • Constitution 12 October 1945
 • French restoration 24 April 1946
 •  Disestablished 24 October 1949
Currency Lao kip
Today part of  Laos

The Lao Issara (“Free Laos”) was an anti-French, non-communist nationalist movement formed on October 12, 1945 by Prince Phetsarath.[1] This short-lived movement emerged after the Japanese defeat in World War II and became the government of Laos before the return of the French. It aimed to prevent the French from restoring their control over Laos. The group disbanded in 1949.

Independence given by the Japanese Authorities

Towards the end of the Japanese Occupation of Laos in 1945, when the Japanese were losing the war against the Allied Powers, the Japanese pressured the Lao King (Crown Prince Savang Vatthana) to declare the independence of Laos on 8 April.[2]:p.n

Following the Japanese surrender on August 15, 1945, Prince Phetsarath made an attempt to convince King Savang to officially unify the country and declare the treaty of the French Protectorate invalid because the French had been unable to protect the Lao from the Japanese. However, King Savang said that he intended to have Laos resume its former status as a French colony.

In October 12, 1945, supporters of Laotian independence announced the dismissal of the king and formed the new government of Laos, the Lao Issara, to fill up the power vacuum of the country.[3]:p.103

Lao Issara cabinet ministers
Position Name
Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs Phaya Khammao
Minister of Public Works Souvanna Phouma
Minister of Defense and Communication Souphanouvong
Minister of Interior and Justice Somsanith Vongkotrattana
Minister of Finance Katay Don Sasorith
Minister of Education Nhouy Abhay
Minister of Economic Affairs Oune Sananikone
Minister of Justice Ouneheuane Norasing
Vice-Minister of Defense Sing Ratanasamay
Vice-Minister of Economic Affairs Keuang Pathoumsath
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affiars Tham Saygnasithsena

[4]

The weaknesses of the Lao Issara government

For six months, the Lao Issara government attempted to exercise its authority by establishing a defense force under the command of Phetsarath’s younger half-brother Souphanouvong, with the assistance from the Viet Minh government of Ho Chi Minh and the Chinese forces.

However, two events opened the way for the French reconquest of Laos: the modus vivendi agreed between Ho Chi Minh and the French government on 6 March 1946, and the agreement of withdrawal of Chinese forces. This left the Lao Issara government alone to fend for itself, and it became militarily weaker in comparison to the French.

Besides the inability to receive foreign aid, the Lao Issara was also crippled by other internal weaknesses.

The Lao Issara was a small urban-based movement, and was therefore unable to gain mass support from a tribal-oriented population. Its ideas of an independent Laos failed to appeal to the masses.

“As for the population, it was mostly silent, used to the established order and did not appear hardly concerned by this aspiration for the country’s independence, and personally I think that it was mostly loyal to the ancienne administration, that is to say, the French.” - Houmphanh Saignasith, the Secretary to the Minister of Economy

The Lao Issara also did not manage the finances of the country appropriately. The army itself incurred a high cost for its maintenance, and Souphanouvong refused to account for it. Within a very short period of time, the Issara government ran out of money to pay for its own running, let alone anything else. In an attempt to reign in fiscal expenditure and inflation, the Minister of Finance, Katay Don Sasorith, issued new money in early 1946, which quickly became known as ‘Katay’s dried banana leaves’ for the poor quality of the paper on which it was printed and its uselessness.[5]:p.n The Lao Issara, bankrupt and ill equipped, could only await the inevitable French return. At the end of April 1946 the French took Vientiane, by May they had entered Luang Prabang, and the Lao Issara leadership fled into exile in Thailand.

The split within the Lao Issara

Once the reconquest was complete, the French set about reconstituting their administration in Laos. On 27 August 1946, the French formally endorsed the unity of the Kingdom of Laos as a constitutional monarchy within the French Union.

There were also French efforts made at conciliation with the nationalists. Discreet overtures toward the Lao Issara in Bangkok suggested the possibility of an amnesty. Gradually, a division of opinion appeared within the Lao Issara ranks over the practical issue of whether to cooperate with the French.

Souphanouvong had made clear his refusal to accept the new political set-up in Vientiane, and was ready to embrace an alliance with the Viet Minh against the French. This repelled most of his colleagues, who began to oppose Souphanouvong’s leadership in the Lao Issara.

Besides this, unhappiness towards Souphanouvong became obvious due to his refusal to be accountable to the Issara government for his military activities and financial expenditure. There were personal antagonisms between Souphanouvong and Katay. Both of them exchanged harsh criticisms on one another as each thought the other to be ineffective in their positions.[2]:p.n

On October 24, 1949, due to the lack of cooperation within the movement, the Lao Issara announced its formal dissolution.[6] On October 22, 1953, the Franco–Lao Treaty of Amity and Association transferred remaining French powers — except control of military affairs — to the Royal Lao Government, which did not include any representatives from the disbanded Lao Issara.[7]

Legacy

A flag resembling that of Thailand, initially used by Lao Issara and then by the Pathet Lao, was formally adopted on December 2, 1975, as the flag of Laos.

See also

References

  1. ↑ visit-laos.com
  2. 1 2 Stuart-Fox, Martin (1986). Laos: Politics, economics and society. London: Frances Pinter Publishers. ISBN 0861874269. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  3. ↑ Rakow, Meg Regina (1992). "Laos and Laotians" (PDF). ScholarSpace. University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa: Hamilton Library (Hawaii). Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Administrative System". Unforgettable Laos. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  5. ↑ Evans, Grant (2002). A short history of Laos : the land in between. Short History Series. Chiang Mai, Thailand: Silkworm Books. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  6. ↑ Dommen, Arthur J (1985). Laos : Keystone of Indochina. Westview profiles, Nations of contemporary Asia. Boulder: Westview Press. Retrieved 22 September 2013. [http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/41033/donald-s-zagoria/laos-keystone-of-indochina> Lay summary] (1 June 1986). Reviewed by Donald S. Zagoria, Foreign affairs Summer 1986 Issue: Formerly a journalist, with wide experience in Southeast Asia, Arthur Dommen is the United States' leading expert on Laos.
  7. ↑ Uppsala Conflict Data Program (November 2, 2011). "Laos". Uppsala University Department of Peace and Conflict Research. Retrieved 2002-11-11. In October 1953, the Franco-Lao Treaty of Amity and Association transferred power....
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