1.
Emblem of Laos
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The National Emblem of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic shows the national shrine Pha That Luang. A dam is pictured which as a symbol of generation at the reservoir Nam Ngun. In the lower part is a section of a gear wheel, the inscription on the left reads Peace, Independence, Democracy and on the right, Unity and Prosperity The coat of arms was modified in August 1991 in relation to the fall of the Soviet Union. The Communist red star and hammer and sickle were replaced with the shrine at Pha That Luang. A picture of Pha That Luang Pagoda is located between the tips of the stalks of rice, a road, a paddy field, a forest and a hydroelectric dam are depicted in the middle of the circle
2.
Thongloun Sisoulith
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Thongloun Sisoulith is a Laotian politician who has been Prime Minister of Laos since 2016. Previously he was Deputy Prime Minister from 2001 to 2016, as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2016 and he is a politburo member of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party, ranking fourth. He was chosen to become Prime Minister of Laos at the 10th Party Congress on January 23,2016, Sisoulith was born in the Houaphan province of Laos, and he studied at Pedagogical College of Neo Lao Hak Sat in Houaphan from 1962 to 1969. He was further educated in the Soviet Union, in addition to Lao, he speaks Vietnamese, Russian and English. Throughout his years in government he has an extensive list of appointments and he was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1987 to 1992, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare from 1993 to 1997, and a member of the National Assembly from 1998 to 2000. He became Deputy Prime Minister and President of the State Planning Committee on March 27,2001, world Economic forum biography United Nations biography
3.
National Assembly (Laos)
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The National Assembly is the unicameral parliament of Laos. The National Assembly meets in Vientiane, Laos is a one-party state, with the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party as the sole legal party in the country. Most of the National Assemblys actions simply rubber stamp the partys decisions, efforts have been made to increase the capacity of its members, aiming to strengthen their legislative, oversight, and representational capacities. The National Assembly was established in its current form by the Lao Constitution of 1991, after the December 1997 elections, the number of seats were increased to 99, a new structure was announced and Samane Vignaket was elected as its president. The last elections were held on March 20th,2016, the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party took 144 seats in the enlarged 149-member National Assembly while the five remaining seats went to independents. Nearly 73% of members were elected to the National Assembly for the first time, during the election campaign, many candidates focused on development, promising to serve the interests of the nation and the people
4.
Term of office
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A term of office is the length of time a person serves in a particular elected office. In many jurisdictions there is a limit on how long terms of office may be before the officeholder must be subject to re-election. Some jurisdictions exercise term limits, setting a number of terms an individual may hold in a particular office. Being the origin of the Westminster system, aspects of the United Kingdoms system of government are replicated in other countries. The monarch serves as head of state until his or her death or abdication, in the United Kingdom Members of Parliament in the House of Commons are elected for the duration of the parliament. Following dissolution of the Parliament, an election is held which consists of simultaneous elections for all seats. For most MPs this means that their terms of office are identical to the duration of the Parliament, an MP elected in a by-election mid-way through a Parliament, regardless of how long they have occupied the seat, is not exempt from facing re-election at the next general election. The Septennial Act 1715 provided that a Parliament expired seven years after it had been summoned, prior to the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 parliaments had no minimum duration. Parliaments could be dissolved early by the monarch at the Prime Ministers request, the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 mandated that Parliaments should last their full five years. Early dissolution is possible, but under much more limited circumstances. Hereditary peers and life peers retain membership of the House of Lords for life, Lords Spiritual hold membership of the House of Lords until the end of their time as bishops, though a senior bishop may be made a life peer upon the end of their bishopric. The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are variations on the system of government used at Westminster, the office of the leader of the devolved administrations has no numeric term limit imposed upon it. However, in the case of the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government there are fixed terms for which the legislatures can sit and this is imposed at four years. Elections may be held before this time but only if no administration can be formed, offices of local government other regional elected officials follow similar rules to the national offices discussed above, with persons elected to fixed terms of a few years. Federal judges have different terms in office, however, the majority of the federal judiciary, Article III judges, such as those of the Supreme Court, courts of appeal, and federal district courts, serve for life. The terms of office for officials in state governments according to the provisions of state constitutions. The term for state governors is four years in all states but Vermont and New Hampshire, the National Conference of State Legislatures reported in January 2007 that among state legislatures,44 states had terms of office for the lower house of the state legislature at two years. Five had terms of office at four years,37 states had terms of office for the upper house of the state legislature at four years
5.
Phetsarath Ratanavongsa
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Prince Phetsarath Ratanavongsa was the 1st Prime Minister of Laos from 8 April to 20 October 1945, and was the first and last vice-king of the Kingdom of Laos. Phetsarath was born on 19 January 1890 in Luang Prabang, the son of Oupahat Bounkhong and his second wife. One of his brothers was Souvanna Phouma. Bounkongs eleventh wife was the mother of Souphanouvong, Phetsarath went to study at the colonial Lycee Chasseloup Laubat in Saigon and continued on in 1905 to the Lycée Montaigne and to the École coloniale in Paris. He returned to Laos in 1912, married Princess Nhin Kham Venne in 1913, in 1914, he became a clerk at the Office of the French governor in Vientiane. Two years later he was promoted to assistant secretary to the French governor, in 1919 he received the title of Somdeth Chao Ratsaphakhinay, a title held by his father and one of the highest ranks in the country. That same year he was named Director of Indigenous Affairs of Laos operating under the French governor, as the countrys last oupahat, he became a leading figure of modern Laos. He established the system of ranks and titles of the service, promotion and pension plans. Phetsarath reorganized the system of the Buddhist clergy, and established a system of schools for educating monks in Pali. He created the Institute of Law and Administration to train entry level officers who would move up the ladder as Phouxouei, Chao Meuang. He set up rules to reward, reassign, and promote deserving civil servants, Phetsarath played a dominant role in Lao politics before and after the Japanese occupation. He was the leader of the Lao Issara movement and he was the Vice-regent of the Laotian province, beginning in 1941, ascending in prominence under the promises for power from Japan. In 1944 he sent Kathanong Souvannakhily, an officer, to attack Thailand. From 1941-5, Phetsarath attempted to supplant officials in Laos and Vietnam, but in the regions of Vietnam, however Free French forces had already occupied Luang Phrabang and met with the King who assured the French colonials that Laos was still a French protectorate despite the April proclamation. On 10 October, the King dismissed Phetsarath as Prime minister, ten days later, as the French retook control of Laos, Phetsarath fled in April 1946 to Thailand, where he led the Lao Issara government-in-exile. In March 1957, he returned to Vientiane where he received a wild welcome, on 10 April 1957, he travelled to Luang Prabang by car and was received by an enormous crowd of citizens, government officials, and members of the police and the army. On 16 April he paid a call to King Sisavang Vong and was given back his old title of Oupahat of the Kingdom of Laos. In December 1957 he visited Samneua and Phongsaly where Souphanouvong symbolically offered the return of the Pathet Laos two regrouping provinces to the Kingdom of Laos
6.
Laos
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Present day Laos traces its historic and cultural identity to the kingdom of Lan Xang Hom Khao, which existed for four centuries as one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. Due to Lan Xangs central geographical location in Southeast Asia, the kingdom was able to become a hub for overland trade. After a period of conflict, Lan Xang broke off into three separate kingdoms— Luang Phabang, Vientiane and Champasak. In 1893, it became a French protectorate, with the three territories uniting to form what is now known as the country of Laos and it briefly gained independence in 1945 after Japanese occupation, but returned to French rule until it was granted autonomy in 1949. Laos became independent in 1953, with a monarchy under Sisavang Vong. Shortly after independence, a civil war ended the monarchy. Laos is a one-party socialist republic and it espouses Marxism and is governed by the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party, in which the party leadership is dominated by military figures. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Vietnam Peoples Army continue to have significant influence in Laos, other large cities include Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, and Pakse. Laos is a country with the politically and culturally dominant Lao people making up approximately 60 percent of the population. Mon-Khmer groups, the Hmong, and other hill tribes, accounting for 40 percent of the population, live in the foothills. It is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, East Asia Summit, Laos applied for membership of the World Trade Organization in 1997, on 2 February 2013, it was granted full membership. According to the anti-corruption non-governmental organisation Transparency International, Laos remains one of the most corrupt countries in the world and this has deterred foreign investment and created major problems with the rule of law, including the nations ability to enforce contract and business regulation. This has contributed to a third of the population of Laos currently living below the poverty line. Laos has an economy, with one of the lowest annual incomes in the world. In 2014, the country ranked 141st on the Human Development Index, according to the Global Hunger Index, Laos ranks as the 29th hungriest nation in the world out of the list of the 52 nations with the worst hunger situation. Laos has also had a human rights record. In the Lao language, the name is Muang Lao or Pathet Lao. Stone artefacts including Hoabinhian types have been found at sites dating to the Late Pleistocene in northern Laos, archaeological evidence suggests agriculturist society developed during the 4th millennium BC
7.
Politics of Laos
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The politics of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic takes place in the framework of a one-party socialist republic. The only legal political party is the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party, the de jure head of state is President Bounnhang Vorachith, who also is LPRP general secretary making him the de facto leader of Laos. The head of government is Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, government policies are determined by the party through the all-powerful nine-member Politburo of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party and the 49-member Central Committee. Important government decisions are vetted by the Council of Ministers, the FY2000 central government budget plan called for revenue of $180 million and expenditures of $289 million, including capital expenditures of $202 million. Laos first, French-written and monarchical constitution was promulgated on May 11,1947, the revised constitution of May 11,1957, omitted reference to the French Union, though close educational, health and technical ties with the former colonial power persisted. The 1957 document was abrogated on December 3,1975, when a communist Peoples Republic was proclaimed, a new constitution was adopted in 1991 and enshrined a leading role for the LPRP. The following year, elections were held for a new 85-seat National Assembly with members elected by ballot to five-year terms. This National Assembly, which acts as a rubber stamp for the LPRP, approves all new laws. The most recent elections took place in April 2006, the assembly was expanded to 99 members in 1997 and in 2006 elections had 115. In the early 2000s, bomb attacks against the government occurred, coupled with small exchanges of fire, a variety of different groups have claimed responsibility including the Committee for Independence and Democracy in Laos and Lao Citizens Movement for Democracy. The president is elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term, the prime minister and the Council of Ministers are appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term. There are also four deputy prime ministers, as of a cabinet reshuffle on June 8,2006, they are Maj. Gen. Douangchay Phichit, Thongloun Sisoulith, Somsavat Lengsavad and Maj. Gen. Asang Laoly. The National Assembly has 132 members, elected for a five-year term, the President of the Peoples Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee. The Vice President of the Peoples Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee, Minister of Home Affairs Prof. Dr. Eksavang Vongvichit, Minister of Public Health Pr
8.
Constitution of Laos
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The Constitution of Laos specifies the functions and powers of the government of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, and defines the rights and duties of Laotian citizens. It consists of a Preamble and Articles, and legally establishes a set of authorities that resemble the traditional differentiation among executive, legislative, the 1991 constitution is Laoss third. Its first was adopted in 1945 under the Lao Issara government and its second — a French-written monarchical constitution — was adopted in 1947, revised in 1957, and abrogated in 1975. The revised constitution of May 11,1957 omitted reference to the French Union, though close educational, health, the 1957 document was abrogated on December 3,1975, when a communist Peoples Republic was proclaimed. On August 14,1991, sixteen years after the establishment of the LPDR, the Supreme Peoples Assembly, although the SPA had been charged with drafting a constitution in 1975, the task had low priority. It was not until the Third Party Congress that party Secretary General Kaysone stated that the LPRP should urgently undertake the major task. of preparing a socialist constitution at an early date. Despite the proclaimed urgency of the task, only on May 22,1984, although the political institutions had functioned without a written constitution for fifteen years, the lack of a constitution created serious drawbacks for the country. International development agencies were reluctant to invest in Laos given the absence of a fixed, even the party newspaper, Xieng Pasason, commenting in June 1990 on the absence of a constitution and a general body of laws, acknowledged that having no laws is. A source of injustice and violation, thus leading to a breakdown of order and peace, the breeding of anarchy. Reasons for the pace of constitution drafting, unusually slow even for the plodding bureaucracy, were not readily apparent. Vietnam had adopted a constitution in 1980 and Cambodia in 1981. According to some reports, progress in Laos had been blocked by differences within the Politburo over certain substantive clauses, further, the public seemed not to care. After the new SPA was elected in March 1989, it appointed a seventeen-member constitutional drafting committee. The National Radio of Laos reported that the committee was working under the close supervision of the Political Bureau. Six members of the committee were members of the Central Committee. In April 1990, after securing approval of its document from the LPRP Politburo and the Secretariat, the discussions, although orchestrated by party cadres, did not always please party authorities. An LPRP spokesman released a memo complaining that people in major towns had dwelled too much on what the constitution had to say about the organization of the state. In June a member of the Central Committee cautioned against demonstrations to demand a multiparty system, competing parties would not be tolerated, he asserted, adding that our multi-ethnic Lao people have remained faithfully under the leadership of the LPRP
9.
Lao People's Revolutionary Party
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The Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party, formerly the Lao Peoples Party, is a communist party that has governed Laos since 1975. The policy-making organs are the Politburo, Secretariat and the Central Committee, a party congress, which elects members to the politburo and central committee, is held every five years. The congress used to elect a secretariat, but this body was abolished in 1991. As of 2016,128 of the 132 members of the National Assembly of Laos were from the LPRP, the party has its origins in the Indochinese Communist Party founded by Ho Chi Minh in 1930. The ICP was entirely Vietnamese at its inception but grew throughout French Indochina and was able to found a small Lao section in 1936. In the mid-1940s, a campaign to recruit Laotian members was instigated and in 1946 or 1947, Kaysone Phomvihan, in February 1951, the Second Congress of the ICP resolved to disband the party and to form three separate parties representing the three states of Indochina. In reality, the ICP was a Vietnamese organization and the separate parties created were dominated by the Vietnamese parties regardless of their national affiliations, for instance, in February 1951, only 81 of the 2,091 ICP members were Lao. A movement known as the Pathet Lao was founded and Prince Souphanouvong became its figurehead leader, on March 22,1955, at its First Party Congress, the clandestine Laos Peoples Party or Phak Pasason Lao was officially proclaimed. The First Party Congress was attended by 25 delegates representing a party membership of 300 to 400, the Party Congress was supervised and organized by the Vietnamese. The Central Committee of the Party included Kaysone Phomvihane, Nouhak Phoumsavan, Bun Phommahaxay, Sisavath Keobounphanh, the LPP and its successor, the LPRP, kept their existence secret until 1975, preferring to direct their activities through fronts such as the Pathet Lao. In 1956, a political wing of the Pathet Lao. In the 1960s the North Vietnam-controlled Pathet Lao were given tasks in Vietnamese-occupied areas of Laos, the Pathet Lao participated in a war between their North Vietnamese backers and the U. S. -backed Laotian government. Never very successful on their own, the party gained power indirectly by North Vietnamese control in the northern and eastern sectors of the country. The Pathet Lao were never a strong military force unless supported directly by the North Vietnamese army. In February 1972, at the Second Party Congress, the name of the Laos Peoples Party was changed to the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party. In 1973, a agreement was signed that brought the Pathet Lao into the government and was supposed to result in the Vietnamese leaving the country. The Vietnamese army did not leave, in early 1975, the Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese began attacking government outposts again. Without the support of the US, the anticommunist elements in the government had little other than to gradually allow the Pathet Lao to take power
10.
Government of Laos
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The politics of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic takes place in the framework of a one-party socialist republic. The only legal political party is the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party, the de jure head of state is President Bounnhang Vorachith, who also is LPRP general secretary making him the de facto leader of Laos. The head of government is Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, government policies are determined by the party through the all-powerful nine-member Politburo of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party and the 49-member Central Committee. Important government decisions are vetted by the Council of Ministers, the FY2000 central government budget plan called for revenue of $180 million and expenditures of $289 million, including capital expenditures of $202 million. Laos first, French-written and monarchical constitution was promulgated on May 11,1947, the revised constitution of May 11,1957, omitted reference to the French Union, though close educational, health and technical ties with the former colonial power persisted. The 1957 document was abrogated on December 3,1975, when a communist Peoples Republic was proclaimed, a new constitution was adopted in 1991 and enshrined a leading role for the LPRP. The following year, elections were held for a new 85-seat National Assembly with members elected by ballot to five-year terms. This National Assembly, which acts as a rubber stamp for the LPRP, approves all new laws. The most recent elections took place in April 2006, the assembly was expanded to 99 members in 1997 and in 2006 elections had 115. In the early 2000s, bomb attacks against the government occurred, coupled with small exchanges of fire, a variety of different groups have claimed responsibility including the Committee for Independence and Democracy in Laos and Lao Citizens Movement for Democracy. The president is elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term, the prime minister and the Council of Ministers are appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term. There are also four deputy prime ministers, as of a cabinet reshuffle on June 8,2006, they are Maj. Gen. Douangchay Phichit, Thongloun Sisoulith, Somsavat Lengsavad and Maj. Gen. Asang Laoly. The National Assembly has 132 members, elected for a five-year term, the President of the Peoples Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee. The Vice President of the Peoples Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee, Minister of Home Affairs Prof. Dr. Eksavang Vongvichit, Minister of Public Health Pr
11.
President of Laos
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The President of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic is the head of state of Laos. The President appoints the prime minister, vice president, ministers, the head of state is the commander-in-chief of the Lao Peoples Army. The current president is Bounnhang Vorachit, since 20 April 2016 and he is also the General Secretary of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party, making him ranked first in the Politburo hierarchy. Political parties List of monarchs of Laos Prime Minister of Laos
12.
Lao Front for National Construction
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The Lao Front for National Construction is a Laotian popular front founded in 1979, and led by the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party. Its task is to organize Laotian mass organizations and other socio-political organizations, in 1988, its tasks were expanded to include certain ethnic minority affairs. It is also in charge of affairs, all religious organizations within Laos must register with the LFNC. NeoLao Issara, chairman, Souphanouvong Neo Lao Hak Sat, chairman, Souphanouvong
13.
Lao People's Armed Forces
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The Lao Peoples Armed Forces is the name of the armed forces of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, who are charged with protecting the country. The army of 130,000 is equipped with 30 main battle tanks, the army marine section, equipped with 16 patrol craft, has 600 personnel. The air force, with 3,500 personnel, is equipped with missiles and 24 combat aircraft. Militia self-defence forces number approximately 100,000 organised for local defence, the small arms utilised mostly by the Laotian Army are the Soviet AKM Assault rifle, PKM Machine gun, Makarov PM pistol, and the RPD light machine gun. Until 1975, the Royal Lao Army were the forces of the Kingdom of Laos. Serving one of the worlds least developed communist countries, the Lao Peoples Armed Forces is small, poorly funded and its mission focus is border and internal security, primarily in internal suppression of Laotian dissident and opposition groups. The LPA also has upgraded skills to respond to avian influenza outbreaks. At present, there is no perceived external threat to the state. 81mm 82mm M1938 mortar 120mm, M-43 M24, amnesty International is calling for an immediate end to armed attacks on these people. Amnesty International The Centre for Public Policy Analysis The Centre for Public Policy Analysis, Washington, Laos Memorial, Memorial to Lao and Hmong Veterans who fought against Lao Peoples Army and Pathet Lao during Vietnam, Arlington National Cemetery, USA, Lao Veterans of America, Inc. Lao and Hmong Veterans who fought against Lao Peoples Army, Pathet Lao, Lao Peoples Liberation Army Air Force Military ranks of the Lao Peoples Armed Forces http, //www. asianmilitaryreview. com/upload/201102172337151. pdf
14.
Law of Laos
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The Law of Laos is not determined by a democratic parliament or by legal precedent, but by the arbitrary rule of Laoss single party. The Laos criminal justice system is controlled by the party and the government, there are few legal restraints on government actions, including arrests, which are often arbitrary in nature. Dissent is frequently handled by suppressing basic civil rights, although the constitution provisions of the mid-1990s cover freedom of worship, expression and press, citizens by December 2010 were not free to exercise these rights fully. There were no legal safeguards and arrests were made on vague charges. A penal code and a constitution which guarantee civil liberties have been proposed, implementation is another matter, particularly in the area of freedom of political expression. Nonetheless, there is a system for prosecuting criminal behavior, common crimes are evaluated at the local village level. More serious cases, especially sensitive ones, are referred to higher authorities. Tribunals operate at district and provincial levels with judges appointed by the government, both Laotian journalists and Western officials are critical of the limitations on personal freedoms. In 1987, a Laotian journalist living in Thailand noted that there was popular support for the government. In 1988, a Laotian journalist protested that open criticism of the government was forbidden, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the government instituted the New Economic Mechanism, a series of sweeping economic reforms geared toward establishing a market-oriented economy. Along with these reforms came a slight opening to the West. However, few journalists are allowed to visit Laos, and travel by diplomats. Both domestic and foreign travel by Laotians also is subject to scrutiny, the Ministry of Interior is the main instrument of state control and guardianship over the criminal justice system. Ministry of Interior police monitor both Laotians and foreign nationals who live in Laos, there is a system of informants in workplace committees and these committees are responsible for maintaining public order and reporting bad elements to the police, as well as carrying out political training and disciplining employees. The criminal justice system is deficient in the area of legal precedent, trials are not held in public, although trial verdicts are publicly announced. Although there is provision for appeal, it does not apply to important political cases. Under the constitution, judges and prosecutors are supposed to be independent with their decisions free from outside scrutiny, in practice, however, the courts appear to accept recommendations of other government agencies, especially the Ministry of Interior, in making their decisions. Theoretically, the government provides legal counsel to the accused, in practice, however, defendants represent themselves without outside counsel
15.
Elections in Laos
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Laos elects a legislature nationally and the public also participates in the election of village heads. The National Assembly has 149 members, elected for five year terms, according to the constitution, elections are in accordance with the principles of Democratic Centralism and the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party serves as the Leading nucleus of the political system. The last elections were held on March 20th,2016, the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party took 144 seats in the 149-member National Assembly while the five remaining seats went to independents. Nearly 73% of members were elected to the National Assembly for the first time, during the election campaign, many candidates focused on development, promising to serve the interests of the nation and the people
16.
Administrative divisions of Laos
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Laos is divided into 17 provinces and one prefecture which includes the capital city Vientiane. Provinces are further divided into districts and then villages, an urban village is essentially a town. But now got 18 th The provinces, each Laotian province is subdivided into districts and then subdivided into villages
17.
Provinces of Laos
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Laos is divided into provinces and 1 prefecture plus the Vientiane Capital city municipality. The special administrative zone, Xaisomboun, created in 1994, was dissolved on January 13,2006, the population of each province in 2005 is given in the census data, ranging from the largest to smallest. In 1989 Vientiane prefecture was split from Vientiane province and the capital of Vientiane province moved from Vientiane to Muang Phôn-Hông, in 1994 Xaisômboun khetphiset was formed from parts of Bolikhamxai, Vientiane, and Xiangkhoang provinces. In 2006 Xaisomboun special region was dissolved and the Longsan, Xaysomboun, Phun, the provinces are then subdivided into districts and villages. The provinces are grouped geographically into 3 strata, North, Central South
18.
Districts of Laos
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Laos is divided into 16 provinces and 1 prefecture plus capital city municipality. Furthermore,1 so-called special administrative zone existed between 1994 and 2006, when it was re-merged into its surrounding provinces, Each province is subdivided into districts and then subdivided into villages. Note — Each district has a code in parentheses displaying the first two digits as the province and the last two as the district representing that province, laos Ministry of Education district maps
19.
Human rights in Laos
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The situation of human rights in Laos has often been, and remains, a recognized cause for serious concern. The barring of independent human rights monitors makes an appraisal of the situation impossible. In particular, the situation for groups of ethnic Hmong hiding in the jungle remains grave, the death penalty remains in force, although no executions have been reported since 1989. The State Department indicated that in some instances police administratively overruled court decisions, at times detaining a defendant exonerated by the court, moreover, while Lao law prohibits torture, members of the security forces reportedly subjected prisoners to torture and other abuses. A significant issue in human rights in Laos is the presence of anti-government rebels, mainly of the Hmong ethnic minority, in its 2006 report the State Department mentions that The governments overall human rights record worsened during the year. For more details see the report, officially, and in theory, the Constitution that was promulgated in 1991 under the Stalinist government contains most key safeguards for human rights. For example, in Article 8 it makes it clear that Laos is a state and is committed to equality between ethnic groups. The Constitution also has provisions for equality and freedom of religion, for freedom of speech, press. On 25 September 2009, Laos ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the policy objectives of both the Lao government and international donors remain focused toward achieving sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. However, systemic corruption, and illegal logging remains a serious problem among Lao government and military officials according to Transparency International. The Lao government maintains very close relations with the government of North Korea, between 2003 and 2009, at least 39 people were sentenced to death. 50 more people were sentenced to death in the year 2010, there are many individual cases of human rights violations in Laos according to NGOs and human rights advocates. A third dissident sentenced along with them died in prison in 1998, the three men had been arrested in 1990 for expressing concern about government policies and advocating economic and political reforms. In October 1999,30 young people were arrested for attempting to display posters calling for peaceful economic, five of them were arrested and subsequently sentenced to up to 10 years imprisonment on charges of treason. One has since died due to his treatment by prison guards, the surviving three men should have been released by October 2009, but their whereabouts remains unknown. He denies claims by the Lao government that the video was a fabrication, the government of Laos has been accused of committing genocide against that country’s Hmong ethnic minority. Some Hmong groups fought as CIA-backed units on the Royalist side in the Laos civil war, after the Pathet Lao took over the country in 1975, the conflict continued in isolated pockets. In 1977 a communist newspaper promised the party would hunt down the “American collaborators”, as many as 200,000 Hmong went into exile in Thailand, with many ending up in the U. S
20.
Foreign relations of Laos
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Laos also maintained a special relationship with Vietnam and formalized a 1977 treaty of friendship and cooperation that created tensions with China. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and with Vietnams decreased ability to provide assistance, Laos emergence from international isolation has been marked through improved and expanded relations with other nations such as Australia, France, Japan, Sweden, and India. Trade relations with the United States were normalized in 2004, Laos was admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in July 1997 and applied to join the World Trade Organization in 1998. In 2005 it attended the inaugural East Asia Summit, Laos has established relations with 134 countries and the European Union. Brunei Brunei has an embassy in Vientiane, and Laos has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan, cambodia China Relations with the Peoples Republic of China have improved over the years. Although the two were allies during the Vietnam War, the Sino-Vietnamese War in 1979 led to a deterioration in Sino-Lao relations. These relations began to improve in the late 1980s, in 1989 Sino-Lao relations were normalized but due to the expansionism of China in many parts of the region, Laos continues to be wary about Chinese incursions in the region. France Following its occupation of Vietnam, France absorbed Laos into French Indochina via treaties with Siam in 1893 and 1904, during World War II, the Japanese occupied French Indochina. When Japan surrendered, Lao nationalists declared Laos independent, but by early 1946, French troops had reoccupied the country, during the First Indochina War, the Indochinese Communist Party formed the Pathet Lao resistance organization committed to Lao independence. Laos gained full independence following the French defeat by the Vietnamese communists, today, Laos maintains an embassy in Paris. France maintains an embassy in Vientiane, Indonesia Since established diplomatic relations on 1957, both nations enjoys cordial relations. Indonesia have an embassy in Vientiane, while Laos have an embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia supported and welcomed Laos membership to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 1997. Laos and Indonesia agreed to enhance relations to focus on exploring the potential of both nations to cooperate on trade and investment, the two nations expressed a desire to reach further agreements relating to security, tourism, sport, air transport and education. Indonesia through bilateral cooperation assist Laos on capacity building and development in sectors, through scholarships. Malaysia During the collapse of the Communist Bloc, the Soviet Union could no longer afford aid for the development of Laos and this made Laos seek aid from other countries to help develop their country and has led the country to adopt a neutral foreign policy. When this policy of neutrality was adopted, relations with Malaysia were established, India Pakistan Philippines Formal relations between Laos and the Philippines were officially established on January 14,1955. Relations between the two countries were said to have started during the period of the Vietnam War. Operation Brotherhood, a joint international venture by Jaycees International, sent 50 volunteer Filipino doctors, agriculturists, Laos has an embassy in Manila while the Philippines has an embassy in Vientiane
21.
Head of government
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The term head of government is often differentiated from the term head of state, as they may be separate positions, individuals, and/or roles depending on the country. In parliamentary systems, including constitutional monarchies, the head of government is the de facto leader of the government. For example, in the United Kingdom, the prime minister advises the Queen on the appointment of the cabinet, advice she is required to accept. On the other hand, the Queens long service as the head of state enables her to provide the prime minister with information and insight into many matters to better run the government. However, because the United Kingdom is a monarchy, the Prime Minister uses his or her own discretion regarding whether or not to follow the Queens advice. The Queen also is entitled to appoint a new Prime Minister, in presidential republics or in absolute monarchies, the head of state is also usually the head of government. The relationship between that leader and the government, however, can vary greatly, ranging from separation of powers to autocracy, in semi-presidential systems, the head of government may answer to both the head of state and the legislature, with the specifics provided by each countrys constitution. A modern example is the present French government, which originated as the French Fifth Republic in 1958, in France, the president, the head of state, appoints the prime minister, who is the head of government. In some cases, the head of state may represent one political party, in this case, known as cohabitation, the prime minister, along with the cabinet, controls domestic policy, with the presidents influence is largely restricted to foreign affairs. In directorial systems, the executive responsibilities of the head of government are spread among a group of people, a prominent example is the Swiss Federal Council, where each member of the council heads a department and also votes on proposals relating to all departments. A common title for many heads of government is prime minister, various constitutions use different titles, and even the same title can have various multiple meanings, depending on the constitutional order and political system of the state in question. In addition to prime minister, titles used for the democratic model, some of these titles relate to governments below the national level. Have been used by various Empires, Kingdoms and Princely States of India as a title for the Prime Minister, maltese, In Malta, the head of government is Prim Ministru. In this case, the prime minister serves at the pleasure of the monarch, some such titles are diwan, mahamantri, pradhan, wasir or vizier. However, just because the head of state is the de jure dominant position does not mean that he/she will not always be the de facto political leader, in some cases, the head of state is a figurehead whilst the head of the government leads the ruling party. In some cases a head of government may even pass on the title in hereditary fashion, the ability to vote down legislative proposals of the government. Control over or ability to vote down fiscal measures and the budget, all of these requirements directly impact the Head of governments role. Many parliamentary systems require ministers to serve in parliament, while others ban ministers from sitting in parliament, heads of government are typically removed from power in a parliamentary system by Resignation, following, Defeat in a general election
22.
One-party state
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All other parties are either outlawed or allowed to take only a limited and controlled participation in elections. One-party states explain themselves through various methods, most often, proponents of a one-party state argue that the existence of separate parties runs counter to national unity. Others argue that the one party is the vanguard of the people, the Soviet government argued that multiple parties represented the class struggle, which was absent in Soviet society, and so the Soviet Union only had one party, the Communist Party. Some one-party states only outlaw opposition parties, while allowing allied parties to exist as part of a permanent coalition such as a popular front. However, these parties are largely or completely subservient to the ruling party, examples of this are the Peoples Republic of China under the United Front, or the National Front in former East Germany. Others may allow non-party members to run for seats, as was the case with Taiwans Tangwai movement in the 1970s and 1980s. Within their own countries, dominant parties ruling over one-party states are referred to simply as the Party. One-party systems often arise from decolonization because one party has had a dominant role in liberation or in independence struggles. One-party states are often, but not always, considered to be authoritarian or totalitarian, however, not all authoritarian or totalitarian states operate based on one-party rule. Some, especially absolute monarchies and certain military dictatorships, have all political parties illegal. The term communist state is used in the West to apply to states in which the ruling party subscribes to a form of Marxism–Leninism. While the role of the Communist Party is enshrined in the constitution, no party is permitted to campaign or run candidates for election, the party was conceived by the original Black American settlers and their descendants who referred to themselves as Americo-Liberians. Initially, its ideology was influenced by that of the Whig Party in the United States. Over time it developed into a powerful Masonic Order that ruled every aspect of Liberian society for well over a century until it was overthrown in 1980, while the True Whig Party still exists today, its influence has substantially declined
23.
Kaysone Phomvihane
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Kaysone Phomvihane was the leader of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party from 1955 until his death in 1992. He also served as the first Prime Minister of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic from 1975 to 1991, Phomvihane was born Nguyen Cai Song to a Vietnamese father named Nguyen Tri Loan, and a Vietnamese mother named Nang Dok. He had two sisters, Nang Souvanthong, living in Thailand and Nang Kongmany in the USA and he was born in Na Seng village, Khanthabouli district, Laos. Phomvihane attended law school at Hanoi University in Hanoi, Vietnam and he dropped out of law school to fight the French colonialists who were in Vietnam. Later, he joined the Pathet Lao movement, which was fighting the French colonialists. He became an active revolutionary while studying in the Indochinese capital of Hanoi during the 1940s, the Lao Peoples Liberation Army was established by Kaysone Phomvihane on January 20,1949. He was minister of defence of Resistance Government from 1950, in 1955 he was instrumental in setting up the LPRP at Sam Neua in northern Laos, and subsequently served as the Pathet Lao leader, with Souphanouvong as its figurehead. In the years followed, he led communist forces against the Kingdom of Laos. After their victory he served as Prime Minister from the founding of the Lao PDR in 1975 until 1991, Phomvihane displayed expert skills in handling relations with Vietnam. The demarcation process started in 1977 and just finished in 2007, according to western journalist the Lao/Viet borderline is very close to the 1945 border between Laos and Tonkin and Annam, respectively. He created Sekong province to honour the southern minority for their support in the war effort, Kaysone died in Laoss capital, Vientiane. After Kaysones death, the government of Laos built a museum in Kaysones honour, in Vientiane and his son, Sanyahak Phomvihane, was elected to the LPRP Central Committee at the 8th LPRP Congress and became a Major General at the age of 41. However, he suffered a death, at the age of 45. His son, Xaysomphone Phomvihane currently serves as Vice President of the National Assembly, Thailand, Knight of the Order of Rajamitrabhorn
24.
Kingdom of Laos
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The Kingdom of Laos was a constitutional monarchy that ruled Laos beginning with its independence on 9 November 1953. The Kingdom of Laos was officially proclaimed when the new Constitution was promulgated in 1947, as part of the colonial French Union, following the Franco-Lao Treaty of 1953, which gave Laos independence, the Royal Lao Government took control of the country. This treaty established a monarchy, with Sisavang Vong as King. Many attempts were made by the Three Princes and King Sisavang Vatthana to establish a coalition government, the First Government of National Unity was established in 1958 under Prince Souvanna Phouma, but collapsed after two months. The Prime Minister, who under the constitution appointed his ministers and received advice from the King, Souvanna Phouma gave the Communists two seats in the Cabinet, and in return Souphanouvong would integrate 1,500 of his 6,000 Communist troops into the royal army. Prince Souphanouvong was given the post of Minister of Planning, Reconstruction and Urbanization, while member of the Communist Party was named Minister of Religion. The Kingdom of Laos was divided into five military regions, the United States supplied the Royal Lao Navy with twenty river patrol boats and sixteen amphibious landing craft. Between 1962 and 1971, the United States provided Laos with an estimated US$500 million in military assistance. The Royal Lao Government had close relations with the United States, which gave the country aid and assisted it in the campaign against the Pathet Lao, during 1957, the United States spent more per capita on foreign aid for Laos than it had on any other nation. That worked out as US$150 per Laotian, twice the average annual income. Some of the went to support pro-American candidates in an election, while other money went to a program to support the local currency. King Savang Vatthana visited the United States in 1963 to meet with President Kennedy, Laos was also supported by France, Australia, Burma, Thailand and Japan. The Pathet Lao were backed militarily by the NVA and Vietcong, Laos was also dragged into the Vietnam War since parts of Laos were invaded and occupied by North Vietnam for use as a supply route for its war against the South. It also provided supplies, training and funding to the central government, in 1968, the North Vietnamese Army launched a multi-division attack to help the Pathet Lao fight the Royal Lao Army. The attack resulted in the army largely demobilizing, leaving the conflict to irregular forces raised by the United States, massive aerial bombardment against Pathet Lao and NVA forces was carried out by the United States. It has been reported that Laos was hit by an average of one B-52 bombload every eight minutes,24 hours a day, US bombers dropped more ordnance on Laos in this period than was dropped during the whole of the Second World War. Of the 260 million bombs that rained down, particularly on Xiangkhouang Province on the Plain of Jars, some 80 million failed to explode, Laos is the most heavily bombed country, per capita, in the world. In 1975, the Pathet Lao, along with Vietnam Peoples Army and backed by the Soviet Union, overthrew the royalist Lao government, a ceasefire was finally attained in February 1973, following the Paris Peace Accords between the United States and North Vietnam
25.
Royal Lao Armed Forces
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The FAR was responsible for the defense of the Kingdom since its independence in October 1953 from France. This act signalled the creation of a Laotian government capable of building its own administration over the few years. By July 1959, it was known as the Laotian Armed Forces, throughout its existence, the Laotian Armed Forces were plagued by an ineffective leadership, particularly at senior levels, which often led to chain-of-command problems. After the Kingdom of Laos gained its independence in late 1953, the few urban elite families who dominated Laotian society felt it advantageous to have family members or friends in key posts of the military establishment. These officers indulged in political manoeuvres or involved themselves in profitable illicit activities, as a result, the FAR officer corps was riven by corruption and inefficiency, further aggrieved by political divisions and even personal rivalries at all echelons of command. Both professional and personal jealousy was not unknown amongst Laotian higher Commanders, which resulted in endless internal squabbles and this situation was further complicated by a descentralized command structure, in which the FAR General Staff in Vientiane served primarily an administrative function. A high-echelon command position within a Military Region was dependent upon the influence of an urban elite aristocratic family who economically and politically dominated the MR, if a general was not a scion of one of these families, then he had to get their support in some other manner. Laos was divided since 1955 into five Military Regions roughly corresponding to the areas of the countrys 13 provinces, the Military Regions were the basis of the warlordism culture that affected the ANL and the FAR high command. By September 1961 the Royal Lao Armed Forces consisted of three conventional ground, air and naval branches of service. S, first set up at Pakse, the latter institution was later transferred to Dong Hene in Savannakhet Province, which eventually became the Lao Military Academy. A Staff and Command school, the Military Institution of Higher Learning, a Laotian Armed Forces training Centre was established by the French at Khang Khai in March 1960. S. Military Assistance Advisory Group advisors, and at Seno, near Savannakhet by French Military Mission in Laos advisers. A fourth Parachute School was briefly established by the Neutralists at Muang Phanh in 1961, a third one, the CIA-run PS18 secret camp near Pakse in Champassak Province was used for two RLA brigades being raised in the Fourth Military Region. In December 1961, the Neutralists set up an Armoured Training Centre at Phongsavang with the help of NVA instructors, though it was later shut down by the Pathet Lao offensive of May 1964. In addition, a number of Laotian naval officer candidate students were also sent to France, in order to attend advanced Officer. In late 1969,76 RLA students were dispatched to the RTA Kokethiem training center in Thailand for training in M-706 armoured car tactics, ISBN 978-9623616225 Bernard Fall, Anatomy of a Crisis, The Laotian Crisis of 1960–1961, Doubleday & Co.1969. Kenneth Conboy and Don Greer, War in Laos 1954–1975, Carrolton, TX, ISBN0897473159 Kenneth Conboy and Simon McCouaig, South-East Asian Special Forces, Elite series 33, Osprey Publishing Ltd, London 1991. ISBN 1-85532-106-8 Kenneth Conboy and Simon McCouaig, The War in Laos 1960–75, Men-at-arms series 217, Osprey Publishing Ltd, ISBN9780850459388 Kenneth Conboy with James Morrison, Shadow War, The CIAs Secret War in Laos, Boulder CO, Paladin Press,1995. Timothy Castle, At War in the Shadow of Vietnam, United States Military Aid to the Royal Lao Government, 1955–1975, anthony and Richard R. Sexton, The War in Northern Laos, Command for Air Force History,1993
26.
Empire of Japan
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The Empire of Japan was the historical Japanese nation-state and great power that existed from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 to the enactment of the 1947 constitution of modern Japan. Imperial Japans rapid industrialization and militarization under the slogan Fukoku Kyōhei led to its emergence as a world power, after several large-scale military successes during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific War, the Empire also gained notoriety for its war crimes against the peoples it conquered. A period of occupation by the Allies followed the surrender, Occupation and reconstruction continued well into the 1950s, eventually forming the current nation-state whose full title is the State of Japan or simply rendered Japan in English. The historical state is referred to as the Empire of Japan or the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan in English. In Japanese it is referred to as Dai Nippon Teikoku, which translates to Greater Japanese Empire and this is analogous to Großdeutsches Reich, a term that translates to Greater German Empire in English and Dai Doitsu Teikoku in Japanese. This meaning is significant in terms of geography, encompassing Japan, due to its name in kanji characters and its flag, it was also given the exonym Empire of the Sun. After two centuries, the policy, or Sakoku, under the shoguns of the Edo period came to an end when the country was forced open to trade by the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854. The following years saw increased trade and interaction, commercial treaties between the Tokugawa shogunate and Western countries were signed. In large part due to the terms of these Unequal Treaties, the Shogunate soon faced internal hostility, which materialized into a radical, xenophobic movement. In March 1863, the Emperor issued the order to expel barbarians, although the Shogunate had no intention of enforcing the order, it nevertheless inspired attacks against the Shogunate itself and against foreigners in Japan. The Namamugi Incident during 1862 led to the murder of an Englishman, Charles Lennox Richardson, the British demanded reparations but were denied. While attempting to exact payment, the Royal Navy was fired on from coastal batteries near the town of Kagoshima and they responded by bombarding the port of Kagoshima in 1863. For Richardsons death, the Tokugawa government agreed to pay an indemnity, shelling of foreign shipping in Shimonoseki and attacks against foreign property led to the Bombardment of Shimonoseki by a multinational force in 1864. The Chōshū clan also launched the coup known as the Kinmon incident. The Satsuma-Chōshū alliance was established in 1866 to combine their efforts to overthrow the Tokugawa bakufu, in early 1867, Emperor Kōmei died of smallpox and was replaced by his son, Crown Prince Mutsuhito. On November 9,1867, Tokugawa Yoshinobu resigned from his post and authorities to the Emperor, however, while Yoshinobus resignation had created a nominal void at the highest level of government, his apparatus of state continued to exist. On January 3,1868, Satsuma-Chōshū forces seized the palace in Kyoto. On January 17,1868, Yoshinobu declared that he would not be bound by the proclamation of the Restoration, on January 24, Yoshinobu decided to prepare an attack on Kyoto, occupied by Satsuma and Chōshū forces
27.
French Protectorate of Laos
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The French protectorate of Laos was a French protectorate forming part of the French Colonial Empire in Southeast Asia. It consisted of much of the territory of the kingdom of Lan Xang and was part of French Indochina from 1893 until it was granted self-rule within the French Union in 1946. The Franco-Lao Treaty of 1953 establishing Laos as an independent member of the French Union, under the Geneva Conference following Frances withdrawal from Indochina after the First Indochina War, Laos was granted independence in 1954. In 1885, a French consulate was established in Luang Prabang, by the end of 1886, Auguste Pavie was named vice-consul to Luang Prabang and was in charge of expeditions occurring in Laotian territory, with the possibility of turning Laos into a French territory. In 1888, Chinese forces known as the Black Flags declared war on Siam, Pavie and French forces later intervened and evacuated the Lao royal family to safety. Additional French troops from Hanoi later arrived to expel the Black Flags from Luang Prabang, following his return to the city, King Oun Kham requested a French protectorate over his kingdom. Pavie later sent Oun Khams request to the French government in Paris, the bill designating Luang Prabang a protectorate of France was signed on 27 March 1889 between both sides despite a Siamese protest. The kingdom was forced to recognise French control over the side of the Mekong River. Pavie continued to support French expeditions in Laotian territory and gave the territory its name of Laos. In January 1896, France and the United Kingdom signed an accord recognising the border between French Laos and British Burma, in 1898, Laos was fully integrated into the French Indochina union that was created in 1887 by unifying French possessions in Vietnam and Cambodia. A colonial governor was installed in Vientiane and Laos was reorganised from two provinces to ten provinces. The royal seat at Luang Prabang was still seen as the ruler of the province and a royal court still remained. The remaining nine provinces were ruled under the French government in Vientiane, with each province having a resident governor. To financially support the government, taxes were introduced and imposed on the population. In 1904, a treaty with Siam forced the kingdom to also surrender lands on the side of the Mekong River. These lands now form the province of Sainyabuli and the half of Champasak Province. In 1905, the present border between Laos and Cambodia was established after Siam ceded Preah Vihear Province to the French. Officially, the Kingdom of Luang Phrabāng remained a protectorate with internal autonomy, King Sisavang Vong, who became King of Luang Phrabāng in 1904, remained conspicuously loyal to the French through his 55-year reign
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