Laos (lah-OUS), republic (91,428 sq mi/236,800 sq km; 1995 estimated population 4,250,000; 2004 estimated population 6,068,117), officially, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, SE Asia; 18°00'N 105°00'E.
Geography
The administrative capital is Vientiane, the historic royal capital, Luang Phabang. A landlocked country, Laos is bordered by China on the N, by Vietnam on the E, by Cambodia on the S, and by Thailand and Myanmar on the W. In general, the Mekong River, most of which flows in a broad valley, forms the boundaries with Myanmar and Thailand. For two lengthy stretches, however—one greater than 300 mi/480 km—the Mekong flows entirely through the territory of Laos. Except for the Mekong lowlands and three major plateaus, the terrain of Laos is rugged, mountainous, and still heavily wooded despite serious deforestation from logging and shifting cultivation; jagged crests in the N tower over 9,000 ft/2,740 m.
Population
About half the population is Lao, a people ethnically related to the Thai. Those settled along the Mekong River are termed Lao Lam, while the so-called Lao Thai, who are more “tribal” in character, have resisted the cultural influences of lowland settled peoples and generally reside in upland valleys rather than the Mekong flood plains. Upland tribes include the many groups that constitute the Lao Theung, or various Mountain Mon-Khmer groups, as well as the Meo, Mien, Black Thai, Dao, and several Tibeto-Burman speaking peoples. There are also important minorities of Vietnamese and Chinese. A majority of Laotians are Theravada Buddhists; although the 40% of the people are generally animists. Many Laotians are descendants of Thai immigrants who were pushed S from Yünnan, China, beginning in the 13th century and gradually infiltrated the territory of the Khmer Empire.
Economy
Laos is one of the regions of SE Asia least touched by modern civilization. There are no railroads, though a railroad bridge over the Mekong connects Vientiane withThailand's railroad system at Nong Khai. Commercial airports are few, and roads and trails are limited. Use of the country’s main communications artery, the Mekong River, is impeded by many falls and rapids. More than half of the population lives along the Mekong and its tributaries. Most are subsistence farmers, who also weave their own cloth, produce most domestic utensils and tools, and still maintain diverse folk crafts. Rice is by far the chief crop; corn and vegetables are also grown. Commercial crops include coffee, tobacco, sugarcane, and cotton. Illegal opium poppies and cannabis sativa are grown by shifting cultivators in a NW region bordering Thailand and Myanmar known as the “Golden Triangle.” Fish from the rivers and game from the forests supplement the diet. Forests cover about two-thirds; of the country; teak is cut and lac is extracted, but poor transportation and the lack of industry limit production. Some tin is mined, and other known mineral resources include coal, iron, graphite, copper, gold, lead, salt, and zinc. None have been effectively developed. The principal exports of Laos are tin, timber, and coffee. Since almost all manufactured items have to be imported, however, there is a continuing foreign trade deficit. A growing competitive advantage of Laos is hydroelectricity. In 1992, electricity exports, primarily to Thailand, comprised nearly 47% of export value. In 2001, 400 million kw of electricity were exported, almost one-third of all electricity produced. The first dam, built along the Mekong, was Nam Ngum, and a second one, Nam Theum 2, is currently in the works. Plans for future dam sites are underway as well, although the projects have caused some controversy because they often require displacement of residents in the area and cause damage to wildlife. The projects should give Laos a productive capacity of 20,000 MW of hydroelectricity.
History to the 19th Century
In the mid-14th century a powerful kingdom called Lan Xang was founded in Laos by Fa Ngoun (1353–1373), who is also credited with the introduction of Theravada Buddhism and much of Khmer civilization into Laos. Lan Xang waged intermittent wars with the Khmer, Burmese, Vietnamese, and Thai, and by the 17th century it held sway over sections of Yünnan, China, of S Myanmar, of the Vietnamese and Cambodian plateaus, and large stretches of N Thailand. In 1707, however, internal dissensions brought about a split of Lan Xang into two kingdoms: Luang Phabang in upper (N) Laos and Vientiane in lower (S) Laos. During the next century the two states, constantly quarreling, were overrun by the armies of neighboring countries.
History - 19th Century to 1955
In the early 19th century Siam was dominant over the two Laotian kingdoms, although Siamese claims were disputed by Annam. After French explorations in the late 19th century, Siam was forced (1893) to recognize a French protectorate over Laos, which was incorporated into the union of Indochina. During World War II, Laos was gradually occupied by the Japanese, who in 1945 persuaded the king of Luang Prabang to declare the country’s independence. The French nevertheless reestablished (1946) dominion over Laos, recognizing the king as constitutional monarch of the entire country. The French granted an increasing measure of self-government, and in 1949 Laos became a semiautonomous state within the French Union. In 1951, a communist Laotian nationalist movement, the Pathet Lao, was formed by Prince Souphanouvong in North Vietnam. In 1953, Pathet Lao guerrillas accompanied a Viet Minh invasion of Laos from Vietnam and established a government at Sam Neua in N Laos. That year Laos attained full sovereignty; admission into the UN came in 1955.
History - 1955 to 1961
The new country faced immediate civil war as Pathet Lao forces, supported by the Viet Minh, made incursions into central Laos, soon occupying sizable portions of the country. Agreements reached at the Geneva Conference of 1954 provided for the withdrawal of foreign troops and the establishment of the Pathet Lao in two N provinces. In 1957 an agreement was reached between the royal forces and the Pathet Lao, but in 1959 the coalition government collapsed and hostilities were renewed. A succession of coups resulted (1960) in a three-way struggle for power between neutralist, rightist, and Communist forces. The Communist Pathet Lao rebels remained under the leadership of Prince Souphanouvong in the N provinces. The right-wing government of Boun Oum, installed in Vientiane, was recognized by the U.S. and other Western countries and controlled the bulk of the royal Laotian army. The Soviet Union and its allies continued to recognize the deposed neutralist government of Souvanna Phouma, who had fled to neighboring Cambodia.
History - 1961 to 1971
In May 1961, with Pathet Lao and neutralist forces in control of about half the country, a cease-fire was arranged. A fourteen-nation conference convened in Geneva, producing (1962) another agreement providing for the neutrality of Laos under a unified government. A provisional coalition government, with all factions represented, was accordingly established under the premiership of Souvanna Phouma. Attempts to integrate the three military forces failed, however, and the Pathet Lao began moving against neutralist troops. Open warfare resumed in 1963, and the Pathet Lao, bolstered by supplies and troops from North Vietnam, solidified control over most of N and E Laos. Disgruntled right-wing military leaders staged a coup in 1964 and attempted to force the resignation of Souvanna Phouma; the U.S. and the Soviet Union emphasized their support of the premier, however, and he remained in office with a right-wing neutralist government. Pathet Lao guerrilla activity decreased after the start (1965) of U.S. bombings of North Vietnamese military bases and communications routes. The bombings also included attacks on what came to be known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a lengthy and complex system of co-lateral pathways that together comprised the North Vietnamese supply route through E Laos. Communist pressure increased during 1969, and early in 1970 the Pathet Lao launched several major offensives.
History - 1971 to 1975
At the beginning of 1971, South Vietnamese troops invaded Laotian territory in an unsuccessful attempt to block the Ho Chi Minh trail. The attack drove the North Vietnamese deeper into Laos, and Laos became another multi-frontal battleground of the Vietnam War, with heavy U.S. aerial bombardments. The U.S. extended enormous military and economic aid to the Laotian government and financed the use of Thai mercenary troops, whose numbers peaked to over 21,000 in 1972. The Pathet Lao, supported by North Vietnamese troops, scored major gains, consolidating their control over more than two-thirds of Laotian territory (mainly in the more rugged mountain sectors) but over only one-third of the population. Heavy fighting persisted until February 1973, when a cease-fire was finally declared. A final agreement between the government and the Pathet Lao, concluded in September 1973, provided for the formation of a coalition government under the premiership of Souvanna Phouma (inaugurated in April 1974), the stationing of an equal number of government and Pathet Lao troops in the two capitals, and the withdrawal of all foreign troops and advisers. After Communist victories in Vietnam and Cambodia, the Pathet Lao took control of the country in 1975, and officially changed its name to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
History - 1975 to Present
Between 1975 and 1985, over 300,000 Laotians fled their country and sought refuge in the U.S. and elsewhere. As of 1990, there were 149,000 Laotians (mainly H’mong) living in the U.S. The Laotian political economy faced enormous difficulties in the immediate post-war years, with government leadership rolling back efforts to collectivize agriculture and restrict private enterprise by the mid-1980s. The shift in “chintanakan mai” (new thinking) was further entrenched with the collapse of many socialist states in the late 1980s. Besides increasing revenues from tourism, Laos is benefitting from improved relations with its SE Asian neighbors. ASEAN granted Laos observer status in 1992 and the country became a full member in 1997.
Government
Elected in February 1998, General Khamtai Siphadon serves as president. The head of government is Prime Minister Boungnang Volachit (March 2001).
