Brief Biography of Souphanouvong

In 1909, Prince Souphanouvong was born into a life in which he never need struggle or want. He was sent to France to be educated, and quickly out-shined his older brothers. Souphanouvong had an affinity for classic literature, sciences, and languages (able to speak 12 languages!).

In 1937, he returned to Laos (at the time, French Indochina) as a civil engineer to help build bridges throughout central Laos—a job he held until 1945.

When imperial Japan withdrew from Indochina after their defeat in 1945, Prince Souphanouvong became a founding member of the Lao Issara (Independent Lao) Government. This government declared Lao independence from all foreign invaders: French and Japanese. However, France quickly began retaking Indochina with US, UK, and KMT support.

On 21st March 1946, Prince Souphanouvong led the battle of resistance against the French in the town of Thakhek; but the French were merciless. The battle took one day. The French burned and destroyed entire villages. From the air, they bombed the morning market. They fired upon every moving body. The French slashed open pregnant women, and threw the newborns and children down the town's water well. They shot and killed every villager attempting to flee across the Mekong River; so much blood was spilt that the river was dyed red. The massacre resulted in 3,000 Lao deaths and is commemorated as National Disability and Sacrifice Day.

Prince Souphanouvong was able to flee across the Mekong into Thailand, but did not escape unscathed. A French spitfire plane shot his boat and hit Souphanouvong in the arm, knocking him unconscious.

The Lao Issara Government came to a swift end at the hand of the French's harsh oppression, but the fight for liberation continued. After the cowardly surrender to the French by the other Princes, Souphanouvong, who recently met with Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi, had aligned himself with the Indochinese Communist Party. He became the President of the Neo Lao Issara (Lao Freedom Front)—the official face and representative of the Pathet Lao (the Lao communist movement).

In 1954, with the defeat of the French at Dien Bien Phu, Laos won its independence from France. The majority of the country came under control of the Royal Lao Government while the two provinces of Houaphan and Phongsaly were governed by the Pathet Lao. It was at this time that the Coalition Government between the Royalists, Neutralists, and Communists came into being. But peace didn't last as US influence had already found way into Laos.

In 1955, when it became apparent that the Royal Lao Government apparatus was only a puppet state of the US, the Lao People's Party was founded in Houaphan province. Prince Souphanouvong was a founding member of the Party and Central Committee. The following year, the Neo Lao Issara became the Neo Lao Hak Sat (Lao Patriotic Front) and Souphanouvong would again be elected as the President, face, and representative of the Pathet Lao.

In 1959, the Royalist Lao Government, under US-backed Sananikone, dissolved the Coalition government and arrested 16 Neo Lao Hak Sat leaders, and supporters and troops. In short time, under Souphanouvong's leadership, the leaders escaped from Phonekheng prison in the middle of the night after convincing the guards to join the Pathet Lao. This arrest displayed the stark US-backed opposition to the communists and an independent Laos.

In 1962, the Coalition Government was refounded after the Geneva Agreement which stipulated that Laos was to be free from foreign influence—an agreement that the US did not honor. In 1963, after the assassination of anti-American neutralist Quinim Pholsena (and consequently the dissolution of the second Coalition Government), Souphanouvong fled from Vientiane to Houphan.

And then the bombs came.

In 1964, Operation Barrel Roll began and wouldn't end until 1973. Carried out by US, Thai, and Royal Lao Government planes, Laos would become the most bombed country on earth as the US and anti-communist forces attempted to completely wipe away the Pathet Lao.

During these years of onslaught, the Pathet Lao, under the leadership of Souphanouvong, Kaysone Phomvihane and company, led the country to ending US imperialist oppression upon Laos and bringing an end to feudal practices.

Between 1973 and 1975, when the US pulled out of Laos, another coalition government formed between the Pathet Lao and the Royalists. However, this government did not last long. The people of Laos had had enough of the policies of the Royalists: they saw the policies they implemented, they saw brother turn upon brother, and they saw what the US was allowed to do.

In 1975, the people of Laos rose up. Under the banner of the Lao People's Party, the great masses of Lao people took to the streets and overthrew the monarchy. This culminated into the abdication of the throne on 2nd December 1975 and the founding of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

At this founding congress, Souphanouvong was presented for Presidential nomination by Kaysone Phomvihane. Not even a second after his nomination, the entire hall exploded into a standing ovation of approval. Souphanouvong became the first President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. This was the last day that Souphanouvong was referred to as "Prince". For his comrades and countrymen, he was affectionately referred to as "Uncle Soupha".

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A prince who traded his palace for a cave, a life of luxury for one of struggle. A class traitor who risked everything he had and was for the liberation of the working classes of Laos.