1960s and 1970s Pathet Lao

pathet lao soldiers in vientiane, laos, 1973

shortly after paris peace accords ended involvement in vietnam war, pathet lao , government of laos signed cease-fire agreement, vientiane treaty, in february 1973.

in december 1974, there responsible killing of charles dean , neil sharman.

the coalition government envisaged treaty lasted 2 years. pathet lao refused disarm , north vietnamese army did not leave country. in late may 1975, pathet lao, direct assistance of north vietnamese army, began attacking government strongholds. fall of south vietnamese government north vietnamese on april 30, 1975 , fall of cambodian government khmer rouge on april 17, non-communist elements of national government decided allowing pathet lao enter power better have them take force. on august 23, 1975, pathet lao forces quietly entered lao capital city of vientiane.

on december 2, 1975, pathet lao firmly took on government, abolishing monarchy , establishing lao people s democratic republic. shortly thereafter, pathet lao signed agreement vietnam allowed vietnam station part of army in country , send political , economic advisors laos. vietnam afterward forced laos cut remaining economic ties other neighbours, including thailand , cambodia.

after pathet lao took on country in 1975, conflict continued in isolated pockets. in 1977 communist newspaper promised party hunt down “american collaborators” , families “to last root . demise of soviet union, control of laos vietnam waned @ end of 1980s. today, pathet lao invoked general term signifying lao nationalism.