Lao News Agency

Thirty years of national protection and development in line with
the renovation policy (1985-2015)
(This piece of information is devoted to the coming 10^th
Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party)

(KPL) The Party has always attached great importance to rural development and poverty reduction. Importance is also attached to strengthening political grassroots, establishing focal development villages and areas, and the three-build experiment which is being implemented in 51 districts (109 villages).  The political system at the village and village cluster level has also been improved. Sixty-seven per cent of villages in the country have very strong political systems.  In addition, the poverty rate has been decreasing constantly: from 45% of the national population in 1992-1993 to 39.1% in 1997-1998, 33.5% in 2002-2003, 27.6% in 2007-2008, and 20.5% in 2012-2013. Meanwhile the percentage of poor families has been reduced from 22.2% in 2007-2008 to 16% in 2012-2013.

Agriculture:
Rice production in 2004 amounted to 2.5 million tonnes.  This number increased to 3.38 million tonnes in 2011 and 3.41 million tonnes in 2012-2013. Rice production could basically meet demand. Commercial production of maize, Job’s tears, sugar cane, coffee and various kinds of vegetables has now reached 5.42 million tonnes. The industrial farming of trees has also witnessed significant growth as well as the raising of animals.

Energy and mines:
This sector has recorded progressive growth, most noticeably are the Theun Hinboun extension Project, Nam Ngum Five and Sekhamane Three. Other major electricity power projects include the Hongsa lignite fired power plant, the Xayaboury hydropower project, Nam Ou Two, Nam Ou Five, Nam Ou Six, Sepien-Se Nam Noy, and Nam Ngieb I projects. 

Electricity generation in 2012-2013 amounted to 10.57 million megawatts. All provincial municipal areas and districts have now been connected with power grids.

As of 2014, the number of villages with access to an electricity power grid was 6,366, which represents about 74.77% of total villages in the country.

In 2012-2013, the production of copper ore was almost 90,000 tonnes and that of gold ore reached 3.76 tonnes. Cement production has been recorded at 2.27 million tonnes. The production of steel and structural steel was 58,000 tonnes.

Industry and commerce: 
In the 2012-2013 fiscal year, industry grew by 7.4 %, down from 14.5% in the preceding year. Industry shared 28.04% of the national GDP.  The processing industry grew at a rate of 9.7% and the handicraft sector witnessed rapid growth of 7.8% per year. Commerce also had impressive growth with 628 markets reported nationwide in 2012 including 73 large markets. These help promote the circulation of goods to rural and remote areas.

Communication:
A number of roads have been built to link with regional economies. These include the East West Economic Corridor, a train running between Vientiane’s Thanaleng and Thailand’s Nongkhai which is currently operational, and the Lao-China high speed railway construction project which was launched in December 2015. The total length of roads in the country is 45,825 km including 7,377 km of national highway.

Post and telecommunications:
The sector has recorded rapid growth. Every district now has access to the telephone network. In 2004, the number of telephones and mobile phones was 405,300 with 23 automatic telephone centres built nationwide. At the same time, mobile phone centres increased from 1 in 2001 to 4 in 2005. The telecommunications network represents more than 80 districts in the country.

Between 2005 and 2013, 119 post offices were built with around 11,500 km of fiber optic cable installed. There are now 99 telephone centres including 38 centres operated by Enterprise Telecom du Lao (EDL), 58 managed by Lao Telecom, two belonging to Star Telecom and one run by Millicom Lao. There are more than 4.2 million telephone and cell phone numbers. Since 2012, a 4G mobile network has also been put into service. 

Education: Since 1975, education has enjoyed development both terms of quantity and quality. Kindergartens currently number 1,802 including 293 private kindergartens.   

Primary schools in 1975-1976 numbered 4,444 and increased to 8,927 by 2013-2014.

Secondary schools currently number 1,494. 

Non-formal education has been implemented in 140 districts with 13 schools operating secondary education equivalency programmes that benefit over 3,000 students. There are also 310 community learning centres and 28 vocational training centres nationwide.

Higher education and university education: As of 2013-2014 there were 5 universities including four universities operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Education and one university under the Ministry of Health.

In addition, there are 133 colleges including 73 colleges run privately. There are 115,500 students with higher education and bachelor degrees, 1,043 students holding Master’s degrees and 34 that have been awarded doctoral degrees. Meanwhile 2,894 have been awarded scholarships to pursue studies overseas.

In 1975, there was one teacher’s training school with 170 students. Today, teacher training colleges number 11 including the Faculty of Education of the National University of Laos.   

...................................................................................................................................................................

The First 10 Years of Firm Protection of Sovereign
Power and Territory: 1975-1985

(This piece of information is devoted to the coming 10^th
Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party)

(KPL) In the early years after the Party took power and established the new regime, the situation in regional and international communities changed in a complicated way and the Lao PDR was the very least developed. Equipment and technical foundations were almost none and the implications from the war were very severe.

However, under the correct and decisive leadership of the Party, the Lao people had enhanced their patriotic traditions and revolutionary spirit and dedicated all physical and mental efforts to national protection and construction. While overcoming many difficulties and obstacles, the Party recorded numerous victories and significant achievements in various areas thus raising the revolutionary cause to a higher level.

In the first years of the Lao PDR (1976-1977), the Party focused on healing the wounds from war, bringing the living conditions of people back to normal, and implementing a three-year plan (1978-1980) and the first five-year plan (1981-1985). 

Thirty years of national protection and development in line with the Renovation Policy (1985-2015):

Under the correct leadership of the Party, the implementation of the resolutions of the Party Congresses and the national socio-economic development plan was successful in winning the trust of Lao multi-ethnic people and the international community.  It created a strong foundation for the cause of national protection and construction and ensured political stability, peace and order in the society, with social culture actively promoted and the living conditions of people improved gradually. The role and reputation of the Lao PDR rose in both regional and international arenas.

The socio-economic development of the Lao PDR witnessed significant achievements as well as constant and stable growth with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increasing periodically: 4.8% per year from 1986-1990, 6.4% from 1991-1995, 6.2% from 1996-2005, 7.9% from 2006-2010, and 8.0% from 2012-2013.

Per capita income of the Lao people increased from US$114 in 1985, to US$380 in 1995, US$534 in 2006, US$1,355 in 2012 and US$1,534 in 2013.

.........................................................................................................................................

60 years under the leadership of the Lao
People’s Revolutionary Party
(This piece of information is devoted to the coming 10th
Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party)

(KPL)  Soon after inception, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party encountered the US imperialist invasion. Our Party bore a heavy task directing the Lao people to fight in the fierce war against the invasion of the new imperialist power and their supporters to march towards ultimate national liberalization and record fruitful development:
1955-1975:

The Party led the war by putting in place correct and inventive political and military strategies. With favourable conditions brought about by the unity of Lao, Vietnamese and Cambodian people, our Party moblised all potential in the country to suppress the US strategies.    
1955-1958:

This period witnessed the Party leading people’s fight against foreign invaders bringing to fruition the Geneva agreement and protecting the two strongholds of Huaphan and Phongsaly. Our Party strengthened its armed forces, and political and economic grassroots along with promoting political movements in another ten provinces destroying the enemy’s strategies that were designed to eradicate all patriotic forces. All led to the signing of the Vientiane agreement in 1957, establishing a coalition government with the participation of the Lao Patriotic Front.
1959-1962:

The imperialists and their supporters waged a fierce war aiming to eradicate revolutionary movements. They abolished the coalition government and national harmony, surrounded Battalion No 2 in the Plain of Jars, and jailed the leaders of the Lao Patriotic Front. Fortunately, under the clear sighted leadership of the Party, Battalion No 2 managed to escape the enclosure and the leaders amazingly escaped prison on May 24, 1960, l iberating the Plain of Jars of Xieng Khuang in January 1961, and then Luang Namtha in May of 1962. Strongholds were s treng thened and two thirds of the national territory which housed half of the population was freed.
Suffering a great defeat, the imperialists and their followers agreed to sign a Geneva agreement on Laos’ affairs on 23 July 1962 and another coalition government was founded.

From 1964-1973, the US had two strategies: The “Special War” of Johnson and the Enhanced Special War that was in line with Nixon’s theory. 

In May 1964, the US launched severe aerial bombing targeting liberated zones enhancing the special war in Laos with a vision to seize all liberated zones. The following wars were waged by the US: Samsone, Sonexay One, Sonexay Two, Mangkone, Khottabong, among others. They waged a war attacking the strategic Plain of Jars and seizing Nambak and other liberated zones in central and southern Laos.

Under the clear-sighted leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, the Lao army and people managed to win all wars waged by the enemy. These victories included the Nambak and Phathi wars (1968), the Plain of Jars War in Xieng Khuang (1970), and Operation Lam Son 719 (1971).  We destroyed Johnson’s Special War strategy and the Enhanced Special War strategy of Nixon in Laos, Southern Vietnam and Cambodia.

Liberated areas expanded covering four-fifths of the national territory housing more than half of the nation’s population. Many socio-economic and cultural achievements were recorded in the liberated zones.   

In 1972, the Second Party Congress was opened with the Party issuing a direction for the National Democratic Revolutionary Period.

In 1973, severely attacked, the US and its supporters agreed to sign the Vientiane agreement on restoring national peace and harmony in Laos on 21 Feb. The agreement represented the absolute defeat of the neo-imperialist power. An order for a cease fire across the country took effect on Feb 22, 1973. The victory was greatly celebrated as it created the most fundamental conditions for our revolution to be completely successful.     

The 1973-1975 period was the National Democratic Revolutionary Period for Laos. Under the leadership of the Party, the masses and all classes in zones formerly controlled by the enemy as well as neutral zones, including workers, farmers, and students staged demonstrations and participated in the revolutionary movement. These included demonstrations by workers at Vientiane Electricity, a 42-day demonstration by people in Nongbok district of Khammuan Province, a demonstration for the detachment of Battalion 102 and demonstrations staged by students and young people in the major cities of Vientiane, Pakse, and Savannakhet. 

On April 17, 1975, the nationwide liberation was announced in Cambodia. The Vietnamese army and people liberated southern Vietnam on April 30, 1975. 

 From 1964-1973, the US had two strategies: The “Special War” of Johnson and the Enhanced Special War that was in line with Nixon’s theory. In May 1964, the US launched severe aerial bombing targeting liberated zones enhancing the special war in Laos with a vision to seize all liberated zones. The following wars were waged by the US: Samsone, Sonexay One, Sonexay Two, Mangkone, Khottabong, among others. They waged a war attacking the strategic Plain of Jars and seizing Nambak and other liberated zones in central and southern Laos. Under the clear-sighted leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, the Lao army and people managed to win all wars waged by the enemy. These victories included the Nambak and Phathi wars (1968), the Plain of Jars War in Xieng Khuang (1970), and Operation Lam Son 719 (1971). We destroyed Johnson’s Special War strategy and the Enhanced Special War strategy of Nixon in Laos, Southern Vietnam and Cambodia. Liberated areas expanded covering four-fifths of the national territory housing more than half of the nation’s population. Many socio-economic and cultural achievements were recorded in the liberated zones. In 1972, the Second Party Congress was opened with the Party issuing a direction for the National Democratic Revolutionary Period. In 1973, severely attacked, the US and its supporters agreed to sign the Vientiane agreement on restoring national peace and harmony in Laos on 21 Feb. The agreement represented the absolute defeat of the neo-imperialist power. An order for a cease fire across the country took effect on Feb 22, 1973. The victory was greatly celebrated as it created the most fundamental conditions for our revolution to be completely successful. The 1973-1975 period was the National Democratic Revolutionary Period for Laos. Under the leadership of the Party, the masses and all classes in zones formerly controlled by the enemy as well as neutral zones, including workers, farmers, and students staged demonstrations and participated in the revolutionary movement. These included demonstrations by workers at Vientiane Electricity, a 42-day demonstration by people in Nongbok district of Khammuan Province, a demonstration for the detachment of Battalion 102 and demonstrations staged by students and young people in the major cities of Vientiane, Pakse, and Savannakhet. On April 17, 1975, the nationwide liberation was announced in Cambodia. The Vietnamese army and people liberated southern Vietnam on April 30, 1975. While the Lao revolutionary movement was enjoying the most favourable conditions, grabbing historic opportunity, our Party decided to seize power in early May 1975 applying three strategic steps: demonstrations by the people, advancement by the revolutionary armed forces, and demonstrations by right wing soldiers demanding inclusion into the revolutionary forces. In the beginning of September 1975, a nationwide declaration was made on the abolishing the old administration and replacing it with the new revolutionary regime. The announcement on the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic was made on 2 December 1975.

.............................................................................................................................................................................................

The Birth of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party  

Ongkeo and Ongkommadam were among key leaders in war against French colonial power.

(This piece of information is devoted to the coming 10^thCongress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.)   

In the late 19^th century, the three Indochinese countries of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia were invaded by French colonial power. The Indochinese people were cruelly ransacked and severely exploited. They fought valiantly with the mission of regaining their freedom and keeping their motherlands. 

In Laos, many liberation movements were founded. They ranged from small to large in size. Some movements lasted several years but all of them were suppressed due to a number of reasons, including unfavourable situations.  

On February 3, 1930, the Indochinese Communist Party was established under the direct and comprehensive guidance of President Ho Chi Minh. The party put in place clear Indochinese strategies raising awareness of the destiny of the people in the three countries colonized by French colonial power and the primary conflicts between worker-peasants (the working class) and the French colonial power, feudalist administration, landlords and capitalists. The fundamental duty of revolutionary cause was to topple French colonial power, bringing absolute freedom to Indochina and abolishing the feudalist regime.

The main revolutionary forces were workers and peasants under the leadership of the working class and the decisive factor in the revolutionary victory was the leadership of the Communist Party, which had the right political direction, was disciplined, and was engaged with grassroots people.  

Under the leadership of the Indochinese Communist Party, the revolution in our country enjoyed constant growth:

In 1934, the Lao State Party Cell was established. The move constituted the first step to improve and expand Party and mass organizations. The Party promoted mobilization campaigns to encourage the masses in rural and tribal areas to strengthen the revolutionary cause. It considered peasants the main force of the revolution. As a result, revolutionary movements were formed at various levels ranging from local to central across the country and the Lao people seized power from the French on August 23, 1945.  The Lao People’s Army was established on January 20, 1949, and the Free Lao Front, then the Lao Patriotic Front, was established on August 13, 1950.  They had been the catalysts for unification extensively and actively encouraging people of all classes to take part in the revolutionary cause. The Party used the Lao Patriotic Front to fight at the frontline and be in charge of external affairs with Party leaders and Party members holding leading positions in the Lao Patriotic Front.

The 2^nd congress of the Indochinese Party in 1951 approved a resolution allowing member countries to establish their own political parties. As a result, the Lao Indochinese Communist Party members formed “the Lao People’s Committee” to continue leading the revolution in Laos. Following four years of preparations, the committee held its first congress on March 22, 1955 in Namiao village of Viengxay district in Huaphan Province, the revolutionary stronghold, and renamed itself the Lao People’s Party with President Kaysone Phomvihane serving as the Secretary General of the Party Central Committee. Attending this historic congress were 20 delegates representing Party membership of almost 400 across the country.