A History of Laos by Martin Stuart-Fox & Stuart-Fox Martin

Author:Martin Stuart-Fox & Stuart-Fox Martin [Stuart-Fox, Martin & Martin, Stuart-Fox]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Asia, Laos
ISBN: 9780521597463
Google: 8VvvevRkX-EC
Amazon: 0521597463
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 1997-09-27T22:00:00+00:00

POLITICAL POLARIZATION: NEUTRALITY SUBVERTED

As soon as it became clear after the battle for Viang Chan that the neutralists intended to maintain a separate political and military identity they became the target for both left and right, both of which hoped to benefit from their eventual elimination. Until the signing of the Geneva Agreements, the strength of the antagonism existing between neutralists and rightists was enough to prevent any cooperation. By early 1962, by contrast, tensions were already evident between neutralists and Pathēt Lao, despite efforts by leaders on both sides to prevent misunderstandings.

In order to strengthen the political organization of the neutralists, Suvanna had founded in September 1961 the Lao Pen Kang (Neutral Laos) party, with himself as President and Kônglae and Pheng Phongsavan as vice-presidents. There existed, however, two other neutralist political parties: the Santhiphāp Pen Kang (Peace through Neutrality) party of Kinim Phonsēnā, with a past history of close cooperation with the Pathēt Lao dating from the supplementary elections of 1958; and the Mittaphāp (Friendship) Party formed by left-wing students in support of the goals of the 1960 coup. Though neither was Marxist, in many respects their political platforms differed little from that of the Lao Patriotic Front, which they saw as their natural ally. The neutralists were thus divided among themselves, making fissiparous pressures that much more likely to succeed.

Return of neutralist civil servants and officers to Viang Chan in mid-1962 to take part in government exposed them to political pressure not only from former rightist comrades, but also from the US Embassy which hoped to see a common front formed between the two non-communist factions. For his part, Phūmī ordered the National Directorate for Coordination (the police and security apparatus) both to target neutralist troops to win them over to the right, and to prevent the neutralist parties from functioning freely in areas under right-wing control. Much the same tactics were used by the Pathēt Lao. Neutralists were subjected to continuous propaganda, while being prevented from extending their own organization into areas under Pathēt Lao control. They were thus able to exercise administration only of areas in possession of their own forces.

Suvanna, to whom the National Assembly had voted plenary powers in October, was well aware of the pressures the neutralists were under. Jean Deuve, a close adviser, summed up Suvanna’s thinking:

He estimated it would take two years, through developing little by little the influence of each ministry in each zone, by technical decisions, in the areas of health, post and telecommunications, etcetera; through multiplying personal contacts with civil servants and officers; and through bringing the King into the game. It was necessary to proceed by very small steps, and to resolve all misunderstandings. Once the military merger was achieved — that was the key to success — the neutralist party would have to win the elections by attracting as many adherents as possible from each wing, right and left.247

It was a vain hope. Although in November an agreement was signed to create a tripartite army

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