Pathet Lao

| active = 1950 – 2 December 1975

| active = 1950 – 2 December 1975

| ideology = [[Communism]]

| ideology = [[Communism]]

| position = [[Far-left politics|Far-left]]

| position =

| leaders = Prince [[Souphanouvong]]<br>[[Kaysone Phomvihane]]<br>[[Nouhak Phoumsavanh]]

| leaders = Prince [[Souphanouvong]]<br>[[Kaysone Phomvihane]]<br>[[Nouhak Phoumsavanh]]

| clans =

| clans =

|archive-date= June 26, 2022

|archive-date= June 26, 2022

|quote= .... The basic stance of this front's propaganda was the united struggle against the French without reference to political parties or ideology. Illustrative of this stance was the use henceforth of the name Pathet Lao (Lao Nation).

|quote= .... The basic stance of this front's propaganda was the united struggle against the French without reference to political parties or ideology. Illustrative of this stance was the use henceforth of the name Pathet Lao (Lao Nation).

}}</ref>), officially the '''Lao People's Liberation Army''', was a [[communist]] [[political movement]] and [[political organization|organization]] in [[Laos]], formed in the mid-20th century. The group ultimately gained control over the entire country of Laos in 1975, after the [[Laotian Civil War]]. The Pathet Lao were always closely associated and dependent on Vietnamese communists and North Vietnam since their foundation, with the group being established after advice from Hanoi to create a Laotian counterpart of the [[Viet Minh]] or [[Viet Cong]]. During the civil war, it was effectively organised, equipped and even led by the [[People's Army of Vietnam]] (PAVN). They fought against the anti-communist forces in the [[Vietnam War]]. Eventually, the term became the generic name for Laotian communists.

}}</ref>), officially the '''Lao People's Liberation Army''', was a [[communist]] [[political movement]] and [[political organization|organization]] in [[Laos]], formed in the 20th century. The group ultimately gained control over the entire country of Laos in 1975, after the [[Laotian Civil War]]. The Pathet Lao were associated and dependent on Vietnamese communists and North Vietnam since their foundation, with the group being established after advice from Hanoi to create a Laotian counterpart of the [[Viet Minh]] or [[Viet Cong]]. During the civil war, it was effectively organised, equipped and even led by the [[People's Army of Vietnam]] (PAVN). They fought against the anti-communist forces in the [[Vietnam War]]. Eventually, the term became the generic name for Laotian communists.

Under orders from [[Mao Zedong]], the [[People's Liberation Army]] provided 115,000 guns, 920,000 grenades and 170 million bullets, and trained more than 700 of its military officers.<ref>Brazinsky, Gregg A. (2017) Winning the Third World: Sino-American Rivalry during the Cold War, p. 249, The University of North Carolina Press</ref>

Under orders from [[Mao Zedong]], the [[People's Liberation Army]] provided 115,000 guns, 920,000 grenades and 170 million bullets, and trained more than 700 of its military officers.<ref>Brazinsky, Gregg A. (2017) Winning the Third World: Sino-American Rivalry during the Cold War, p. 249, The University of North Carolina Press</ref>

== Organization ==

== Organization ==

The political wing of the Pathet Lao, called the "[[Lao Patriotic Front]]" ({{langx|lo|Neo Lao Hak Xat}}) served in multiple coalition governments, starting in 1956. Through the 1960s and 1970s the Pathet Lao battled the [[Royal Lao Government|Royal Lao government]] during the [[Laotian Civil War]], gaining control of the north and east of Laos. The Pathet Lao gained power throughout the country by 1975. In December, the US-backed government fell and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party formed a new government.<ref name="brit">

The political movement of the Pathet Lao was called first the "Lao People's Party" (1955–1972) and later the "[[Lao People's Revolutionary Party]]" (1972–present).

Key Pathet Lao leaders include Prince [[Souphanouvong]], [[Kaysone Phomvihane]], [[Phoumi Vongvichit]], [[Nouhak Phoumsavanh]] and [[Khamtay Siphandone]].

The political wing of the Pathet Lao, called the "[[Lao Patriotic Front]]" ({{langx|lo|Neo Lao Hak Xat}}) served in multiple coalition governments, starting in 1956. Through the 1960s and 1970s the Pathet Lao battled the [[Royal Lao Government|Royal Lao government]] during the [[Laotian Civil War]], gaining control of the north and east of Laos. The Pathet Lao gained power throughout the country by early 1975. In December, the US-backed government fell and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party formed a new government.<ref name="brit">

{{cite encyclopedia

{{cite encyclopedia

|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/446407/Pathet-Lao

|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/446407/Pathet-Lao

The organization can trace its roots from the [[World War II|Second World War]], similar to the [[Khmer Issarak]] in Cambodia and the [[Viet Minh]] in Vietnam. Originally the [[Lao Issara]], an anti-French, non-communist nationalist movement formed on 12 October 1945, it was renamed the "Pathet Lao" in 1950 when it was adopted by Lao forces under Souphanouvong, who joined the Viet Minh's revolt against colonial French authorities in [[French Indochina|Indochina]] during the [[First Indochina War]].<ref name=Zasloff>{{cite book|last=Zasloff|first=Joseph|title=The Pathet Lao Leadership and Organisation|publisher=Greenwood Publishing|year=1973|url=https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/reports/2007/R949.pdf|isbn=978-0669867442|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719084408/https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/reports/2007/R949.pdf|archive-date= July 19, 2022}}</ref>{{rp|12–3}}

The organization can trace its roots from the [[World War II|Second World War]], similar to the [[Khmer Issarak]] in Cambodia and the [[Viet Minh]] in Vietnam. Originally the [[Lao Issara]], an anti-French, non-communist nationalist movement formed on 12 October 1945, it was renamed the "Pathet Lao" in 1950 when it was adopted by Lao forces under Souphanouvong, who joined the Viet Minh's revolt against colonial French authorities in [[French Indochina|Indochina]] during the [[First Indochina War]].<ref name=Zasloff>{{cite book|last=Zasloff|first=Joseph|title=The Pathet Lao Leadership and Organisation|publisher=Greenwood Publishing|year=1973|url=https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/reports/2007/R949.pdf|isbn=978-0669867442|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719084408/https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/reports/2007/R949.pdf|archive-date= July 19, 2022}}</ref>{{rp|12–3}}

Souphanouvong, who had spent seven years in [[Nha Trang]]<ref name=Castle>{{cite book|last=Castle|first=Timothy|title=At War in the Shadow of Vietnam: U.S. Military Aid to the Royal Lao Government, 1955 - 1975|publisher=Columbia University Press|year=1993|isbn=978-0231079778}}</ref>{{rp|7}} during his sixteen years in Vietnam,<ref name="lcweb2.loc.gov">[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+la0031) Laos: The Pathet Lao] Library of Congress Country Studies</ref> met [[Ho Chi Minh]], married a Vietnamese woman while in Vietnam, and solicited Viet Minh aid in founding a guerrilla force.

Souphanouvong spent seven years in [[Nha Trang]]<ref name=Castle>{{cite book|last=Castle|first=Timothy|title=At War in the Shadow of Vietnam: U.S. Military Aid to the Royal Lao Government, 1955 - 1975|publisher=Columbia University Press|year=1993|isbn=978-0231079778}}</ref>{{rp|7}} and 16 years in Vietnam.<ref name="lcweb2.loc.gov">[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+la0031) Laos: The Pathet Lao] Library of Congress Country Studies</ref> In August 1950, Souphanouvong joined the Viet Minh in their headquarters north of [[Hanoi]], and became the head of the Pathet Lao, along with its political arm dubbed "Neo Lao Issara" (Free Lao Front).<ref name=Castle/>{{rp|142–3}}

In August 1950, Souphanouvong joined the Viet Minh in their headquarters north of [[Hanoi]], and became the head of the Pathet Lao, along with its political arm dubbed "Neo Lao Issara" (Free Lao Front).<ref name=Castle/>{{rp|142–3}} The Pathet Lao founded resistance government with members: Souphanouvong (Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs), Kaysone Phomvihane (Minister of Defence), Nouhak Phoumsavanh (Minister of Finance), Phoumi Vongvichit (Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior), Souk Vongsak, Sithon Kommadam, and Phaydang Lobliayao. This was an attempt to give a false front of authority to the Lao communist movement by claiming to represent a united non-partisan effort.{{Citation needed|reason=politically charged claim with no clear source, specific page or chapter in source needed if using broad, possibly biased American source at end of paragraph|date=August 2024}} Two of its most important founders were members of the [[Indochinese Communist Party]], which advocated an overthrow of the monarchy as well as the expulsion of the French.{{dead link|date=August 2024}}<ref name="lcweb2.loc.gov"/>

In 1953, Pathet Lao fighters accompanied an invasion of Laos from Vietnam led by Viet Minh forces; they established a government at [[Viengxay]] in [[Houaphanh province]], northeast Laos.<ref name=RAND>{{cite book|last1=Langer|first1=Paul|last2=Zasloff|first2=Joseph|title=Revolution in Laos: The North Vietnamese and the Pathet Lao|publisher=RAND Corporation|year=1969|url=https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_memoranda/2008/RM5935.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213024453/https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_memoranda/2008/RM5935.pdf|archive-date= February 13, 2023}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>{{rp|71–2}} The communists began to make incursions into central Laos with the support of the Viet Minh, and a civil war erupted; the Pathet Lao quickly occupied substantial sections of the country.

In 1953, Pathet Lao fighters accompanied an invasion of Laos from Vietnam led by Viet Minh forces; they established a government at [[Viengxay]] in [[Houaphanh province]], northeast Laos.<ref name=RAND>{{cite book|last1=Langer|first1=Paul|last2=Zasloff|first2=Joseph|title=Revolution in Laos: The North Vietnamese and the Pathet Lao|publisher=RAND Corporation|year=1969|url=https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_memoranda/2008/RM5935.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213024453/https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_memoranda/2008/RM5935.pdf|archive-date= February 13, 2023}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>{{rp|71–2}}

The 1954 [[Geneva Conference (1954)|Geneva Conference]] agreements required the withdrawal of foreign forces, and allowed the Pathet Lao to establish itself as a regime in Laos's two northern provinces.<ref name=RAND/>{{rp|73–8}} The Viet Minh and North Vietnamese, in spite of the agreement, never really withdrew from the border areas of Laos and the Pathet Lao continued to operate almost as a branch organization of the Viet Minh. Two months after the conference, the North Vietnamese formed [[Group 100]] with headquarters at [[Na Mèo]].<ref name=RAND/>{{rp|84–5}} The unit effectively controlled and directed the Pathet Lao movement.

The 1954 [[Geneva Conference (1954)|Geneva Conference]] agreements required the withdrawal of foreign forces, and allowed the Pathet Lao to establish itself as a regime in Laos's two northern provinces.<ref name=RAND/>{{rp|73–8}} The Viet Minh and North Vietnamese never really withdrew from the border areas of Laos and the Pathet Lao continued to operate almost as a branch organization of the Viet Minh. Two months after the conference, the North Vietnamese formed [[Group 100]] with headquarters at [[Na Mèo]].<ref name=RAND/>{{rp|84–5}}

It was formed into an official party, the Lao Patriotic Front (Neo Lao Hak Sat (NLHS)), on 6 January 1956.<ref name=Zasloff/>{{rp|46}} Its stated goal was to wage the communist struggle against [[capitalism]], as well as Western [[colonialism]] and [[imperialism]].{{Citation needed|reason=unambiguous claim of a fact,, with no source given. Clear possibility of bias given nature of claim and subsequent statement.|date=August 2024}}Unstated was its subordination to the [[Communist Party of Vietnam]].{{Citation needed|reason=subjective claim about the level of independence

of a political entity, clearly representing an anti-Left ideological point of view, stated as factual yet with no source provided. |date=August 2024}}

A coalition government was established in 1957 between the monarchists and communists. In May 1959 two Pathet Lao battalions which had been selected for integration into the [[Royal Lao Army]] (RLA) were surrounded by RLA troops who attempted to disarm them. Part of one battalion was captured but the remainder fled to North Vietnam. Then in July 1959 Lao police arrested 16 Neo Lao Hak Sat members, including seven who had been elected to the National Assembly, on charges of treason. These actions brought about a resumption of fighting.<ref name=RAND/>{{rp|85–9}}

A coalition government was established in 1957 between the monarchists and communists. In May 1959 two Pathet Lao battalions which had been selected for integration into the [[Royal Lao Army]] (RLA) were surrounded by RLA troops who attempted to disarm them. Part of one battalion was captured but the remainder fled to North Vietnam. Then in July 1959 Lao police arrested 16 Neo Lao Hak Sat members, including seven who had been elected to the National Assembly, on charges of treason. These actions brought about a resumption of fighting.<ref name=RAND/>{{rp|85–9}}