Bong Souvannavong, the last angry man in Laos
In 1975, Laos lost ten percent of its people after the communist takeover. Families fled to Thailand to end up in France, Australia or the United States. My grandfather decided to stay, he has been a fighter all his life: against the French rulers; against the Japanese in WWII; imprisoned for his political views by various governments; lived in exile and negotiated peace agreements many times with the communist Pathet Lao. This change will be like others, to fight, negotiate and live together. This is the cable sent by Thomas Corcoran, Charge d’Affaires at the American Embassy in Vientiane on September 30, 1975. We would not see my grandfather again afterwards. The cable was declassified in 2006.
From American Embassy in Vientiane to Secretary of State, Washington DC
SUBJ: THE LAST ANGRY MAN IN LAOS, BONG SOUVANNAVONG
1. Department will have noted in other channels details of arrest in Vientiane September 28 of long time political maverick Bong Souvannavong on charges of putting up posters and distributing handbills attacking Pathet Lao regime. Same channels also report that on afternoon September 29 armed Pathet Lao used gunfire to break up protest by some of Bong’s followers at Bong’s residence near corner of Chao Anou road and Boun road in Vientiane, demonstrations again took place September 30 and many demonstrators were arrested.
2. New York Times and Time Magazine correspondents are aware of this development which, considering Bong’s background and popularity in Vientiane area, represents a particularly heavy handed repressive action, news of which will spread quickly throughout the area.
3. Department will recall that Bong, now 69, is member of one of the two oldest Vientiane families, served as province chief of Luang Prabang, founded Lao National Union Party in 1947, served as National Assembly Deputy for Vientiane 1947–51 and 1955–59, was President of Constituent Assembly 1946–47, and President of National Congress for Revision of Constitution in 1948 and 1956. He served in several cabinets under Prince Souvannarath, Phoui Sananikone and Prince Boun Oum and as King’s Councillor (1965–1971). More interestingly, he frequently criticized American aid as a cause of corruption, attacked the political ambitions of the lao rightist generals and served as President of the Committee to support policy of peace and neutrality which aimed at reintegration of the Pathet Lao within the national community 1955–1958.
4. Comment: the hard-boiled crowd running things here now are not impressed by the likes of Bong Souvannavong but they do seem to have created unnecessary complications for themselves in the midst of their preparations for the October 12 festivities. Foreign ministry secretary general Nakkhala Souvannavong and Secretary of State for Information Ouday Souvannavong, to say nothing of Secretary of State for Finance Boutsabong Souvannavong who is, i understand, Bong’s son, are also going to be pretty badly embarrassed if anything too bad happens to the old man. Corcoran
CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 01 VIENTI 05799 301200Z 46 ACTION EA-09 INFO OCT-01 EUR-12 ISO-00 EAE-00 AID-05 OMB-01 IO-10 CIAE-00 PM-04 H-02 INR-07 L-03 NSAE-00 NSC-05 PA-01 PRS-01 SP-02 SS-15 USIA-06 /084 W — — — — — — — — — — — 048455 P 301110Z SEP 75 FM AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5372 INFO AMEMBASSY BANGKOK AMEMBASSY PARIS DIA WASHDC PRIORITY CINCPAC C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENTIANE 5799 CINCPAC FOR POLAD E.O. 11652: GDS TAGS: PGOV, PINS, PINT, LA SUBJ: THE LAST ANGRY MAN IN LAOS, BONG SOUVANNAVONG
