Neutralist Coup, Rightist Resistance: Laos 1960

<body> <p><b><font face="Arial" size="5">Neutralist Coup, Rightist Resistance: Laos 1960</font></b></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="2">On August 9, Captain Kong Le led the Second Paratroop Battalion of the Royal Lao Army in a virtually bloodless coup d'état that changed the history of modern Laos. In taking over Vientiane, the paratroopers had unwittingly chosen a moment when the entire cabinet was in Louangphrabang conferring with the king. They informed their compatriots and the outside world by broadcasting their communiqués on the radio. In a rally at the city football stadium on August 11, Kong Le expanded on his goals: end the fighting in Laos, stem corruption, and establish a policy of peace and neutrality. Recalling the experience of the first coalition when the country was temporarily at peace, Kong Le asked for the nomination of Souvanna Phouma as prime minister. </font></p> <p><a href="laos1960.htm"><font face="Arial" size="2">Laos Coup 1960</font></a></p> </body>