The Laos historiography in the
Socialist State Period of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Kitirat Sihabun
Ph.D. Candidate
Mahasarakham University
Mahasarakham, Thailand
Abstract:
The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party under Kaysone Pomvihan, the great leader of
Laos, pursued the power struggle with the government in Vientiane, successfully
ousting the government and establishing the new regime under the Lao People’s
Revolutionary Party on 23, August, 1975.
On the first of December, 1975, representatives of Lao people opened the grand
meeting in Vientiane in which the throne abdication by the monarch, Sri
Sawangwatana, was officially approved.
Dissolution of the national ad hoc coalition government, official acceptance of
the national flag, the national anthem and the formation of the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic were formally declared and recognised. Chao Supanuvong was
installed as the nation’s chair man. Kaysone Pomvihan was the prime minister of
the new government. The incident above mentioned was the critical turning point
in the Lao history. The administrative system under the monarchy which had been
held for thousands of years came to an end.
Laos after the 1975 Revolution with the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party as the
supreme body saw many changes in politics, economy, society and culture. It also
witnessed its history being rewritten.
The present work deals with what content and concept the new Lao history wants
to present. It also explores in what context the said history was written and
for what purpose the history was made.