Evening star., 1962-11-28
laOfians Agree
To Unification
OF ; Armies

VIENTIANE, Laos, Nov. %
R)-Laos' three-party gov
ernment announced agreement
last night on q plan to unite
Its Rightist. pro-Communist
and Neutralist armed forces
into . single national army.
A similar agreement on Gre
alton Of q police force also was
announced.
The task Of actually CARRYING
out the two mergers was given
to government commissions
composed Of members of the
three factions.
The agreements followed A
day Of tension in which Neu-
tralist and pro-Communist
Pathet Lao forces exchanged
shots at the airstrip in the
Platne des Jarres in Central
Laos, where they maintain
Joint headquarters.
The Neutralist Premier
Prince Souvanna Phouma, said
"a few rifle shots" were ex-
changed after the Pathet Lao
shot down an American char
tered cargo plane which was
taking supplies to his troops.
Crewman Injured
One Of the three American
crewmen was injured, but not
seriously. The other two ap-
parently were caught under the
wreckage and it was not known
whether they were alive or
dead. Their names were with
held.
Prince Souvanna denounced
the Pathet Lao for firing on
the plane against his orders and
summoned the Pathet Lao
chief, his half-brother Prince
Souphanouvong, for Q talk.
The agreement on the armed
forces merger came out Of a
later session between Princes
Souvanna and Souphanouvons |
ana Public Works Minister
Ngon Sananaikone. Mr.. Sana-
naikone is representing the
right-wing faction while its
leader. Gen. Phoumi Nosavan, |
Is in Moscow on a trade mission. |
II carried out, the agreement |
would be the biggest step vet
In Prince Souvanna's efforts to
create a nuetral and independ-
ent Laos.
The plan calls for an army |
Of 10000 men with equal num-
bers Of men drawn from neu-
tralist. fishtist and Pathet Lao |
forces. AL other armed forces
would be demobilized by a gov
ernn1ent commission
Now Total 100000
Present right-wing forces are
estimated at 10000, Pathet Lao
at $1,000 and neutralist at
$4,000. ---T
A unified police force would |
be organized similarly. The
first step would be creation Of
a unified 4 1.200-man force to
police Vientiane, at present
under control of rightist Sc
curity forces.
Prince Souvanna, who be-
came Premier june %. has been
baked until now in efforts to
merge the armed forces. on
November Z he threatened to
resign unless the Pathet Lao
and riehtists began cooper |
atiflR
Lack OF cooperation led to
Prince Souvanna's asking the
United states aid mission here
to send supply flights to his
troons on the PlaiI1e des Jarres.
Soviet planes have been supply
ing troops IN the area, but the
PAthet Lao has been getting
most OF the food.
Last Saturday the Pathet Lao |
commander there called the
American flights Illegal andd
threatened to shoot down the |
planes. i
Two Turn Back
Yesterday q Pathet Lao anti
aircraft battery opened fire on
a C-l23 transport plane of Air
America. a charter company
used by the United States aid
mission for its supply flights,
and brought it down. Two
other planes loaded with rice
turned back.
Prince Souvanna said the
Pathet Lao opened fire despite
his orders to allow the planes
to land.
He said the Pathet Lao also
fired q couple of shells onto the
airstrip and he gave orders to
his troops to defend themselves
If necessary
He said he had no informa-
ton on whether the troops
were still in combat position
but apparently officials on the
spot have been able to calm
down the people there"
He indicated the supply
flights to his troops were being
temporarily suspended.
The United States Embassy
said . cargo specialist aboard
the downed plans was rescued
through the courageous and
skillful action Of q neutralist
pilot who landed near the
crashed aircraft" The man,
who was not seriously injured,
was flown back to Vientiane.
The Embassy said it had no
information about the pilot and
copilot.
Red Talks Lauded