Laos

Laos, or the Republic of Laos is one of the two only radical socialist Southeast Asian countries. Bordered only by Siam and Vietnam, Laos has become nothing more than a Vietnamese puppet state, relying on the Vietnamese for basic material aid and support since the Indochinese Revolution. Being landlocked, rural and non industrialized it suffers through numerous problems and is one of the poorest countries in the entire world. Thanks to the intervening of Vietnam however, sending, donating and lending money has allowed Laos to gradually improve itself over the last 2 years, with the infant mortality rate decreasing and the standard of living, and the literacy rate gradually increasing.

## **Collapse of Indochina and the Laotian Revolution**

With the news of the French Indochinese collapse, most non-colonists in Laos supported the collapse. Militias were formed within Laos to help secure the countryside and small urban areas such as Vientiane. Soon all of Indochina was taken by the separatist armies, but Indochina would be anything but stable. The new Indochinese Republic was forced to deal with Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian nationalism taking off, Siam and their irredentism as well as the French navy blockading Indochina as well as performing naval invasions across the coastline. Throughout April, talks within the provisional Indochinese government tore apart, as conservatives, liberals, and socialists alike quickly broke down. Nothing could be agreed on. Not economics, social policy or even how to handle the French and Siamese threat.

Outraged at the constant failures of the Indochinese government, Nguyễn Sinh Cung, a Vietnamese anti-colonialist and communist decided to work against the government. In May of the same year, in Hanoi Nguyễn rallied the people of northern Vietnam against the Indochinese government. The main reason Nguyễn was against the regime was because they, except the Socialists were willing to negotiate with France, and possibly even give into concessions that the French government might have. He was firmly against this, and wanted to secure Indochina’s full independence and wanted nothing to do with France. He famously said “Our nation, and our people will not end up like Haiti. Forced to pay the colonists and colonizers for the simple act of wanting our freedom, to then be caught, in an endless web of poverty and lack of supplies by the French so we will have be dependent on them. We will not make the same mistake”. Quickly, public opinion turned against the regime as thousands of Vietnamese marched throughout Vietnam calling for “a united and free Vietnam for the Vietnamese!”. After 2 weeks, with enough men Nguyễn declared Vietnamese independence as the Republic of Vietnam in northern Vietnam. Bolstered by the declaration of a socialist republic, the Socialist Liberation Party of Laos broke away and declared a general strike in Laos, in solidarity with the Vietnamese.

This general strike proved to be quite effective, as thousands of Laotians, especially in Vientiane rose the red communist banner and in a few days any supporters of the government was forced out of the city where the People’s Republic of Laos was declared. Many in Laos were not even leftists, but many saw that the SLPL was the strongest separatist force against any foreign power or occupying power. Many Laotians decided to cooperate with the SLPL and began to collectively force the Indochinese militias away from their country. As Indochina began to collapse as Vietnamese troops began to March towards the south, startling news broke that in late May Siam decided to invade Cambodian lands and even a small portion of claimed Laotian lands. The Siamese were quick to state that they intend to not strike a way over any territories with the Vietnamese and Laotians. The small portion of Laos that was taken was in control of Indochinese forces and because of this it was easily annexed into Siam.

By late June the last forces of Indochina surrendered after the fall of Saigon 1 week beforehand. The French had believed with the collapse of Indochina it could be their opportunity to retake the peninsula but to no avail. Guerrilla tactics easily overpowered any forces of the French colonialists on the mainland and after the Indochinese capital was taken, France realized the war could not be won, not by any easy means. Through the Singapore Accords Indochina was reorganized, with France and Siam recognizing both Laos and Vietnam, while Laos and Vietnam recognized Siamese annexation of Cambodia. Although Laos was technically a “free” nation, they wouldn’t last 1 year being fully independent. The revolution might have succeeded in Laos, but in the aftermath any hope of self reliance was dashed as they lacked any equipment and manpower necessary for bringing stability back to their country. With the help of Vietnam, aiding Laos for their own reasons, the People’s Republic survived, but at the expense of its own freedom. By 1934, Laos was a de facto puppet of Vietnam. One reason was to keep socialism within Laos and not see it die out, but because the Vietnamese government, specifically Nguyễn had his own plans. He secretly wanted to unify all former French Indochinese territories into one United socialist state that could be an outpost for spreading the revolution into Siam and China. Since 1934, although Vietnam has not made any plans for outright annexation or assimilation they hope that they can somehow further tie Laos to Vietnam.

## **Countrywide Transformations**

The newly formed Laos government, as with the newly created “people’s constitution” helped provide internal stability after Vietnamese aid came through the border. The current government, headed by (insert leader) began nationalistic, socialist and anti-colonialist policies. French as a language was banned in the country, and education became mandatory for every citizen of Laos. Mass land reforms and changes were needed, however it proved to be a destabilizer for many people. Land policies were criticized as wealthy landowners and landlords were humiliated and stripped of their wealth which angered much of the public. To this day, land reforms have been largely regarded as having been a failure, and the inequality that was present before the establishment of the Republic is still there, constantly looming over the government and their socialist principles. As 1936 approaches the young nation, they have a lot to look forward too. The protection of the Vietnamese has allowed the country and people to slowly grow and prosper together, as colonization by the European imperialists is a thing of the past. But the Japanese and Siamese together are eyeing the region. Long ago the Siamese held Laotian territories, and as Siamese nationalism grows, they have set their sights on Laos. The Japanese are also not happy over Vietnam hoarding their valuable resources. There are rumors of a Siamese-Japanese alliance, and if this is true and both nations join together in a pact, there will be little standing in their way from devouring the remainder of Indochina. The Laotians and Vietnamese are acutely aware of this, and if both countries are swallowed by yet another group of imperialist powers it might just be the end of socialism in Asia.