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1975: Rescaling Our Understanding of the Fortieth Anniversary of the Establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

The fortieth anniversary of the rise of communist governments in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia looks different to the Lao compared to how it does for the Vietnamese. 30 April 1975 is undoubtedly a crucial date in Vietnamese history – one that is significant inside and outside of Vietnam. But few people from Laos, either within the country or residing in diaspora communities in the United States, France, Canada, Australia or New Zealand – the main countries where refugees ended up after fleeing across the Mekong River to Thailand from Laos beginning in 1975 – attach much significance to it. However, the year 1975 is another matter altogether. As with Vietnam, the year is important for people from Laos, as 1975 is one of the most significant ‘time markers’ for those on both ends of the political spectrum, including those living inside Laos and outside of the country. It is the same year that Laos dissolved its constitutional monarchy and became the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). But Laos did not “fall to communism” in the same way as South Vietnam and Cambodia. The fall of the governments in both countries occurred decisively on particular dates in 1975 (30 April and 17 April respectively) when communist forces rode triumphantly into Saigon and Phnom Penh. Vientiane, the capital of Laos, fell gradually to communism, even if the transformation eventually became brutal through the summary imprisonment of political foes. But early on some foreign governments were not aware that Laos was well on its way to being taken over by the communist Pathet Lao by mid-1975. By that time the non-communist world community had become fatigued by conflict in Indochina, and few wanted to reignite war to save Laos from Communism. Armed conflict between the communist Pathet Lao and their Vietnamese allies, and the Royal Lao Government and their American allies began in 1959,