Khamtai Siphandone Explained

Khamtai Siphandone
Native Name Lang:lo
Office1:Chairman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party
Term Start1:24 November 1992
Term End1:21 March 2006
Predecessor1:Kaysone Phomvihane
Successor1:Choummaly Sayasone (as General Secretary)
Office2:4th President of Laos
Primeminister2:Sisavath Keobounphanh
Bounnhang Vorachith
Vicepresident2:Oudom Khattigna
Choummaly Sayasone
Term Start2:24 February 1998
Term End2:8 June 2006
Predecessor2:Nouhak Phoumsavanh
Successor2:Choummaly Sayasone
Office3:12th Prime Minister of Laos
President3:Kaysone Phomvihane
Nouhak Phoumsavanh
Term Start3:15 August 1991
Term End3:24 February 1998
Predecessor3:Kaysone Phomvihane
Successor3:Sisavath Keobounphanh
Office4:Deputy Prime Minister of Laos
Alongside4:Nouhak Phoumsavan, Phoumi Vongvichit and Phoun Sipraseuth
Term Start4:2 December 1975
Term End4:15 August 1991
Office5:Minister of Defense
Primeminister5:Kaysone Phomvihane
Term Start5:2 December 1975
Term End5:15 August 1991
Predecessor5:Post established
Successor5:Choummaly Sayasone
Birth Date:8 February 1924
Birth Place:Champasak, French Protectorate of Laos, French Indochina(now Laos)
Party:Lao People's Revolutionary Party (1955–2006)
Spouse:Thongvanh Siphandone
Relatives:Khampheng Saysompheng (son-in-law)

General Khamtai Siphandone (Lao: ຄຳໄຕ ສີພັນດອນ; born 8 February 1924) is a Laotian politician who was Chairman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party from 24 November 1992 to 21 March 2006 and President of Laos[1] from 24 February 1998 to 8 June 2006, when he was replaced by Choummaly Sayasone. He was a member of the Communist Party of Indochina in 1954 and a member of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party in 1956.

Early life

Siphandone was born on 8 February 1924.[2] He comes from a peasant family from the far south of Laos. His first job was as a postman. He joined the national liberation movement Lao Issara after the end of the Second World War, which stood for the independence of Laos and against the return of the French protectorate administration. Before the French regained control of Savannakhet in March 1946, Siphandone seized the entire provincial fund (150,000 piastres). He became an officer of the armed wing of the movement and in 1948 their representative for southern Laos. After the split of Lao Issara in 1950 he joined the Viet Minh-backed Pathet Lao.[3]

In 1954 he became a member of the Communist Party of Indochina, and in 1955 the Lao People's Party, whose central committee he was from 1957. He was considered a close confidant of the first Secretary-General Kaysone Phomvihane. In 1962 he became his successor as chief of staff of the armed units of the Pathet Lao. In 1966 he became commander-in-chief of the resulting "Lao People's Liberation Army", which fought with North Vietnamese support, in the Laotian Civil War against the royal troops. In 1972 he rose to the Politburo of the LPRP.[3]

Political career

Siphandone was the military commander of the Pathet Lao rebellion.[4] After the successful Communist takeover in 1975, he became the Minister of Defense and a Deputy Prime Minister of Laos.[4] During the 5th Party Congress in 1991, Siphandone was the third highest-ranking member of the party leadership, after Kaysone Phomvihane and Nouhak Phoumsavanh.[5] On 15 August 1991, he succeeded Kaysone as Prime Minister of Laos, who had left office to become President. After the death of longtime party leader Kaysone in 1992, Siphandone became Chairman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.[4]

Siphandone succeeded Nouhak Phoumsavanh as president in 1998.[6] At the 8th Party Congress in 2006, he became an advisor to the LPRP Central Committee.

Siphandone remained as party leader until 21 March 2006, when he was replaced by Choummaly.[7] He stepped down as president in June,[8] following the 2006 Laotian parliamentary election.

Family and personal life

Siphandone is married to Thongvanh Siphandone.[9] His son Sonexay joined the LPRP Politburo in 2016[10] and became Prime Minister of Laos in 2022.[11] His daughter Viengthong currently serves as President of the State Audit Organization.[12]

On 8 February 2024, he turned 100, and was sent congratulatory messages by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyễn Phú Trọng and President of Vietnam Võ Văn Thưởng. The Vietnamese ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung presented a birthday gift to Siphandone to his son Sonexay.[13] [14]

Awards and honors

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Doeden, Matt (2007) Laos in Pictures, Lerner Publishing Group,, p. 71
  2. Joseph Chinyong Liow, Dictionary of the Modern Politics of Southeast Asia (fourth edition, 2015), Routledge, page 212.
  3. Stuart-Fox: Historical Dictionary of Laos. 2008, S. 160.
  4. Web site: Laos President Steps Down at End of Party Congress. 21 March 2006. 22 December 2023. Voice of America.
  5. Web site: Laos in 1991: Year of the Constitution. 22 December 2023. JSTOR.
  6. Web site: Nouhak Phoumsavanh, Former President of Laos, Dies at 98. 12 September 2008. 22 December 2023. The New York Times.
  7. Web site: Asia: Laos: Transfer Of Power. 22 March 2006. 22 December 2023. Agence France-Presse. The New York Times.
  8. Web site: Laos profile - leaders. 12 September 2013. 22 December 2023. BBC News.
  9. Web site: Prime Minister of Laos Khamtai Siphandone and wife Madam Thongvanh being greeted by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Mrs Goh.. Archive Online. 22 August 2023.
  10. Web site: Sonexay Siphandone elected as new Lao Prime Minister. 30 December 2023. 22 December 2023. The Star.
  11. Web site: Sonexay Siphandone Elected New Prime Minister of Laos. 30 December 2022. 22 December 2023. The Laotian Times.
  12. Web site: Over 3.13 Trillion Kip Recovered Following Audit . 2024-02-18 . kpl.gov.la . en-US.
  13. Web site: Party, State leaders congratulate former Lao leader on 100th birthday. kpl.gov.la. 2024-02-08. 2024-02-08.
  14. Web site: 越南党和国家领导人祝贺坎泰·西潘敦同志诞辰100周年. Vietnam+. 2024-02-07. 2024-02-08.
  15. https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/2004/01%20DISEMBER%202004.pdf Lelita Brunei - 1 December 2004
  16. «Красная Звезда» [Red Star newspaper], March 1984