Word: souvanna
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Strange Birds. The flares and gunfire were the work of two right-wing Laotian generals whose aim was the overthrow of the ramshackle coalition government headed by Neutralist Prince Souvanna Phouma. Jeep loads of paratroopers under the command of General Siho Lamphouthacoul, 28, chief of the military security police, set up roadblocks all over the capital and arrested every neutralist in sight-including Premier Souvanna...
...affects an ivory-handled pistol to go with his favorite blue dress uniform. Although Siho is generally regarded as a henchman of rightist, anti-Communist boss, General Phoumi Nosavan, both coup leaders claimed to have acted without involving Phoumi, who, as Deputy Premier and Defense Minister in Prince Souvanna's government, could not very well be leading a coup d'état. Said Phoumi after the coup: "I am in rather large difficulties." So was everybody else...
...coup. Some people, notably neighboring Thailand's strongly anti-Communist government, were delighted by the prospect of a right-wing regime in Laos; but the U.S. argues that such a government simply could not maintain itself in power. The Reds, who were at least theoretically members of Souvanna's coalition, would go back on the warpath. And since the Pathet Lao already control nearly two-thirds of the country, further fighting might only lead to total Communist control...
Showing up in Edwardian splendor, the moustached Souvanna Phouma sported a pearl stickpin, Homburg, and carved Laotian walking stick. He received a hug and kiss from Half Brother Souphanouvong, himself resplendent in a most unproletarian two-button suit with a bigger pearl stickpin. Paunchy Soldier Phoumi thought it more appropriate to wear combat fatigues. The trio conferred for an hour, broke for box lunches and Scotch airlifted in from Vientiane...
...rebel officers proclaimed a state of siege; Premier Souvanna Phouma was quoted as announcing his resignation and willing to pass his power on to the new regime. The rebels declared that they "took over the country" because the coalition had utterly failed to solve the nation's problems. It was far from clear whether they could hang on, let alone "restore national harmony," as they promised. After all, Laos has seen coups before. And the U.S. quickly let it be known that it disapproves of this one, still backs the 1962 Geneva agreement setting up Souvanna's coalition...