Word: souvanna
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Common Cause. What's more, Prince Souvanna Phouma's government, officially neutralist but leaning toward the West, is beginning to show signs of political stability. Although the Communist Pathet Lao technically holds four seats in Souvanna's Cabinet, the Reds walked out on him two years ago, and refuse to come back. And ever since the banishment of troublemaking Rightist General Phoumi Nosavan, who was exiled in February after his third at tempted coup, the sailing has been even smoother. Other right-wing leaders have made common cause with Souvanna, and rightist troops often join General Kong...
...bickering among non-Communist politicians also died down. The fairest parliamentary elections in Laotian history went off without incident in July. Only 25% of the incumbents got themselves reelected, but the government won such an overwhelming victory that when the new Parliament met it gave Souvanna a rousing vote of confidence, with only four abstentions...
Young Reformers. One important reason for hope is the emergence of a new generation of reformers in Laotian politics. Calling themselves Les Jeunes Nationalistes, they are mostly professional men who are loyal to Souvanna and who worry about such things as education, health and corruption in gov ernment. Apparently, other Laotians are equally concerned, for the Young Nationalists won twelve of the 16 races they entered in the July elections. Their leader, 37-year-old Finance Minister Sisouk Na Champassak, practices what he preaches. "I have fired the entire customs department," he announced shortly after he took office, adding sardonically...
...Souvanna, a current topic of conversation is the National Assembly elections scheduled for July 18. Under the constitution governing Laos' tripartite regime, the current Assembly mandate expired in April. In the coming elections, some 19,000 government officials, army officers, village headmen and merchants will choose Assembly candidates put up by the three parties. Then King Savang Vatthana will nominate 59 from that list to fill the new Assembly. The Pathet Lao are entitled to present their own candidates, but Red Prince Souphanouvong-the other Deputy Premier-has already denounced the process as illegal. Souphanouvong just might take...
Some rightist officers-including Kouprasith-are still suspicious of Kong Le for accepting Russian tanks and artillery in 1960-61. And the tough little general's relations with Premier Souvanna are far from smooth. When the two were invited to Indonesia's Bandung anniversary seven weeks ago, Souvanna tried to keep Kong Le at home, knowing that Indonesia would like nothing better than to woo his neutralist general with offers of arms and aid. Indonesia's President Sukarno threw everything at him, including bare-breasted Balinese dancers and bushels of flowers. But Kong Le took care...