PRESIDENT SOUPHANOUVONG
Life and deeds of late
President Souphanouvong to be learn
VIENTIANE.
9 July (KPL)
The lecture on the late president Souphanouvong's virtue and activity took place
throughout the country to mark his 95th birthday anniversary
(13/07/1909-13/07/2004). President Souphanouvong was born On Tuesday, 13
July 1909, in former royal family, in Thatluang village, Luang Prabang province.
When he was seven years old, he went to Luang Prabang primary school, which was
located in Houalat village, where there were Lao and French teachers. He was
very good in study during the study in the primary school. In the middle of
1920, President Souphanouvong and other royal family children, totaling 20, left
Luang Prabang, his hometown, for study in Hanoi, Vietnam. He studied in
classroom No 11 of Lycee Albert Sarraut, the famous school in Vietnam at time.
He liked to study foreign languages, French, German, Spanish, Italian and
others. In the middle of 1930, he left Vietnam by a ship of a company called Les
Charuers Reunis from Vietnam's Danang harbour. In Paris, he rented a house of
Madame Coquelet on Boulevard Raspail in Quartier Montparnasse, opposite of
Saint-vincent-de-paul, more than 100 metres far from subway Metro
Denfert-Rochereau. In October of that year he began to study in Lycee Saint
Louis, then in 1934 in Nationale des Ponts et Chanssees. While graduating in
1937, he specialized in road and bridge engineering. Graduating from the French
educational institution, he left France in June 1937 by Portos ship of a company
called Messageries Meritimes for Vietnam. His trip took one month. In
Vietnam, he was appointed to work as engineer in Nha Trang district and he found
his love in this district. The wedding of Souphanouvong and Viengkham took place
19 January 1938. After working in Nha Trang for three years, he moved to Phin
district, Savannakhet province of Laos and was responsible for the road No
23-construction project. Then his office moved to Vietnam again. President
Souphanouvong, his wife and little son Ariya on Friday, 31 August 1945 left
Vietnam for Laos. At that time the uprising movement of the Lao people for
independence was in full swing. President Souphanouvong joined the movement to
fight against French colonialism and urged the Lao people to be united to
liberate the nation. The situation changed rapidly due to the World War II. As
result, France was occupied by German fascists. Taking this opportunity, on 12
October 1945 Laos declared independence from the French colonialism. The World
War II was over and France was liberated from the fascism so the French troops
in Indochina, particularly Laos got strengthened. On Friday, 15 March 1946 the
French troops occupied Savanakhet province. Thakek, Khammouane province, was the
next target of the French troops. On 16 March 1946 President Souphanouvong
set up a committee to evacuate the aging and children from Thakhek
district of Laos, crossing the Mekong River to Nakhonephanom of Thailand. He
gave a directive to Mr. Singapo Sinkhochounlamany to mobilize the young to
safeguard Thakhek. Thakhey battle began on 21 March 1946, when the French troops
surrounded the district and four French air crafts bombed the front line of the
Lao patriots. The French was superior in number of troops and weapons so they
were able to occupy the district. President Souphanouvong was injured and
escaped with a bullet in his lung to Nakhonephanom of Thailand. In 1946-1947 he
was in exile in Thailand. President Souphanouvong continued leading the
Lao people to fight for independence and liberate the country from colonialism
and imperialism. The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) was established
in 1975 and he became the first President of the Lao PDR. He passed away in 1995
and left the good deeds and valuable lessons to the new generation. To
commemorate 95th anniversary of his birthday, the Political and Administration
Institute of Vientiane Capital on Tuesday held a lecture on the 95th birthday
anniversary of the late President Souphanouvong under the Chairmanship of Mr.
Somevandy Natavong, Head of the Propaganda and Training Board of Vientiane
Capital.
Present at the function were Mr. Phongsavath Boupha, Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs, members of the Party Central Committee, leading officials, and core
cadres within VTE Capital, totaling 300 people. At the lecture, the Deputy
Foreign Affairs Minister took the floor to speak out, saying that the virtue and
activity of the late President Souphanouvong who was a great leader of the Party
and Government and led the Lao People of all ethnic groups to fight and liberate
the nation over the past years. The late President Souphanouvong created the
great achievements and had a virtue to the country and the revolution. In
Sayabouly province, the Communication, Transport, Post and Construction Service
organized a lecture of the same nature to mark the 95th birthday anniversary of
the late President Souphanouvong. On this occasion, Mr. Phengnilane
Khamphanpheng, Head of the Communication, Transport, Post and Construction
Service reviewed the life and deeds of the late President. In Savanakhet
province, the event was held on 2 July in Kantabouly District, to study and
learn his revolutionary virtue and strategic leading plan. The Ministry of
Information and Culture on 7 July also organized at the National Culture hall in
Vientiane a rally to learn the life and deeds of late President Souphanouvong.
President Souphanouvong who passed away for so many years ago, but the people
still remember his as hero of the nation, who sacrificed all his life to the
task of the national liberation. Speaking at the function, Mr. Mounkeo
Orlaboun, acting chairman of the Propaganda and Training board of the Party
Central Committee said that all Lao people should follow and learn the national
sprit of late President Souphanouvong. President Souphanouvong was one of
Lao leaders who involved in the task of Lao revolution since 1945. He brought
the prosperity and new guidance to the people and the nation.
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