Prince Souvanna Phouma

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Souvanna Phouma, Prince (b. 7 Oct. 1901, d. 10 Jan. 1984). Prime Minister of Laos 1951–4, 1956–8, 1960, 1962–73 A nephew of King Sisavang Vong (r. 1904–59), and half-brother of Souphanouvong, he studied as an engineer in Paris and Grenoble before returning to Indochina in 1931. After the collapse of Japan in 1945 he served briefly in the provisional government, but when his uncle welcomed the return of the French in 1946, he joined the neutralist Free Laos (Lao Issara) movement, in opposition both to the French-supported monarchists, and the Vietminh-aided Communist Pathet Lao. As Prime Minister he managed to negotiate Laotian independence through the Geneva Agreements, while failing to obtain a truce with the Pathet Lao led by Souphanouvong. He finally managed to form a coalition government with the Pathet Lao in 1957, though this broke up in 1958 owing to internal squabbles, and the withdrawal of US aid. Civil war resumed between his forces and the Pathet Lao until 1973, apart from a brief period in 1962–3, when he formed another coalition government. He tried desperately to maintain a semblance of neutrality for his country, despite the heavy involvement of the Pathet Lao in the Vietnam War. He continued to strive for a reconciliation between all the warring fractions in Laos, and in 1973, encouraged by the Paris Peace Accords, he agreed to a cease-fire and to a coalition government with the Pathet Lao under the leadership of Souphanouvong, though this did not come into effect until 1974. He was greatly weakened personally by a heart attack, and politically by the fall of Saigon, which made a Communist takeover by the Vietnamese-sponsored Pathet Lao inevitable. He thus resigned, but remained on friendly terms with the new government of Souphanouvong.

Prince Souvanna Phouma , 1901–84, government official of Laos. Of royal descent, he was trained as an engineer. From 1950 he held a variety of key government posts, including the premiership (1951–54, 1956–58, and 1960). Caught between U.S. and Vietnamese attempts to control Laos from 1954–75, he attempted to foster compromise. He led the neutralist government from 1960 to 1962, and after the Geneva Conference on Laos he assumed (1962) the offices of premier and minister of defense in the short-lived coalition with the Communist Pathet Lao . Continuing as premier, he later took on additional cabinet posts. In 1973, despite right-wing opposition, he signed an agreement to end fighting between government and Communist Pathet Lao troops. Continuing as premier, he later took on additional cabinet posts. In 1974 he formed a new coalition government with the Pathet Lao, in which his half brother Souphanouvong , leader of the Pathet Lao, was included. He retired after the 1975 takeover by the Pathet Lao, although he remained an adviser to the new government.

Souvanna Phouma, Prince (1901–84) Laotian statesman. A member of the postwar provisional government (1945–46), he opposed French recolonization and was elected Premier in 1951. During his first premiership (1951–54) civil war broke out between the government and the communist-led PATHET LAO movement. He formed a brief coalition (1962–63) with the Pathet Lao (led by his half-brother, Prince Souphanouvong) and after the return of civil war, he continued as Premier. Although he tried to maintain a neutral policy during the Vietnam war, this proved impossible. In 1973 he signed a ceasefire agreement with the Pathet Lao and remained Premier until the People's Democratic Republic of Laos was declared in 1975.