Laos, foreign countries recognise good deeds of former president

Thousands of mourners gathered at the National Assembly Hall and That
Luang square in Vientiane yesterday for the funeral of the former
President of the Lao PDR, Mr Nouhak Phoumsavanh.

Mr Nouhak Phoumsavanh, one of the founders of the Lao People's
Revolutionary Party, passed away last week at the age of 98.

Speaking at the funeral ceremony yesterday, the current President of
the Lao PDR, Mr Choummaly Sayasone, described Mr Nouhak Phoumsavanh as
“a brave revolutionary”.

Mr Choummaly, who is also Secretary General of the Executive Committee
of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, expressed his condolences on
the death of the former president. “Comrade Nouhak Phoumsavanh left us
on September 9 at 11pm, after many years of devotion to the
revolutionary tasks of independence and prosperity for the nation, and
for the freedom and well-being of the Lao ethnic people.”

President Choummaly reviewed the life of former President Nouhak
Phoumsavanh. He noted he had belonged to the Lao workers' movement at
the Phontiew tin mine since his youth. He saw clearly the oppression
of the working classes and the difficulties Lao workers faced under
their colonial masters. Because of his resentment of the foreign
aggressors and under the influence of the ongoing revolutionary
movement in Indochina , in 1945 he decided to join the revolutionary
movement.

Mr Nouhak Phoumsavanh was one of the founders of the national
restoration movement and in 1949 he was appointed President of the
Committee of the Lao resistance movement, based in the east of the
country. He was also responsible for the preparation of the national
convention to establish the Lao resistance government.

As a member of the Communist Party of Indochina, Mr Nouhak Phoumsavanh
campaigned tirelessly to inspire the patriotic sprit of the people and
increase solidarity among the Lao ethnic people to fight for national
liberation. He was also one of the founders of the Lao People's Party
in 1955, and developed and defined the national liberation
strategies.

President Nouhak Phoumsavanh was a brave revolutionary and never
surrendered to the enemy. This was demonstrated when he was arrested
along with Prince Souphanouvong by the royal Vientiane government in
1959. In this difficult situation and at risk to his life he still
retained his loyalty to the leadership of the Party and the
revolutionary path. He was a talented orator and encouraged the people
to build a fighting force in the liberation zone and behind enemy
lines.

After liberation in 1975, former President Nouhak Phoumsavanh was
appointed Vice President of the Ministers' Council and was responsible
for economic affairs for many years. During these difficult times, he
devoted his intellectual and physical energies to rehabilitating the
nation, which had been damaged by more than 30 years of war. In 1992
Mr Nouhak Phoumsavanh was elected President of the Lao PDR and
continued his loyalty to the Party, the nation and the people. He
devoted himself to the protection and development tasks of the
nation.

In recognition of his good deeds and great sacrifices, the Party and
government of the Lao PDR have awarded him the National Gold Order,
the highest-ranking award of the Lao PDR.

In addition, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam posthumously awarded
the former president the Gold Star Order, the highest award offered by
Vietnam .

Cambodia presented the Angkor Order, the highest award of that
country. The former president was also awarded other medals
posthumously by other countries.

After the condolence ceremony, the body of former President Nouhak
Phoumsavanh was carried to That Luang Square where a funeral pyre had
been prepared for the cremation ceremony.

Attending the funeral ceremony were President Choummaly Sayasone;
President of the National Assembly Thongsing Thommavong; Prime
Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh; high ranking officials from the National
Assembly, government organisations and mass organisations;
representatives of foreign countries, international organisations and
the diplomatic corps in Laos ; and members of the public.

By Vientiane Times
(Latest Update September 15, 2008)