Portal:Laos

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Portal:Laos/Intro

Laos (/ˈlɑːoʊs/ ^ⓘ, /ˈlaʊs/, /ˈlɑːɒs/, or /ˈleɪɒs/; Lao: ລາວ, Lao pronunciation: [láːw], Lāo), or commonly referred to its colloquial name of Muang Lao (Lao: ເມືອງລາວ, Muang Lao), is a landlocked country in the heart of the Indochinese peninsula of Mainland Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar (Burma) and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southwest, and Thailand to the west and southwest.

It traces its historic and cultural identity to the kingdom of Lan Xang Hom Khao (Kingdom of a Million Elephants Under the White Parasol), which existed for four centuries as one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. Due to Lan Xang's central geographical location in Southeast Asia, the kingdom was able to become a popular hub for overland trade, becoming wealthy economically as well as culturally. After a period of internal conflict, Lan Xang broke off into three separate kingdoms — Luang Phrabang, Vientiane, and Champasak. In 1893, it became a French protectorate, with the three territories uniting to form what is now known as the country of Laos. It briefly gained freedom in 1945 after Japanese occupation, but was recolonised by France until it won autonomy in 1949. Laos became independent in 1953 under King Sisavang Vong.

The capital city is Vientiane. Other large cities include Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, and Pakse. The official language is Lao. Laos is a multi-ethnic country with the politically and culturally dominant Lao people making up approximately 60 percent of the population, mostly in the lowlands. Mon-Khmer groups, the Hmong, and other indigenous hill tribes, accounting for 40 percent of the population, live in the foothills and mountains.

Laos' ambitious strategies for development are based on generating electricity from its rivers and selling the power to its neighbors, namely Thailand, China, and Vietnam, as well as its initiative to become a 'land-linked' nation, shown by the planning of four new railways connecting Laos to those same countries. This, along with growth of the mining sector, Laos has been referred to as one of East Asia and Pacific's fastest growing economies by the World Bank, with annual GDP growth averaging 7% for the past decade. It is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), East Asia Summit and La Francophonie. Laos became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2013.

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The 1960 Laotian coups brought about a pivotal change of government in the Kingdom of Laos. General Phoumi Nosavan established himself as the strongman running Laos in a bloodless coup on 25 December 1959. He would be himself overthrown on 10 August 1960 by the young paratrooper captain who had backed him in the 1959 coup. When Captain Kong Le impressed the American officials underwriting Laos as a potential communist, they backed Phoumi's return to power in November and December 1960. In turn, the Soviets backed Kong Le as their proxy in this Cold War standoff. After the Battle of Vientiane ended in his defeat, Kong Le withdrew northward to the strategic Plain of Jars on 16 December 1960.

Having taken an independent stance in the Laotian Civil War, Kong Le and his Forces Armee Neutraliste would remain an unpredictable influence upon the war until 1974. (Full article...)

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The following are images from various Laos-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Territories abandoned by Siam in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, depicted as a map of Thailand's territorial losses. The Franco-Siamese crisis resulted in the cession of Laos to France in 1893. (from History of Laos)
Image 2Luang Prabang, Wat Mai, gilded wood bas relief scenes from the Prince Vessantara Jataka. (from Culture of Laos)
Image 3A soldier of the Black Flag Army, 1885 (from History of Laos)
Image 4Ornate lintel Wat Phu, Champasak (from Culture of Laos)
Image 5Auguste Pavie, First Governor-General of the French Protectorate of Laos
Image 6Monks gathered at evening prayer (from Culture of Laos)
Image 7Baci Soukhuan (from Culture of Laos)
Image 8Kra-Dai (Tai-Kadai) migration route according to James R. Chamberlain (2016). (from History of Laos)
Image 9Map showing linguistic family tree overlaid on a geographic distribution map of Tai-Kadai family. This map only shows general pattern of the migration of Tai-speaking tribes, not specific routes, which would have snaked along the rivers and over the lower passes. (from History of Laos)
Image 10Lao actors wearing Khon Masks (from Culture of Laos)
Image 11Lao Loum girls dancing in traditional sinh (from Culture of Laos)
Image 12Bronze Buddha sculptures, Wat Mai, Luang Prabang (from Culture of Laos)
Image 13Mor lam performance-the men are playing the khene and wearing pha sarong (from Culture of Laos)
Image 14Market in Luang Prabang, c. 1900 CE
Image 15Morning on the Mekong River (from Culture of Laos)
Image 16Traditional spirit house (from Culture of Laos)
Image 17Historic Indosphere cultural influence zone of Greater India for transmission of elements of Indian elements such as the honorific titles, naming of people, naming of places, mottos of organisations and educational institutes as well as adoption of Hinduism, Buddhism, Indian architecture, martial arts, Indian music and dance, traditional Indian clothing, and Indian cuisine, a process which has been also aided by the ongoing historic expansion of Indian diaspora. (from History of Laos)
Image 18Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang (from Culture of Laos)
Image 19Brao couple farming (from Culture of Laos)
Image 20French warships bombarding the Siamese fort at Paknam (from History of Laos)
Image 21Monks gathering morning alms (from Culture of Laos)
Image 22Traditional mor lam (from Culture of Laos)
Image 23Lao women in traditional Luang Prabang sinh (from Culture of Laos)
Image 24That Luang, Vientiane (from Culture of Laos)
Image 25Ancient human fossil remains from Tam Pa Ling cave (from History of Laos)
Image 26Lan Xang's zone of influence and neighbours, c. 1540 (from History of Laos)
Image 27Ruins in Vientiane, depicted by Louis Delaporte during the Mekong Expedition led by Francis Garnier (c. 1867) (from History of Laos)
Image 28Lao sticky rice and papaya salad (from Culture of Laos)
Image 29The mainland of Southeast Asia at the end of the 13th century (from History of Laos)
Image 30Plain of Jars, Xiangkhouang (from History of Laos)
Image 31Akha girl in traditional dress (from Culture of Laos)
Image 32Lao monk woodworking temple details (from Culture of Laos)
Image 33Lao princess wearing gold embroidery (from Culture of Laos)
Image 34Southeast Asia in the 18th century showing the kingdoms of Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Champasak and the principality of Phuan (Xieng Khuang) (from History of Laos)
Image 35Lower terrace of the Wat Phu mountain complex, Champasak
Image 36Lao sculpted wood Buddhas posed "calling for rain" (from Culture of Laos)
Image 37Emerald Buddha (from History of Laos)

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Major General Sourith Don Sasorith was a Royal Lao Government commanding officer during the Laotian Civil War. Appointed to command the Royal Lao Air Force on two occasions, he was also entrusted two other times with command of a Military Region. At the war's end in 1975, Sourith Don Sasorith was condemned to a communist re-education camp. (Full article...)

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Photisarath Anouvong Setthathirath Sourigna Vongsa Phetsarath Ratanavongsa Souvanna Phouma Fa Ngum Nang Keo Phimpha Sisavang Vong Sombath Somphone Kouprasith Abhay Sourith Don Sasorith Phoumi Nosavan Deuane Sunnalath Kham Ouane Boupha Alexandra Bounxouei Channapha Khamvongsa Douangdeuane Bounyavong Daoviang Butnakho Nakhon Noi Souvanna Phouma Sisavang Vatthana Souphanouvong