Asia 771
365 RUSSIA/812 LAOSMID#1363
Dispute Number: 1363
Date(s): December 16, 1960 to May 3, 1961
Participants: 365 Russia, 710 China, 816 Vietnam/2 United States of America, 800
Thailand, 812 Laos
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: Missing
Narrative: This dispute describes the international incidents during the Laotian Civil
War. On November 11, 1960, Revolutionary Committee forces attacked and captured
Luang Prabang, the royal capital, and Phouma and Pathet Lao (communist) lead-
ers agreed to issue ceasefire orders to their forces. Phouma suggested the formation
of a unity government, but the Revolutionary Committee rejected the proposal. On
November 29, Revolutionary Committee armed forces attacked government forces at
River Nam Ca Dinh. Then, on December 9, Phouma fled to Cambodia.
The United States was providing aid to the Revolutionary Committee, and on
December 11, Soviet planes began to supply forces loyal to Phouma and requested
help from North Vietnam, who were providing aid to Pathet Lao.
Two days later the Revolutionary Committee attacked Vientiane, and on December
15, Indian prime minister Nehru proposed Britain and Soviet Union reestablish the
Internal Supervisory Commission for Laos (from the 1954 Geneva Agreement) with
the permission of the Laotian government. The next day Revolutionary Committee
forces captured the capital. Phouma forces led by Captain Kong Lae then indiscrimi-
nately shelled Vientiane.
The United States sent a note to the Soviet Union on December 18 that denied the
United States had provided aid to the Revolutionary Committee since November;
however, on the 20th, the United States announced that it would resume aid shipments
to Laos.
On December 19, Sihanouk proposed the reconvention of Geneva Conference in
Beijing, an idea that China supported. On December 25, the Revolutionary Committee
formed a new government with the approval of the king. Lae and Pathet Lao forces
launched an offensive on December 30, capturing cities along the border with North
Vietnam and Xieng Khouang, about 100 miles northeast of Vientiane. Laos alleged
that five North Vietnamese battalions attacked Nong Et and two more were headed for
Ban Ban; however, a few days later the United States, British, and French announced
that they had failed to find evidence of North Vietnamese troops in Laos. On Decem-
ber 31, the UN representative from Laos protested to the United Nations over Soviet
interference in his country.
On January 2, 1961, Sihanouk expanded on his earlier proposal to reconvene the
Geneva Conference by proposing the inclusion of additional members: Burma, Thai-
land, Poland, India, and Canada. However, the Laotian government said that a request
for reconvention should originate with Britain and the Soviet Union, which headed
the Internal Supervisory Commission, and go through the Laotian government. This