Most people don’t know this, but Laos is the most heavily bombed country in history. During the Vietnam War, there was another war happening alongside it in Laos. From 1964 to 1973, the CIA waged a secret bombing campaign on the Southeast Asian country. The effects of this bombing effort continue to affect Laotians today. Here are some things you should know about the Secret War in Laos:
Laos’ Independence
Laos was part of Indochina from 1893 until they achieved their full independence from France in 1954. While the French were forced to relinquish their claims to Southeast Asia with the Geneva Accord, the United States did not sign this agreement. They were worried that, without the French in the area, all of Southeast Asia would become communist.
Pathet Lao
Following Laos’ independence, a communist group, Pathet Lao, began growing in popularity. They were threatening the Royal Lao Government’s grip on power. The Pathet Lao were affiliated with the government in North Vietnam and the Soviet Union, and the leader, Prince Souphanouvong, was a disciple of Ho Chi Minh. Communism, at the time, was a big concern for the U.S., and they didn’t want it to take hold in Laos.
The Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, the Ho Chi Minh Trail — a supply route for the North Vietnamese and the Vietcong — ran alongside Laos’ eastern border. The U.S. wanted to disrupt the supply chain before it went into Vietnam. This is what motivated them to begin secretly bombing Laos.
The Hmong People
In 1960, the CIA became interested in starting a secret army to combat communism in Laos and North Vietnam. They approached General Vang Pao, a member of the Hmong people and a major general in the Royal Lao Army. He commanded the secret army, organizing 7,000 Hmong people, which increased to 39,000. American Special Forces trained the army, providing weapons and food.
The Bombing Campaign
Because of Laos’ geography, topography and climate, the U.S. wasn’t interested in waging a traditional war. So, the CIA chose a bombing campaign instead, which would allow them to cut off supplies into Vietnam and prevent them from being used against U.S. soldiers. In 1964, the secret war began with the U.S. bombing targets in Laos and continued for nine years. Approximately every eight minutes, 24 hours a day, a planeload of bombs was dropped on the landlocked country.
The Plain of Jars
During the Secret War in Laos, the U.S dropped more bombs on the Plain of Jars than anywhere else. Phonsavan, the town closest to the Plain of Jars, was on a flight path for U.S. fighter jets. When the fighter jets were unable to reach their targets, they had to unload any bombs they had on board before they could land. As a result, they dropped their bombs on this area.
Ceasefire
In 1973, the U.S. ended its bombing campaign in Laos after signing a cease-fire and peace treaty. Under the agreement, all U.S. and allied forces had to end their military activity and withdraw their troops from Laos. That same year, the government of Laos and Pathet Lao signed a cease-fire agreement, the Vientiane Treaty, and the national government was forced to accept Pathet Laos into government. By the end of 1975, Pathet Lao took over the government. They abolished the monarchy and established the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
During the Secret War, approximately 50,000 Hmong civilians had been killed or wounded in the Secret War. Many of the villages of the Hmong people were bombed or burned by the North Vietnamese. This left the Hmong as refugees in their own country. While the U.S. sponsored food drops for more than 100,000 Hmong, the relief programs eventually ceased. The Royal Laos Government then declared the Hmong enemies of the state. Between 1,000 to 3,000 Hmong people were airlifted to Thailand while others settled in western countries. Thousands of others went to live deep in the Laotian jungle.
The Situation Today
More than 270 million cluster bombs were dropped on the Plain of Jars; however, around 80 million of these bombs failed to detonate. To this day, this unexploded ordnance is still a threat and so much of the area is unusable. Since 1975, approximately 20,000 people in Laos have fallen victim to unexploded ordnance. About 60% of cases have resulted in death.
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