Page 77 - Ancient Kingdoms: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia & Vietnam

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Laos, and the other countries in the region, were turned into Japanese territories until the
end of World War II in 1945. The French tried to retake their former colonies when the war
ended by landing paratroopers in Vientiane and declaring it a French protectorate. A resistance
movement led by a group called the Pathet Lao quickly grew in the region, and by 1953 the
French gave in and granted sovereignty to Laos.

The decade of the 1950s saw the rise of nationalism in Laos with two dominant groups, the
Viet Minh and the Pathet Lao. After a decade-long struggle for control of the country, the
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Chi Minh trail ran through Laos and helped supply the Vietcong and North Vietnamese troops
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Laos broke apart into two sections—the Royal Lao government in Vientiane and the Pathet
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communist Pathet Lao controlled many sections of the country.

The peace agreement that ended the Vietnam War in 1973 brought only more instability to
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This loss of people convinced the Pathet Lao to change their harsh policies, which they did
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and the economy entered the modern era. Religious restrictions against Buddhism and travel
restrictions on visitors were also lifted.

By the end of the 1990’s the improvements in government policies and the re-opening of
the country began to reverse the previous exodus—more than 28,000 refugees voluntarily
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to trigger economic crises and political unrest. In response, the government turned to tourism
as a way to improve the economy, creating a successful “Visit Laos” campaign. Today tourism
remains a major force in the Lao economy.

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the country of unexploded cluster bombs leftover from the U.S. bombings in the late 60s and
early 70s.

Cambodia

Facts & Figures

• Area: 69,898 square miles
• Capital: Phnom Penh

• Languages: 6SXP] T^ _SP ZʯNTLW WLYR`LRP& 0YRWT^S LYO 1]PYNS L]P LW^Z ^[ZVPY

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