DSST A History of the Vietnam War/Effects on Cambodia and Laos

Laotian Neutrality

1962

Laos' Secret War

Also known as The Secret War was conducted by the major participants of the Vietnam War and local Laos forces. Heavy NVA involvement and a secret US bombing campaign that has never been matched plagued the country for 9 years. The result was a Communist state and the effects of the fighting are still being felt today: • Laos is the most heavily bombed country in the world • Around 2 million tons* from 1964-1973 (1 plane load every 8 mins, for 9 years) • Roughly 150,000 tons* of bombs were dropped on the Plain of Jars in northern Laos between 1964 and 1969 • 1/3 of all bombs dropped didn’t explode • 25 years later, every second day someone is either killed or maimed by these previously faulty bombs • Ho Chi Minh trail through Laos was used by the NVA to fight the South • This trail was targeted by the Secret US bombing campaign • Communist Pathet Lao held control of the northern region of Laos since independence from France in 1953/54 and had been fighting to gain control over more of Laos. • This escalated due to the Vietnam War and NVA support for the Pathet Lao and US bombing of their strongholds • By 1970 at least one-quarter of the entire population of Laos were refugees, and about 400,000 Laotians had been killed due to this Secret War • The US bombing had promoted a rise of support for the Pathet Lao • Increase from 1/3 population support in 1958 to a majority in 1973 eventuating in the Communist government in 1975.

Sihanouk and Cambodia

neutrality

The Fall of Phnom Penh

Khmer Rouge