ASIAN AM 160 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Royal Lao Army, Pathet Lao, Vang Pao
30 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
After conflicts with repressive chinese dynastic rulers of qing dynasty, mass (often forced) migration of hmong to southeast asia during 18th to late 19th centuries. As stateless population; hmong history punctuated by displacement and struggles for belonging. In laos, became second class citizens: lived in isolated regions (mountain peaks, elevation of 3000-5000ft, not allowed to attend schools. Late 1950s, estimated 290,000 hmong living in mountain tops of north laos: about 8% of country"s population of 3 million. Due to marginal status in laos, relied on coalitions with external forces to secure livelihood: ally with forces (france) to secure semi-sovereign) status in laos, avoid another displacement. During first indochina conflict, many clans sided with french; few joined pathet lao. Hmong believed assistance in u. s. war effort lead to political sovereignty in laos, In 1954, cia began recruiting hmong as anti-communist force in northern laos creation of hmong state in laos.
