Khamtai Siphandon

Khamtai Siphandone (; 8 February 1924 – 2 April 2025) was a Laotian politician who served as the chairman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party from 1992 to 2006 and as the fourth president of LaosDoeden, Matt (2007) ''Laos in Pictures'', Lerner Publishing Group, , p. 71 from 1998 to 2006, when he was replaced by Choummaly Sayasone. He joined the Indochinese Communist Party in 1954 and became a member of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party in 1956.

Early life

Siphandone was born on 8 February 1924 in the village of Huakhongphayai in Khong district to Ny Nilaxay and Saybua Nilaxay, and was among six siblings. He came from a peasant family from the far south of Laos in present-day Champasak province. In 1931, at the age of seven, he was among several children selected by an officer of the department of religious affairs in Vientiane to study in the city, thus beginning his primary education. He later attended the College PAVIE for his secondary education, but left in 1941 after the official's death left Siphandone unable to financially sustain his studies.

His first job was as a postman. After taking a specialized course in Saigon, he became a telegrapher in Phongsaly province in 1944. He joined the national liberation movement Lao Issara, which stood for the independence of Laos and against the return of the French protectorate administration, after the end of the Second World War.

Before the French regained control of Savannakhet in March 1946, Siphandone seized the entire provincial fund (150,000 piastres). He became an officer of the armed wing of the movement and in 1948 their representative for southern Laos. After the split of Lao Issara in 1950 he joined the Viet Minh-backed Pathet Lao.Stuart-Fox: ''Historical Dictionary of Laos.'' 2008, S. 160.

In 1954, Siphandone became a member of the Communist Party of Indochina, and in 1955 the Lao People's Party, on whose central committee he served from 1957. He was considered a close confidant of the first Secretary-General Kaysone Phomvihane. In 1962 he became his successor as chief of staff of the armed units of the Pathet Lao. In 1966 he became commander-in-chief of the resulting "Lao People's Liberation Army", which fought, with North Vietnamese support, in the Laotian Civil War against the royal troops. In 1972 he rose to membership in the Politburo of the LPRP.

Political career

Siphandone was the military commander of the Pathet Lao rebellion. After the successful Communist takeover in 1975, he became the Minister of Defense and a Deputy Prime Minister of Laos. During the 5th Party Congress in 1991, Siphandone was the third highest-ranking member of the party leadership, after Kaysone Phomvihane and Nouhak Phoumsavanh. After the death of longtime party leader Kaysone in 1992, Siphandone became Chairman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.

Siphandone succeeded Nouhak Phoumsavanh

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