2021-01-06 Wed

Pathet Lao Day in Laos falls on January 6. This day Laotians celebrate the anniversary of the victory of the Pathet Lao over Lao Royal government.

The Pathet Lao was a communist political organization and movement that formed in the mid of the 20th century. During the Laotian Civil War, the Pathet Lao was reorganized, equipped and even led by the army of North Vietnam to fight against Anti-Communist Forces. As far as the Pathet Lao assumed political power after the war, it became ultimately successful.

The Pathet Lao has always been closely associated with Vietnamese communists so this term has become the generic name for Laotian communists. In 1975 the Pathet Lao made coup d'etat and accused the royal government of committing genocide against Hmong ethnic minority in collaboration with the Vietnamese army.

Lao issued Pathet Lao banknotes sometime before 1976 in the areas which were under the control of the Pathet Lao. Banknote denominations of 1, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 kip were issued. The notes were printed in China.

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