VILC The 'strong man'

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The 'strong man! general behind Boun Oum, How strong he is may be judged by the fact that his army of 70,000, well supplied by the United States, has been constantly defeated by the 8,000 to 15,000 man Pathet Lao SOUVANNA PHOULMA: ‘'neutralist' - He has been premier three times. The last time was in 1960 when he was overthrown by Boun Oum and Phoumi Nosavan with U.S. finaneial and military help. Souvanna Phouma is popular, but seems to have very little really indogndentfollowing. Zach time he has taken power, he has met great opposition from the Right and only the forces of the Left sustained him. The Patriotic Front and the Pathet Lao only sustained him because they were not yet organised and centralised enough to put in their own man, even though they already had the majority of the country. Their man was:- SOUPHANOUVONG: the almost legendary leader of the Pather Lao and the Patriotic Front. Brother of Phouma and also a prince. Jailed by Sananikone in May, 1959 most probably under U.S. orders. At first,both police and military detachments refused to arrest him. Finally imprisoned by a 50 man army unit amid apologies and self recriminations. After about a year, Souphanouvoung and his followers, having won their prison guards, broke jail, took the guards with them, walked through swamp and jungle all the way to Sam Neua (a trip of several month's heroic suffering) where they organised a new army which in a year's time had won over two thirds of the country.