Word: phouma
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Pathet Lao is Prince Souphanouvong, a half-brother of the Premier, Prince Souvanna Phouma, and because both brothers have sworn fidelity to aging, gout-crippled King Sisavang Vong, the Laotians have been inclined to dismiss Pathet Lao as une affaire de famille. Since August the moonfaced, Paris-educated princes have been going about the capital of Vientiane arm in arm, sipping champagne together, and promising an early settlement of their "family affair." Says trusting Prince Souvanna Phouma: "My brother has never been a Communist, only a misled patriot...
...gaudy parasols or sat cross-legged in the shade, puffing acrid French tobacco and sipping lemonade. Suddenly there was a stir. Official limousines swept out of the royal palace amid shrieking sirens and flapping royal banners (a three-headed elephant against a red background), bearing Prime Minister Prince Souvanna Phouma to the airport to meet his half brother Prince Souphanou Vong, who happened to be leading a Communist revolt against the government...
...half brothers hugged one another happily and headed back to the palace for talks. The agenda: how to terminate the Communist rebellion on terms acceptable to both sides. Two years ago the French bequeathed Laos to Souvanna Phouma's Nationalists, but the Communists, headed by Souphanou Vong, illegally set up a puppet state in two provinces adjoining Communist North Viet...
...week's end Souvanna Phouma and Souphanou Vong relaxed at a family picnic with 50 of their relatives, and talked happily about the peaceful future. Souphanou Vong seemed such a reassuring fellow. Of course, if in the friendly atmosphere he should want to be less of a Communist, he could always remember that his wife and six of their seven children are now in Red-held Hanoi. The seventh is studying in Moscow...