Kong Le - Renewed Conflict

Renewed Conflict

The neutralist group was soon divided between right-leaning neutralists (headed by Kong Le) and left-leaning neutralists (headed by Quinim Polsena and colonel Deuane Sunnalath). On February 12, 1963 Kong Le's second in command, Colonel Ketsana, was assassinated. Shortly afterwards Quinim Polsena and his deputy were also assassinated. Fearing for their lives, the left wing ministers fled to Khang Khay, capital of the Pathet Lao zone. The Pathet Lao and neutralist-leftists attacked the Plain of Jars but Kong Le now allied with Phoumi, repulsed the attack. The neutralist government was deposed by the right-wing generals Kouprasith Abhay and Siho Lamphouthakoun April 19, 1964, but following international pressure, Souvanna Phouma was reinstalled as premiere.

On January 31, 1965 Phoumi and Siho led a coup, but Kong Le's troops defeated them by February 4. Phoumi and Siho fled to Thailand.

The right wing parliament was dissolved by Souvanna Phouma on October 7, 1966. There was a strong reaction from the right wing faction of the army. The struggle lasted until November 15 when Kong Le was dismissed as army chief and left the country. The mainly neutralist sector of the army went to the Pathet Lao controlled zone.

Beginning in the late 1970s, and continuing into the 1980s and 1990s, Kong Le led neutralist political and military resistance against the Lao PDR government, initially with support from the government of China.

In the late 1980s and part of the 1990s Kong Le lived in the USA.

Kong Le now lives in exile in France.