Page "Sekong Province" Paragraph 12

This is when the first substantial organizational push beyond the village level – including collaboration with lowland groups – occurred.

Many rebellions against the French were organized from the time of French conquest in Laos.

Ultimately, a great number of minorities joined the Pathet Lao communist movement during the resistance war against the French, and then later the American-backed Royal Lao Government forces.

Though they were fighting for “ independence ,” in a very real way this was the beginning of the end of autonomy for Sekong ’ s ethnic groups.

Many moved as a result of the heavy bombing in Sekong ( the Ho Chi Minh trail runs through the province ), and many remain today in the settlements made then.