- Title: LAOS: DISSIDENTS BOMB NATIONAL MILITARY HEADQUARTERS NEAR VIENTIANE
- Date: 25th October 1966
- Summary: PEOPLE RUNNING IN STREETS; AIRCRAFT OVERHEAD; DEAD ON ROAD; BOMB CRATER; BURNING BUILDING; WOUNDED INTO AMBULANCE. Initials RGH/VS/JH/JG Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 9th November 1966 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: VIENTIANE, LAOS
- Country: Laos
- Reuters ID: LVAC4YKB9VT6PY0VRY7W5F8BOSQ7
- Story Text: DISSIDENT OFFICERS LED BY THE FORMER LAOTIAN AIR FORCE COMMANDER, GENERAL THAO MA, LAST FRIDAY BOMBED AND HEAVILY DAMAGED THE NATIONAL MILITARY HEADQUARTERS NEAR VIENTIANE, CAPITAL OF THE TINY SOUTHEAST ASIAN KINGDOM WHICH BORDERS VIETNAM.
ELEVEN AIRCRAFT, PROPELLER-DRIVEN T-28'S, TOOK PART IN THE BOMBING RAID. THE FINAL DEATH TOLL WAS 24, INCLUDING SOME CIVILIANS, AND 64 WERE WOUNDED.
AIRCRAFT PILOTED BY LOYAL OFFICERS ENGAGED THE RAIDERS IN DOGFIGHTS OVER THE CITY.
THE LAOTIAN CABINET FOUND YESTERDAY (MONDAY) THAT GENERAL THAO MA'S RAID ORIGINATED IN A PERSONAL FEUD AND WAS NOT POLITICALLY INSPIRED.
AFTER THE BOMBING, THE GENERAL AND HIS FOLLOWERS FLEW TO NEIGHBOURING THAILAND WHERE THEY WERE GRANTED POLITICAL ASYLUM.
BUT THE LAOTIAN CABINET SAYS THE GENERAL AND HIS FOLLOWERS ARE CRIMINALS AND WITHOUT LEGAL RIGHTS TO ASK FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM. IF RETURNED TO LAOS, THEY WILL FACE THE DEATH PENALTY OR LIFE IMPRISONMENT ON CHARGES OF MASS KILLING, ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF ARMED FORCES LEADERS, AND MISUSE OF NATIONAL DEFENCE EQUIPMENT.
GENERAL MA, WHO WAS DISMISSED AS AIR FORCE COMMANDER TWO MONTHS AGO FOR INDISCIPLINE, IS IN THAILAND WITH 20 OFFICERS AND 11 T-28 AIRCRAFT.
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