- Title: LAOS: PATHET LAO TIGHTEN GRIP ON VITAL DAM PROJECT.
- Date: 28th August 1969
- Summary: 1. GV PAN UPRIVER TO DAM SITE 0.09 2. GV JAPANESE AND LAOTIAN WORKERS ON DAM SITE 0.20 3. GV SITE 0.22 4. LV LAO OFFICER CADET ACROSS BRIDGE 0.28 5. MV MORE JAP & LAOTIAN WORKERS ON SITE 0.32 6. LV TRUCKS ON SITE 0.36 7. GV BRIDGE 0.40 8. TV SETTLEMENT NEAR RIVER 0.43 9. GV DESERTED COMPOUND AT BAN THALET, SHOWING WRECK OF US AID STATION WAGON (4 SHOTS) 1.02 10. GV MR. LORING WAGGONER'S HOUSE (AID CHIEF) 1.05 11. CU CADET 1.07 12. SV SHELLS ON GROUND TILT UP TO TROOPS 1.12 13. GV HUT, WITH HILLS IN BACKGROUND 1.15 14. LV PEASANT HUTS ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF VANG VIENG (2 SHOTS) 1.21 15. LV TRUCKLOAD OF NEUTRALIST TROOPS 1.26 16. LV CHILDREN 1.29 17. TROOPS WALKING THROUGH VILLAGE 1.34 18. LV MARKET IN VANG VIENG 1.39 19. SV MARKET SCENES INCLUDING TROOPS NEARBY (2 SHOTS) 1.47 20. GV PAN TO 1961 CEASEFIRE LINE 1.55 Initials RE/V/DW/MJB Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 12th September 1969 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NAM NGUM DAM, LAOS
- Country: Laos
- Reuters ID: LVAEXXJX4YVDJI7D5W5JOOAM27GV
- Story Text: THE 30-MILLION DOLLAR NAM NGUM DAM, LOCATED ABOUT 50 MILES FROM THE LAOTIAN CAPITAL OF VIENTIANE, IS PROGRESSIVELY BEING ENCIRCLED BY PATHET LAO FORCES. MOVES ARE NOW AFOOT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO WITHDRAW MILITARY FORCES IN A BID TO NEUTRALISE THE AREA AND PERMIT THE DAM'S COMPLETION. THE PROJECT IS BEING FINANCED BY FOREIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.
A VISNEWS CAMERAMAN VISITED THE DAM SITE AND RECORDED POSSIBLY THE LAST SCENES OF THE LAOTIAN ARMY'S WATCHDOG ROLE OVER THE DAM. YOUNG OFFICER CADETS, BEING CONDITIONED FOR BATTLE, WERE PROMINENT AMONG ITS DEFENDERS.
THE SCENES AT BAN THALAT SHOW THE EFFECTS OF A PATHET LAO RAID; AT VANG VIENG THE SOLDIERS' MARKET-PLACE. THE ENCIRCLING HILLS ARE ALMOST ENTIRELY UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE PATHET LAO.
THE NAM NGUM (PRONOUNCED NUM NOOM) DAM IS PART OF THE MEKONG RIVER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME INVOLVING THE WATER RESOURCES OF LAOS, THAILAND, CAMBODIA AND SOUTH VIETNAM. THE UNITED STATES CONTRIBUTED HALF THE CAPITAL COST WITH JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, DENMARK, FRANCE, THE NETHERLAND AND NEW ZEALAND PROVIDING THE BALANCE. ADMINISTRATION IS BEING HANDLED BY THE WORLD BANK.
THE DAM, DUE FOR COMPLETION IN 1972, WILL PROVIDE A GIANT BOOST TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION ON THE RICE VIENTIANE PLAIN AND THE EQUALLY RICH NAM NGUM VALLEY. IT WILL ALSO ULTIMATELY PROVIDE A POWER OUTPUT OF 135,000 KILOWATT, SUFFICIENT TO MEET CURRENT LAOTIAN NEEDS AND THE DEMANDS OF THAILAND'S NORTHEASTERN PROVINCES.
THE MOVE FOR A NEUTRAL BELT AROUND THE DAM FOLLOWS REPORTED HARASSMENT OF FOREIGN WORKERS ON THE DAM SITE. IN MAY, FIVE THAIS WERE KILLED ENROUTE TO THE SITE. THIS LED THEIR GOVERNMENT TO RECALL ALL ITS NATIONALS FOR THEIR OWN SECURITY.
ON JULY 23 THE U.S. AID COMPOUND AT NEARBY BAN THALAT WAS OVERRUN BY THE PATHET LAO. THIS LED TO U.S. WITHDRAWAL OF THE MISSION, LEAVING 150 JAPANESE TECHNICIANS BEHIND. THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT HAS WARNED THE PATHET LAO THAT IT WILL WITHDRAW ALL NATIONALS IF ANY ARE HARMED.
A LAOTIAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID HE FELT THE PATHET LAO WOULD END THEIR THREATS TO FOREIGN WORKERS "IF THEY ARE PATRIOTIC". HE SAID THE DAM WOULD BENEFIT ALL OF LAOS.
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