Party: from revolution to renovation The Lao People¹s Revolutionary Party opened its First Congress on March 22, 1955, the date of its birth after separation from the Communist Party of Indochina. The birth of the Party marked an increase in Lao revolutionary activities, with the goal of liberating the nation from foreign domination as well as taking back the rights and freedom Lao people had lost under colonialism. The first meeting brought together 20 delegates, representing a total of 400 Party members, all then members of the Communist Party of Indochina. It elected Kaysone Phomvihane as Secretary General. The Party continued to fight the revolutionary cause and opened the Second Congress in early February 1972. At this meeting, the Party worked out detailed strategies and tactics for national liberation, which incidentally was achieved in 1975 without any bloodshed leading to the establishment of the Lao People¹s Democratic Republic on December 2, 1975. The number of delegates at the second meeting rose to 125, while Party members totalled more than 20,000. The delegates discussed and adopted plans to liberate, build and defend the country, which was critically damaged during more than 30 years of struggle. Ten years later, the Party held its Third Congress in late April 1982, which stressed social and economic development along socialist lines. A total of 228 delegates turned up at the Third Congress. By this date, the party membership had increased to 35,000. At its Fourth Congress in November 1986, the Party adopted some changes in its strategy for further building the country, especially in economic structure and economic management mechanisms. These changes were made to suit the reality in the country and the changing external environment. In other words, the move marked the start of the policy of renovation. It was reported that about 300 delegates came to this congress and that Party membership had by now increased to more than 40,000. The Fifth Congress took place in late March 1991 with 367 delegates attending. By this time, the renovation policy was comprehensive and principled. The Party ranks have been widened, with membership reaching over 60,000. The congress adopted the general tasks of the revolution that are to continue the policy of renovation in socio-economic development. As with previous party elections, the Fifth Congress re-elected Kaysome Phomvihane as the Party President, who sadly passed away about one year after the Congress. A later special meeting of the Party Central Committee elected Khamtay Siphandone as Party President. The Sixth Congress opened in April 1996. More than 380 delegates attended. By this time, the number of Party members had risen to 78,000. Khamtay Siphandone was re-elected as Party President. This congress saw that the policy of principled and comprehensive renovation had proved very successful in socio-economic development. It vowed to continue the policy of renovation and resolved to address some setbacks. It set-out thrusts from now to the year 2020, to move the country from the ranks of least developed countries (LDCs). To achieve this, it is expected that from 1996-2000 economic growth has to rise from eight to 8.5 per cent per year. The Seventh Congress, scheduled to open soon, will review the implementation of the resolutions adopted at the last Congress, especially what has been done to lift the country from LDC status by 2020. To this end, more practical approaches are expected to be discussed and adopted to ensure that this long term-goal is realised, starting with family based poverty eradication. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
