Laos
1893 - Laos becomes a French protectorate until 1945, when it is briefly occupied by the Japanese towards the end of World War Two.
1946 - French return following the surrender of Japan.
1950 - Faced with an increasingly difficult war against the Viet Minh across much of French Indochina, France grants Laos semi-autonomy as an associated state within the French Union.
1954 - Laos gains full independence as a constitutional monarchy as French withdraw following defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu by the Viet Minh.
1960 - Fighting breaks out between the Royal Lao Army and the communist North Vietnamese and Soviet Union-backed Pathet Lao forces, leading to civil war.
Radio in Laos (by Lawrence W. Lichty and Thomas W. Hoffer)*
The first radio station in Laos was established in 1950, broadcasting on short -wave with 1 kw. of power from a transmitter donated by the French. Not until April 1952, when the station was opened officially by Prince Souvanna Phouma, was broadcasting done on a regular basis.
External broadcasting is nonexistent, but at least one regular domestic program was entitled "For Lao People in Enemy Hands." Also, a major activity of the Ministry of Information, Propaganda, and Tourism appeared to be rebutting Radio Hanoi and Radio Peking.
While Lao National Radio (LNR) is the only official broadcasting system in the country, several unofficial stations operated by the army, some with the backing of Thai businessmen (So Woon 1971b; UNESCO 1967b). In addition, at least three propaganda or "psywar" stations each using 20-kw. medium-wave transmitters - were operated by the Force Armée Royale (Lao Army) at Vientiane, Savannakhet, and Pakse. Another station was run by the CIA-supported army of General Vangpao at Long Cheng. It used two 5-kw. transmitters on both medium- and short-wave and broadcast in Lao, Vietnamese, Meo, Thai-Dam, and Yao.
As in other parts of Indochina, the United States became heavily involved in Laotian broadcasting, donating a second transmitter in 1954. The two transmitters then in operation were under Lao National Radio. The United States loaned Laos a 5-kw. medium-wave transmitter 1957 and donated two additional 10-kw. short-wave transmitters in 1960.
The British government gave additional transmitters in 1964 which were subsequently destroyed in the coup d'état of February 1965. A 50-kw. transmitter was donated by USAID after the coup and additional transmitters were given by Australia in 1965.
In 1966 the Lao National Radio station was on from about 6:30 A.M. until P.M. and from 5 P.M. until about 11 P.M. Programs included music, fare for the army, classical and modern songs, farm programs, and shows in Vietnamese and French; about 10% of the program hours were educational.
By 1968, Radio Laos was operating with a new 25-kw. German short-wave transmitter from Vientiane and three medium-wave transmitters - in Vientiane (10-kw.), Luang Prabang (2.5-kw.) and Pakse (10-kw.). All programs originated carried on both short- and in Vientiane, and the same programs were medium-wave stations simultaneously.
* Extract from Lent, J. A. (1991). Broadcasting in Asia and the Pacific: A continental survey of radio and television. Temple University Press.
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