Quinim Pholsena
Encyclopedia
Quinim Pholsena was a leftist minister and the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Laos
from 1962 to 1963, under Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma
.
to a Chinese
merchant father and a Lao
tian mother. As a teenager Pholsena lived in the household of Souvanna Phouma
and was accepted as the adopted son of their household. With the backing of Prince Souvanna, Pholsena served various high-level administrative ranks in the government, notably as the district officer of Pakse from 1949 to 1952 and then as the governor of Xam Neua.
from his command, but the next day Kong Le deposed Souvanna Phouma (who flew to Phnom Penh
with Prince Boun Om and his other ministers) and Pholsena, then Minister of the Interior, was appointed premier, who was unrecognised. A few days later Phoumi took Vientiane
and installed Boun Oum
as premier. After more than a year of negotiations a coalition government was formed under the leadership of Phouma.
Pholsena, who served as interior minister in the three-week old government, became information minister in August. Then from 1962 to 1963, he served as the foreign minister under the coalition government of Phouma.
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Kingdom of Laos
The Kingdom of Laos was a sovereign state from 1953 until December 1975, when Pathet Lao overthrew the government and created the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Given self-rule in 1949 as part of a federation with the rest of French Indochina, the 1953 Franco-Lao Treaty finally established a...
from 1962 to 1963, under Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma
Souvanna Phouma
Prince Souvanna Phouma was the leader of the neutralist faction and prime minister of the Kingdom of Laos several times, from 1951–1952, 1956–1958, 1960 and 1962-1975.-Early life:...
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Early life
Pholsena was born 18 November 1915, Pakse, ChampasakChampasak
Champasak may refer to* Champasak Province* Champasak * Kingdom of Champasak* Na Champassak family...
to a Chinese
Laotian Chinese
The Laotian Chinese are an overseas Chinese community who live in Laos. At present they constitute an estimated 2% of the population. Most Laotian Chinese are descendants of older generations who moved down from the Southern China provinces from the 19th century and present.Most have ancestry from...
merchant father and a Lao
Lao people
The Lao are an ethnic subgroup of Tai/Dai in Southeast Asia.-Names:The etymology of the word Lao is uncertain, although it may be related to tribes known as the Ai Lao who appear in Han Dynasty records in China and Vietnam as a people of what is now Yunan Province...
tian mother. As a teenager Pholsena lived in the household of Souvanna Phouma
Souvanna Phouma
Prince Souvanna Phouma was the leader of the neutralist faction and prime minister of the Kingdom of Laos several times, from 1951–1952, 1956–1958, 1960 and 1962-1975.-Early life:...
and was accepted as the adopted son of their household. With the backing of Prince Souvanna, Pholsena served various high-level administrative ranks in the government, notably as the district officer of Pakse from 1949 to 1952 and then as the governor of Xam Neua.
Life in Politics
After the Coup of 1960, a coalition government was formed between neutralists, communists and rightists on 18 November 1960. On 8 December, Phouma relieved Kong LeKong Le
Kong Le is a former paratrooper captain in the Royal Lao Army known for overthrowing the government of Laos in a 1960 coup d'état. He obtained his training from the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 1957 and joined the Royal Lao Army in 1960.-Coup of 1960:...
from his command, but the next day Kong Le deposed Souvanna Phouma (who flew to Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
with Prince Boun Om and his other ministers) and Pholsena, then Minister of the Interior, was appointed premier, who was unrecognised. A few days later Phoumi took Vientiane
Vientiane
-Geography:Vientiane is situated on a bend of the Mekong river, which forms the border with Thailand at this point.-Climate:Vientiane features a tropical wet and dry climate with a distinct monsoon season and a dry season. Vientiane’s dry season spans from November through March. April marks the...
and installed Boun Oum
Boun Oum
Prince Boun Oum was the son of King Ratsadanay, and was the hereditary prince of Champassack and also Prime Minister of Laos.-Early life:...
as premier. After more than a year of negotiations a coalition government was formed under the leadership of Phouma.
Pholsena, who served as interior minister in the three-week old government, became information minister in August. Then from 1962 to 1963, he served as the foreign minister under the coalition government of Phouma.
Assassination
Pholsena returned home from a party at the King's residence in Vientiane. Pholsena and his wife arrived at their newly renovated villa. As the couple left the car, Quinim mounted the steps and one of the soldiers, that was assigned to protect his villa, lance corporal Chy Kong, stepped forward and fired from his submachine gun that killed him and seriously wounded his wife, who was wounded in both legs. In his signed confession, Quinim's assassin, Kong, charged Quinim with trying to overthrow the government and bribing neutralist officers to defect to the Pathet LaoPathet Lao
The Pathet Lao was a communist political movement and organization in Laos, formed in the mid-20th century. The group was ultimately successful in assuming political power after the Laotian Civil War. The Pathet Lao were always closely associated with Vietnamese communists...
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