Translation of Pres. Thongloun Sisoulith’s Eulogy to Cde. Khamtay Siphandone

July 2, 2025 - 11 mins read

Translator’s Note

The following is a translation of an article published by Pasaxon (“The People”), newspaper of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, recording the eulogy delivered by President Thongloun Sisoulith in commemoration of the passing of Cde. Khamtay Siphandone. Originally published 08 April 2025, under the title: A Eulogy to Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone from Comrade Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

This eulogy is a historic record of the life and contributions of Khamtay Siphandone, who is rightfully regarded as one of the great heroes of the Lao peoples’ long march to peace, independence, democracy, unity, and prosperity.1 It is the hope of the translators that by translating and distributing this article, we will help to play a small part in memorializing the life of Cde. Siphandone, and to help raise the awareness of progressive people around the world to the Lao PDR’s ongoing commitment to building a better future for the Lao people, of all ethnic groups, guided by the dedicated leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, and the great vision of Marxism-Leninism.

Parts of the eulogy were previously published in English by the Vientiane Times as a standalone biographic article, 03 April 2025.

A Eulogy to Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone from Comrade Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

I pay honorable respects to the venerable monks, respected elders, esteemed Comrades, cherished friends, both domestic and international, and all beloved relatives and family members of Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone.

In the midst of profound sorrow and heartfelt mourning over the passing of Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone, former member of the Central Committee of the Party in its 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Congresses, former member of the Politburo of the Central Committee, former General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, former Commander-in-Chief of the Lao People’s Army, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, former Prime Minister, former Chairman of the Central Committee of the Party, and former President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, we gather at this very hour and in this very place, to bid him our final farewell.

Dear Comrades and friends,

Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone was born on 08 February 1924, in Huakhongphayai village, Khong district, Sithandone province (now Champassak province). He was the son of Mr. Ny Nilaxay and Mrs. Saybua Nilaxay, born into a middle-class peasant family. He had six siblings—four brothers and two sisters. Comrade Khamtay married Comrade Lieutenant Colonel Mrs. Thongvanh Siphandone, and together they had six children: three sons and three daughters. They currently reside in Saphanthong Neua village, Sisattanak District, Vientiane Capital.

At the age of 7, Comrade Khamtay left his hometown to live with his grandfather, Mahakeo, in Vientiane, and enrolled in primary school. Later, he passed the entrance examination to study at the Pavie Secondary School (Collège Auguste Pavie),2 which was the first secondary school in Laos, and, at the time, the only such school in Vientiane.

At the end of 1941, Comrade Khamtay Siphandone decided to leave secondary school and took a job at the postal department. Afterward, he pursued specialized studies for two years in Saigon, southern Vietnam (now Ho Chi Minh City).
In 1944, after finishing his studies, Comrade Khamtay Siphandone was appointed as a postal officer and assigned to Phongsaly Province.
In 1946, he was transferred from Phongsaly to serve as the postmaster of Pakxe District, Champasak Province.
From 1947–1948, he was assigned as a military officer to the southern region on the Lao-Thai border.
From 1948 to 1950, he served as the representative of the Lao Issara movement (Free Laos Movement) in the south, and was responsible for establishing revolutionary bases in the southern region of Laos.
From 1950 to 1952, he was elected to the Central Committee of the Neo Lao Issara (Free Laos Front).
From 1952 to 1955, he was appointed Chairman of the Regional Committee, responsible for military affairs in Central Laos.
In 1953, he became a member of the Indochinese Communist Party.
From 1955 to 1956, after the founding of the Lao People’s Party, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Lao People’s Army.
From 1957 to 1959, he was elected to the Central Committee of the Party, and appointed as head of the Central Committee Office.
From 1959 to 1960, he continued as a Central Committee member, and was assigned responsibility for the propaganda, training, and radio broadcasting work of the Party’s Central Committee, specifically Radio Pathet Lao.
From 1960 to 1961, he served as a Central Committee member and was assigned to military affairs as the Commander-in-Chief of the Lao People’s Liberation Army.
In 1972, at the 2nd National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, he was elected to the Politburo, and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Armed Forces.
In 1975, after the seizure of power and the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister (Vice Premier), concurrently serving as Minister of National Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Lao People’s Army.
From 1982 to 1986, at the 3rd National Congress of the Party, he was elected to the Politburo, became General Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense, and Commander-in-Chief of the Lao People’s Army.
From 1986 to 1991, at the 4th National Congress of the Party, he continued as Politburo member and General Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense, and Commander-in-Chief of the Lao People’s Army.
In 1991, at the 5th National Congress of the Party, he was again elected to the Politburo, continuing as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense, and Commander-in-Chief of the Lao People’s Army.
On 15 August 1991, at the 6th Session of the 2nd National Assembly, he was appointed Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
On 24 November 1992, at a special session of the 5th Central Committee of the Party, he was elected Chairman of the Party Central Committee, and continued as Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
In 1996, at the 6th National Congress of the Party, he was re-elected as Chairman of the Central Committee, and remained Prime Minister.
In 1998, he was elected President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
From 2001 to 2006, at the 7th National Congress of the Party, he was re-elected Chairman of the Central Committee, and President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
At the end of 2006, due to advanced age, and at his own request, the Party agreed to grant Comrade Khamtay Siphandone retirement with honors.

Through nearly eight decades of revolutionary struggle, it has been firmly confirmed that Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone was an outstanding, steadfast revolutionary fighter of our Party. Throughout his revolutionary life, he was always resilient and courageous, firmly committed to the values of, and steadfast in, the Party’s policy line, and possessed a sharp political vision. He made a great contribution in organizing and leading the Party’s revolutionary undertakings from the very founding of our Party, advancing, step-by-step, until achieving complete victory.

Comrade President Khamtay Siphandone was a strategist with far-reaching political and military vision, an outstanding military strategist, and an exceptional commander of combat forces; resolute and steadfast. He was also a builder and trainer of the armed forces, capable of resisting enemy aggressors with vastly superior strength, and ultimately defeating them. Comrade Khamtay possessed the ability to accurately foresee shifts in the situation, enabling him to proactively devise precise and timely solutions. He was the closest Comrade-in-arms of President Kaysone Phomvihane, and stood, shoulder-to-shoulder, with other Party leaders in formulating the correct revolutionary direction, policy, and strategy; revolutionary tactics that were suitable for each stage of the Lao revolutionary process.

Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone was among the Party’s leadership who upheld the banner of unity and independence, both within the Party and across the revolutionary forces; that is, among the Lao people as a whole. This earned him the deep respect and trust of the Party’s organizations, his Comrades-in-arms in the revolutionary struggle, and his colleagues throughout the years. He also earned the profound respect, trust, and confidence of people from all walks of life across our country.

Comrades, respected friends and Comrades-in-arms,

The outstanding and steadfast revolutionary moral qualities of Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone are summed up in his unwavering loyalty to the Party, and in his pure devotion to the Party and the nation. At all times, Comrade Khamtay placed the interests of the Party and the nation above all else. His profound patriotism and boundless dedication to serving the people were clearly demonstrated in his fearless and resolute struggle against the enemies of the nation and the people, fighting until victory was achieved.

Another expression of Comrade Khamtai’s exceptional revolutionary moral character was his lifelong dedication to the revolutionary cause, to the independence of the nation, to national development, and to improving the people’s living standards; without ever feeling exhausted or discouraged. His exemplary personal life was characterized by simplicity, modesty, thrift, closeness to the masses, sincerity toward Comrades, generosity towards his colleagues, and yet also strictness in principle, discipline, and collective democratic work and decision-making.

These qualities of President Khamtay Siphandone serve as a valuable lesson for the current and future generations of our Party and nation.

Through his honorable deeds and virtues, Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone devoted his entire life, strength, wisdom, and energy to the struggle for national liberation, for national defense, and for the construction and development of the country. For this reason, Comrade Khamtay received widespread praise, and recognition from organizations both within the country and abroad, such as:

Two Medals of the Gold Star of the Nation;
Four Medals of Victory and Sacrifice, Class I and Class II;
Three Medals of Revolutionary Victory, Class I, Class II, and Class III;
Nineteen Medals of Labor Victory, Class I, Class II, and Class III;
One Medal for the Struggle Against the French;
One Medal for the Struggle Against the Americans;
One Medal of Commemoration for the 5th Anniversary of the Lao PDR;
One Commemorative Medal for the 50th Anniversary of the Party;
One Commemorative Medal for the 70th Anniversary of the Party.
In addition, he also received numerous high-level honorary medals from friendly countries.

Beloved Comrades and friends!

Throughout the past period, although Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone was of advanced age, and had already retired, he nevertheless continued to show deep concern and care for national development, and for the livelihood and well-being of the Party and the people. He made efforts to provide guidance, follow up on things, and encourage various tasks in different sectors and localities, as much as his health conditions would allow.

However, in recent times, due to his increasingly advanced age, his health gradually declined. Although the Party organization, along with his family, relatives, doctors, both domestic and from friendly countries, paid close attention and did everything within their ability to care for and treat him, they were ultimately unable to preserve the life of Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone.

He peacefully passed away at 10:30 AM on 02 April 2025, at the age of 102.

The passing of Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone is a great loss of a strategic leader, a capable political figure, a veteran military strategist, a prominent economic and social developer, and a distinguished diplomat and international politician; a precious and irreplaceable asset of our Party and our nation.

However, our Comrade has left us a profound legacy, rich in value, virtue, and exemplary lessons for us to follow. These include: deep patriotic love and dedication, steadfast loyalty to the Party, the nation, the Lao people, and the people’s democratic system; firm confidence in the nation’s progressive path; a pure and noble spirit of sacrificing for the collective good of the nation and the people above all else; unwavering willpower and wisdom to carry forward the mission of national liberation, defense, and development, aiming for the happiness and prosperity of the people and the advancement of the country.

His conduct was exemplary in building and strengthening the people’s armed forces with strong morale, intelligence, and resilience, in both combat and victory; in laying the foundations of political organizations, stable villages, and well-organized defense councils as the three pillars of national security and defense; in his consistent attention and dedication to improving and strengthening the political system at its roots; in his role as a fundamental source and core pillar for consolidating the unity of the Lao people and all social groups of the nation; in his firm opposition to any acts that violate the principles and regulations to protect the Party’s security and to build strong solidarity; and in his efforts in establishing wide-ranging friendships and cooperation, expanding close ties with friendly countries and the international community with broad and profound vision.

Comrades, friends, and trusted allies,

In this time of deep sorrow over the passing of Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone, we solemnly pledge to uphold his spirit and legacy: to continue the mission of protecting and developing our revolutionary achievements with unwavering determination; to maintain and strengthen the unity of the Party and the State; to foster the solidarity of the Lao people across all ethnic groups; and to persist in developing our beloved nation with dedication and care.

Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone has departed forever, but the Party, the State, and the entire Lao people will forever remember and honor his immutable contributions to the revolutionary cause over more than 80 years. His name and prestige will be eternally recorded in the pages of our nation’s history.

May his spirit rest in eternal peace.

We bid farewell to our Comrade with our final respects.

Lao: ສັນຕິພາບ ເອກະລາດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ເອກະພາບ ວັດທະນະຖາວອນ.