President calls for army to strongly safeguard nation’s interests

President Bounnhang Vorachit has told the Lao People’s Army to make wide-ranging improvements and be ready to fulfill its task to safeguard the nation’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The state leader was addressing a grand military parade yesterday to mark the 70th anniversary of the Lao People’s Army (January 20, 1949-January 20, 2019) held at the Kommadam Military Academy in Phonhong district, Vientiane province.
The President, who is also Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), called for Party committees, state administrations and sectors at all levels to increase their responsibility in implementing the national defence and security guidelines of the LPRP.
This will contribute to the improvement and strengthening of the Lao People’s Army, making the army a core force of the LPRP in protecting the nation’s sovereignty and revolutionary achievements while maintaining social security.

The President asked Party committees and commanding committees within the Army as well as soldiers to actively enhance their tradition of bravery, and enshrine a spirit of patriotism and loyalty to the nation, the LPRP, and the people.
He told the army to be vigilant and be ready to stamp out any harmful tactics by hostile elements.
“Be resolutely brave in protecting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation. Ensure political stability, social order and security of the people,” President Bounnhang told the army at the grand parade.
Tens of thousands of Party and state leaders including retired leaders, Lao People’s Army’s personnel, state officials, members of the public and representatives of the armies of Vietnam, Russia, China, Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia attended the event yesterday.
The President underlined the need for the army to strengthen itself by upgrading its leadership and comanding capability, exercising its combat and battling tactics, and employing modern techniques.   
Members of the armed forces stationed around the country were told to continue to carry out their duties in advocating and strengthening political ideology, as well as the national defence and security network at the grassroots level.
He stressed the need for the army to continue to enhance solidarity among its personnel and the Lao people so as to gain their further support.
The President asked the armed forces to help educate the general public so that they understood and carried out the LPRP’s guidelines and state laws, contributing to the national defence and development task.
President Bounnhang recalled the founding and fighting journey of the Lao People’ Army and its pivotal role in the Lao revolutionary movement, which resulted in the proclamation of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on December 2, 1975.
President Kaysone Phomvihane announced the founding of the Lao Issara Army (today called the Lao People’s Army) on January 20, 1949, in Xiengkhor district, Huaphan province – the stronghold of the Lao revolution. President Bounnhang said the Lao People’s Army under the leadership of the LPRP had been able to defeat foreign aggressors whose forces and equipment were far greater and more sophisticated.
Over the past seven decades, the Lao People’s Army has been consolidated and has grown continuously.
“The Party and state are strongly confident that the Lao People’s Army will continue to maintain and enhance its sound tradition as a revolutionary army,” President Bounnhang said.
He expressed confidence that the army would be able to overcome any difficulty that may arise and enjoy greater accomplishments in the years to come.
The President expressed heartfelt gratitude to friendly countries for the invaluable assistance and support they had extended to the Lao People’s Army and the Lao people during the revolutionary struggle and the current national development and defence task.
During yesterday’s event, spectators watched parades featuring personnel from each of the armed forces including the air force and territorial units as well as military equipment such as tanks, weaponry and air defence systems, together with a flypast by fighter jets.
Members of the armed forces also demonstrated combat tactics and parachuting, and performed a cultural show.

BySouksakhone Vaenkeo
(Latest Update January 21, 2019)