ລາວເກົ່າ
2005-09-08 20:49:10 UTC
Sabaydii,
land formed by Chao FaNgum, its territory would extend over the Khorat
plateau to the west. As to the east, it would rightly cover
SipSongChuTai. As for the north, it had a legitimate claim over
SipSongPanna and, for the south, it would extend to the northern part
of Cambodia around the present day Stung Treng. Not the least, it would
cover the Darlac and Kontum plateau of South Vietnam. Second, if we
thought of Muang Lao as the partition of three Lao main principalities,
then anything could go.
Then, when the French came to colonize Muang Lao in 1893, only
Luangprabang principality was in somewhat Lao hands. The rest was
originally administered as either part of Annam or Cochinchina. In
another word, aside from Luangprabang and some areas around it, Muang
Lao ceased to exist. A year later, the initial organization of Laos was
being modified. Khammouane and Song Khone were detached from Annam as
also Xiengkhouand from Tonking in 1895 and Sam Neua in 1903 to Laos.
Because of the outbreak of the revolts in the Bolovens plateau (April
1901- October 1907) and in Savannakhet (April and May 1902), the 1904
decrees deprived Laos of the Darlac plateau and of Stung Treng, with
its large Lao population living along the Sekong, Se Sane and Se Srepok
rivers and of the Kontum plateau in 1905.
retroceded the territory of Dan Sai to Siam. And, therefore, the Laos
as we know of today came into its present form.
My take is that Laos territory could go in different directions. Of the
ideal position, it could replicate the territory formed by Chao FaNgum
in 1353. This reasoning is based on the condition that France insisted
on demanding the Korat plateau as belonging to the former LanXang.
Also, that when France could insist of annexing SipSongPanna to Muang
Lao from China. And not the least that France had the Lao interest in
mind by ceding Sipsongchuthai which it incorporated to Tonking in 1888,
and not ceding the southern Lao territory to Cochinchina and Cambodia.
Of the worst scenario, Laos could be left with only the principality of
Luangprabang. Only through forces that came into play either the events
in Vietnam, World War Two or the insight of some administrative French,
Laos was spared of the worst scenario.
Laos as of today, though flawed in many ways ethnically wise and
territorially wise, is somewhat a blessing. The only reason that it
still exists despite all odds is something all Lao should be proud of.
And, therefore, despite our various political stripes, we should try to
place the interest of Muang Lao above all else. That will be my
approach in my upcoming series on the Lao revolution. It will not be my
intention to put a blame on any side but to find the solution best
suited to the interest of Muang Lao and of Quon Lao for eons to come.
Laokao
p.s. For those who are interested in seeing the map of Laos territory
ceding by various decrees, please check it out at
http://angelfire.com/folk/laorevolution
From what I read, Laos territory in the late 19th to early 20th century
could go in many directions. First, if we thought of Muang Lao as theland formed by Chao FaNgum, its territory would extend over the Khorat
plateau to the west. As to the east, it would rightly cover
SipSongChuTai. As for the north, it had a legitimate claim over
SipSongPanna and, for the south, it would extend to the northern part
of Cambodia around the present day Stung Treng. Not the least, it would
cover the Darlac and Kontum plateau of South Vietnam. Second, if we
thought of Muang Lao as the partition of three Lao main principalities,
then anything could go.
Then, when the French came to colonize Muang Lao in 1893, only
Luangprabang principality was in somewhat Lao hands. The rest was
originally administered as either part of Annam or Cochinchina. In
another word, aside from Luangprabang and some areas around it, Muang
Lao ceased to exist. A year later, the initial organization of Laos was
being modified. Khammouane and Song Khone were detached from Annam as
also Xiengkhouand from Tonking in 1895 and Sam Neua in 1903 to Laos.
Because of the outbreak of the revolts in the Bolovens plateau (April
1901- October 1907) and in Savannakhet (April and May 1902), the 1904
decrees deprived Laos of the Darlac plateau and of Stung Treng, with
its large Lao population living along the Sekong, Se Sane and Se Srepok
rivers and of the Kontum plateau in 1905.
From the Siamese-Franco treaty of 1904, the towns of Sayaboury and
Champassak were attached to Laos. Three years later, the Frenchretroceded the territory of Dan Sai to Siam. And, therefore, the Laos
as we know of today came into its present form.
My take is that Laos territory could go in different directions. Of the
ideal position, it could replicate the territory formed by Chao FaNgum
in 1353. This reasoning is based on the condition that France insisted
on demanding the Korat plateau as belonging to the former LanXang.
Also, that when France could insist of annexing SipSongPanna to Muang
Lao from China. And not the least that France had the Lao interest in
mind by ceding Sipsongchuthai which it incorporated to Tonking in 1888,
and not ceding the southern Lao territory to Cochinchina and Cambodia.
Of the worst scenario, Laos could be left with only the principality of
Luangprabang. Only through forces that came into play either the events
in Vietnam, World War Two or the insight of some administrative French,
Laos was spared of the worst scenario.
Laos as of today, though flawed in many ways ethnically wise and
territorially wise, is somewhat a blessing. The only reason that it
still exists despite all odds is something all Lao should be proud of.
And, therefore, despite our various political stripes, we should try to
place the interest of Muang Lao above all else. That will be my
approach in my upcoming series on the Lao revolution. It will not be my
intention to put a blame on any side but to find the solution best
suited to the interest of Muang Lao and of Quon Lao for eons to come.
Laokao
p.s. For those who are interested in seeing the map of Laos territory
ceding by various decrees, please check it out at
http://angelfire.com/folk/laorevolution