Nay Pyi Taw January 20
At the invitation of Minister of National Defence of Laos General Chansamone CHANYALATH,the Myanmar Tatmadaw goodwill delegation led by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the military parade of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Armed Forces held at Kommadam Academy in Vientiane Province this morning.
Present on the occasion were Laotian President Mr. Bounnhang Vorachith and cabinet members,Minister of National Defence of Laos General Chansamone CHANYALATH, senior military officers of Lao People’s Armed Forces, the member of Central Military Commission of People’s Republic of China, the director of Political Department, the member of Vietnamese Politburo, the Vice Chairman of Central Military Commission and the Defence Minister,the head of International Military Cooperation Department of Russian Defence Ministry, the Cambodian Defence Minister, the Deputy Defence Minister of Thailand,foreign ambassadors and military attachés to Laos and invited guests.
The cultural troupe of Lao People’s Armed Forces made the start with Laotian cultural dances and the Laotian Guard of Honour raised the flag of Lao and sang national anthem in chorus. Afterwards, Major General Sonthong Phommalavong of Lao People’s Armed Forces made a brief clarifi cation about the background history of Lao People’s Armed Forces.
After President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Mr. Bounnhang Vorachith had delivered an address,the Lao Minister of National Defence inspected the parade troops by car.Afterwards, flag bearers troop, war veterans troop, Liberation Army of Lao Armed Forces, Liberation Army of Lao People’s Armed Forces,female troop of Lao People’s Armed Forces, Air Force, border affairs troop, infantry troop, signals troop,medical services troop, border guard troop, people’s militia troop, selfdefence troop, armoured vehicles from armoured troop, artillery towed vehicles from artillery troop, air defence vehicles from air defence troop, construction vehicles from works engineers troop, and military band saluted them in order of the parade.
Meanwhile, helicopters hanging the flag of Laos, the flag of party and the flags of Lao People’s Armed Forces flew over the parade troops while jet fighter planes showed off skill demonstration in the sky. Parachutist servicemen and servicewomen from the parachute troop fell into the parade ground by hanging flag of Laos, the flag of party, the flags of Lao People’s Armed Forces and multi-coloured flags. Major General Sonthong Phommalavong of the Lao People’s Armed Forces declared conclusion of the parade and spoke words of thanks.
Lao People’s Armed Forces was born of Pathet Lao Force which fought against French colonialists.It was formed on 20 January 1949.The Lao Issara formed with Pathet Lao troops was renamed the Lao People’s Liberation Armed Forces in October 1965 and then Lao People’s Armed Forces in 1976. Two main duties of the Lao People’s Armed Forces are State defence and State security.
In the evening, the Myanmar Tatmadaw goodwill delegation led by the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services attended a dinner in honour of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Armed Forces held at the Lao Ministry of National Defence.
