laos

• lao peoples' democratic republic, country in southeastern asia
the lao people's democratic republic is a country in south-east asia. laos was part of french indochina from the late 19th century. it was occupied by japan from 1940 to 1945, and returned to french control after the second world war. it became independent in 1953. after many years of civil war, the pathet lao (pl) gained control and proclaimed the people's democratic republic of laos in 1975. several armed groups continued to oppose the government throughout the 1970s and 1980s. the ruling party is the lao people's revolutionary party (lprp). kaysone phomvihane became prime minister in 1975 and president in 1991. he died in 1992 and nouhak phoumsavan became president. general khamtay siphandone became prime minister in 1991. laos exports garments, hydro-electric power, timber, coffee, and tin. opium and cannabis are illegally exported. laos has one of the lowest gnps in the world.