Although it seemed as if Phoumi’s control over Laos was uncontested, as he was
fully supported by the Thais and the Americans, the unexpected took place in the early
hours of 9 August 1960. Having received an order to move his troops through
Vientiane to carry out an anti-guerrilla sweep north of the capital, Captain Kong Le,
the commander of the Second Parachute Battalion of the RLA, led his troops from his
barracks and marched into Vientiane. But instead of passing the capital and heading
north, his unit seized government offices, communication centres, airfields, arsenals, a
power station, and took control of strategic points around Vientiane. It was a coup
d’e´tat, and it was timed perfectly. Most of the Laotian ministers, as well as highranking
military and civil officers, had flown to the royal capital of Luang Prabang the
day before to confer with King Savang Vattana on the arrangements for the cremation
of the late King Sisavang Vong.