Phomvihane, Kaysone (1920-1992)

Laotian politician. In 1975 he became prime minister of the newly formed People's Democratic Republic of Laos and general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. Initially he attempted to follow a radical socialist programme of industrial nationalization and rural collectivization, but later began a policy of economic and political liberalization.

Born in Savannakhet province and educated at Hanoi University, he fought with the anti-French forces in Vietnam after World War II and joined the exiled Free Lao Front (Neo Lao Issra) nationalist movement in Bangkok in 1945. He later joined the communist Pathet Lao, became, with North Vietnamese backing, its leader in 1955, and successfully directed guerrilla resistance to the incumbent rightist regime.