Phoumi Vongvichit; Revolutionary, Former Acting President of Laos

Phoumi Vongvichit, 84, veteran Laotian revolutionary and former acting president of Laos. Considered a reserved and religious man, Phoumi fought the French, the Americans and the monarchy to bring communism to Laos. Educated in the law in France, he joined the Laotian revolution and fought the French after World War II. He was active in the Lao Issara (Free Laos) revolutionary movement from 1950 and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party after it was formed in 1955. In 1956, he became party secretary-general. In 1961, he led a delegation to negotiations that ended the Laotian civil war. When the pro-Communist Pathet Lao overturned the constitutional monarchy in 1975, Phoumi became minister of education, sports, physical education and fine arts. He also became deputy premier, the second most powerful man in the country. From 1986 until his retirement in 1991, he was acting president, a largely ceremonial job. On Jan. 7 in Bangkok of heart disease.