1.
LS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING
0.04

2.
CU LAOTIAN FLAG
0.05

3.
MS SPECTATORS BEING SEARCHED AT ENTRANCE TO PUBLIC GALLERY
0.12

4.
MS ASSEMBLYMEN OUTSIDE BUILDING; ONE WALKS AROUND PILLAR TOWARD ENTRANCE
0.20

5.
MS ANOTHER SPECTATOR BEING SEARCHED
0.24

6.
LS PRINCE SOUVANNA ARRIVES IN CAR; WALKS UP TO BUILDING (TWO SHOTS)
0.52

7.
MS PRINCE SOUVANNA MEETS ASSEMBLYMEN
1.00

8.
MLS INTERIOR ASSEMBLY
1.02

9.
MLS ASSEMBLYMEN SEATED
1.04

10.
MCU PRINCE SOUVANNA ADDRESSES
1.07

11.
MLS CUTAWAY
1.09

12.
MCU PRINCE SOUVANNA ADDRESSES
1.12

13.
MS STATUE OF BUDDHA
1.13

14.
MLS PRINCE SOUVANNA AND ASSEMBLYMEN WALK OUT AT END OF SESSION
1.20

15.
MS PRINCE SOUVANNA WALKS TO CAR AND ENTERS
1.29



Initials CAR/VS/CA/YA/CHM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE LAOTIAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MET ON MONDAY (SEPTEMBER 6) TO APPROVE A GOVERNMENT CABINET RESHUFFLE. THE PRO-COMMUNIST PATHET LAO RETAINED THEIR SEATS IN THE CABINET WHICH WAS PRESENTED BY THE PRIME MINISTER, PRINCE SOUVANNA PHOUMA.

STRICT SECURITY PRECAUTIONS WERE OBSERVED AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE PUBLIC GALLERY. ALL SPECTATORS WERE THOROUGHLY SEA CHED. THIS WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE RECENT SERIES OF BOMB EXPLOSIONS IN VIETIANE WHICH POLICE ALLEGED WERE PART OF A TERROR CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED BY SUPPORTERS OF RIGHTWING GENERAL PHOUMI NOSAVAN. THE GENERAL IS NOW IN EXILE IN BANGKOK FOLLOWING AN ATTEMPTED COUP D'ETAT BY THE RIGHTWING FORCES RECENTLY. THE COUP WAS A FAILURE.

THE RESHUFFLE WHICH AFFECTED THE MINISTRIES OF JUSTICE, HEALTH AND CULTURE ALSO REFLECTED THE VICTORY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLES PARTY IN THE LAOS JULY ELECTIONS. (THE COMMUNIST PATHET LAO PARTY BOYCOTTED THE JULY 18 ELECTION AND IT HAD BEEN WIDELY EXPECTED THAT THE RIGHTIST AND NEUTRALIST FACTIONS WOULD TRY TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT WITHOUT THE COMMUNISTS.)
SUPPORTING THE CONTINUING COMMUNIST SHARE IN THE GOVERNMENT, PRINCE SOUVANNA URGED FOR PEACE AND NEUTRALLY FOLLOWING THE GENEVA SOLUTION IN 1962 OF THE TRIPARTITE GOVERNMENT.

HE SAID:" WE MUST HELP THOSE WHO WITH US ARE SEARCHING IN THE TWILIGHT OF SOUTHEAST ASIA FOR THE PATH TO PEACE, AND THUS WE MUST HOLD OUT A HAND TO THOSE WHO STILL REFUSE IT."