Military of Laos
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| Lao People's Army |
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|---|---|
 The Flag of Laos |
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| Founded | 1975 |
| Service branches | Lao People's Army includes the Riverine Force Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force |
| Headquarters | Vientiane |
| Leadership | |
| Minister for Defence | Major General Phichit Douangcaai |
| Military age | 15 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18 months (2004) |
| Available for military service |
1,500,625 males, age 15–49 (2005 est.), 1,521,116 females, age 15–49 (2005 est.) |
| Fit for military service |
954,816 males, age 15–49 (2005 est.), 1,006,082 females, age 15–49 (2005 est.) |
| Active personnel | 29,100 (ranked 89) |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | $55 million (1996-97) |
| Percent of GDP | 0.5% (2006) |
The Lao People's Army, is the name of the armed forces of Laos, who are charged with protecting the country. Until 1975, the Royal Laos Army were the armed forces of the Laos, along with the Royal Lao Air Force and the Royal Lao Navy. Laos is one of the world's least developed countries and the Lao People's Armed Forces are small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced. Most of their equipment date back to the Soviet era. There is little political will to allocate sparse funding to the military, and the armed forces' gradual degradation is likely to continue. The massive drug production and trafficking industry centered in the Golden Triangle makes Laos an important narcotics transit country, and armed Wa and Chinese smugglers are active on the Lao-Burma border.
[edit] Weapons of Mass Destruction
Allegations about chemical and biological weapons have been coming out of Laos since the 1970's, and continue to some extent to this day. During the Vietnam conflict allegations of chemical weapons use were examined by the United Nations, Canada and the United States. The evidence proved inconclusive. Allegations continue to be made that the communist government of Laos is using chemical and biological agents provided by Vietnam and the Russians on various people in the countryside. None of these charges can be verified at this time. [1]
[edit] Weapons
[edit] References
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