Countries of the World/COUNTRYS.BIN/dp/0214/02144.txt

Text File | 1991-06-25 | 7KB | 166 lines

$Unique_ID{COW02144}
$Pretitle{258}
$Title{Laos
Glossary}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Donald P. Whitaker}
$Affiliation{HQ, Department of the Army}
$Subject{lao
laos
tai
known
nlhs
buddhist
communist
ethnic
government
groups}
$Date{1973}
$Log{}
Country:     Laos
Book:        Laos, A Country Study
Author:      Donald P. Whitaker
Affiliation: HQ, Department of the Army
Date:        1973

Glossary

     cadre(s)-Reliable, indoctrinated functionaries associated with both
political and other administrative activities.

     cargo cult-Religious movement based on expectation that Western-style
goods or other cargo will come via some magic or supernatural means as part of
the millennium. Adherents of such cults often believe in the necessity of
destroying or consuming all the community's goods as a proof of faith in the
coming of the cargo.

     CDNI (Committee for the Defense of National Interests)-A semipolitical
organization, in existence from mid-1958 to 1962, composed mainly of army
officers and civil servants, advocating government reform to combat communist
influence.

     Chieng Mai-See Lan Na.

     Colombo Plan-The Colombo Plan for Cooperative Economic Development in
South and Southeast Asia. An international cooperative effort instituted at
Colombo (Ceylon) in 1950 to assist countries of the area to raise their living
standards. In 1971 member nations of the plan included: Afghanistan, Bhutan,
Burma, Khmer Republic (Cambodia), Ceylon, India, Indonesia, Iran, Republic of
Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldive Islands, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, Republic of Vietnam, Australia, Canada, Japan, New
Zealand, United Kingdom, and United States.

     Free Lao-See Lao Issara.

     karma-Fate or destiny. Also religious doctrine upholding belief that the
ethical consequences of one's acts in present and past incarnations determine
one's lot in future rebirths.

     kip (K)-Laotian unit of currency. In 1964 a dual exchange rate system was
introduced: a basic official rate of K240 per US $1 was established for use in
importation of such essential commodities as rice, flour, chemicals, textiles,
and agricultural machinery (support of currency at that rate was financed by
United States, France, United Kingdom, and Australia); an official free market
rate-supported by the Foreign Exchange Operations Fund (FEOF)-was stabilized
at K500 per US $1 until November 8, 1971, when it was devalued to K600 per
US $1. The basic rate of K240 equal US $1 is used in this text. In 1962 the Neo
Lao Hak Sat (q.v.) authorities introduced in the areas under their control
their own currency, also denominated kip. The Neo Lao Hak Sat kip is not
accepted as legal tender in the Royal Lao Government area and, in late 1971,
had no known exchange relationship to the United States dollar.

     Lan Na-Also known as Chieng Mai. Ancient kingdom in northern Thailand. In
sixteenth century was ruled by Setthathirath, the son of Lan Xang's king
Phothisarath.

     Lan Xang-Ancient kingdom of Laos founded in A.D. 1353 and generally
considered to be the golden age of the Lao. Its first capital, Muong Swa, is
now known as Luang Prabang.

     Lao Issara-Free Lao. Movement formed in 1945 to resist any attempt to
return to colonial status.

     Lao Lum-Literally, valley Laotian. The ethnic Lao, the country's dominant
ethnic group.

     Lao People's Liberation Army-The military arm of the NLHS (q.v.); its
name until October 1965 was the Pathet Lao (q.v.).

     Lao Sung-Literally, Laotian(s) of the mountaintop. Term in official
Laotian use denoting a category of ethnic groups that speak Miao-Yao
languages, chiefly the Meo and the Man (Yao).

     Lao Tai-Tribal Tai. Tai-dialect speakers, mostly non-Buddhist, who
inhabit upland valleys and plateaus. Category includes such groups as the
Black Tai (Tai Dam), Red Tai (Tai Daeng), Tai Yuan, Tai Nua, and Phutai.

     Lao Theung-Also known as Lao Theng and Lao Thung. Literally, Laotian(s)
of the mountain slopes. Term in official Laotian use denoting ethnic groups
that practice slash-and-burn agriculture on hills at elevations below 3,500
feet and that are (as far as is known) speakers of Mon-Khmer languages and
dialects. Major Lao Theung group is the Khmu. Lao Theung are regarded by Lao
as the original inhabitants of Laos. Were formerly referred to by ethnic Lao
as kha, meaning slave.

     Mahayana Buddhism-One of the two major schools of Buddhism, the Mahayana,
or Greater Vehicle. Popular in China, Japan, and Korea.

     mandarinate-Group of nonroyal titleholders who held administrative
positions in precolonial and colonial periods. Title and position were not
hereditary but tended to be associated with certain families. Members of these
families still tended to have power and prestige in 1971.

     muong-Administrative district, territorial subdivision of province; also
traditional district among tribal Tai.

     Neo Lao Hak Sat-See NLHS.

     NLHS (Neo Lao Hak Sat)-Lao Patriotic Front. The political organization of
communist dissidents in Laos formed in 1956. The Lao People's Liberation Army
[until October 1965 called the Pathet Lao (q.v.)] is its military arm.

     Pathet Lao-Until October 1965 the name for the Lao People's Liberation
Army, the military arm of the NLHS (q.v.).

     Phak Pasason Lao (PPL)-People's Party of Laos. The semisecret communist
party of Laos that controls the NLHS (q.v.).

     phi-Spirit(s). Such beings animate and inhabit various features of the
landscape, as well as dwell within people, according to popular Lao and tribal
Tai beliefs.

     Provisional Government of National Union-See tripartism.

     sangha-Buddhist monastic brotherhood consisting of monks and novices,
living in wat (q.v.) and adhering to the established Theravada Buddhist
monastic code of rules. All Buddhist males aspire to enter the sangha for some
period in their lives.

     stupa-Called that in Laos. A memorial building, usually a hemispherical
mound, designed to hold Buddhist relic.

     tasseng-Canton, territorial subdivision of muong (q.v.).

     that-See stupa.

     Theravada Buddhism-One of the two major schools of Buddhism. The official
religion of Laos and the principal religion of Ceylon, Burma, Thailand, and
Khmer Republic. Sometimes known as the Hinayana, or Lesser Vehicle, school;
the other major school, important in the Far East, is called the Mahayana, or
Greater Vehicle.

     tripartism-English equivalent of commonly used Laotian term referring to
the system of rule by coalition government (the Provisional Government of
National Union), formed in June 1962, of the country's three major political
groups: rightist, neutralist, and leftist. Since the late 1960s the leftist
group, the NLHS (q.v.), has demanded alteration in the tripartite arrangement
to reflect "the realities of the present situation in Laos."

     Viet Minh-A Communist-led organization, represented as a coalition of
nationalist groups, that spearheaded Vietnamese resistance to French rule in
the 1940s. In 1951 its communist elements were absorbed in newly formed
Vietnam Worker's Party, the ruling communist party of North Vietnam.

     wat-Group of Buddhist religious buildings enclosed by a wall with
gateways; Buddhist temple complex.