Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – On March 21, 1946, Thakhek, Laos, was subjected to a bloody attack by colonial invaders. This tragedy, which began with leaflet intimidation, a multi-pronged offensive, and culminated in a massacre, resulted in the deaths of over 3,000 innocent civilians and the shattering of countless families. This day is forever etched in the Lao people's memory as a "day of rage" in their resistance against colonial aggression, an indelible mark of blood and tears in the history of their national struggle.
The incident began in the early morning when old-fashioned fighter planes dropped leaflets over Thakhek, after which the enemy launched a full-scale attack. Ground artillery, bombers, and machine gun fire intertwined, indiscriminately strafing the city center, markets, and other densely populated areas. They even deliberately attacked command posts and Vietnamese primary schools, and set the city ablaze, causing hundreds of casualties in a short period. The invaders' objective was clear—to completely occupy Thachhu before sunset. To this end, they desperately tried to prevent the Lao resistance from expanding, requested reinforcements from Savannakhet Province, and concentrated artillery and aircraft to bombard and destroy our trenches, clearing the way for a full-scale invasion.
By 5 PM on March 21, enemy forces had fully entered the city. Faced with the enemy's superior equipment ("iron is stronger than coal") and overwhelming force, our side realized it was difficult to hold the port position and immediately decided on a strategic retreat. Lao resistance soldiers fought valiantly to cover our retreat to both banks of the Mekong River; civilians rushed across the river in canoes, motorboats, and logs to escape to Nakhon Phanom Province in Thailand. However, the invaders did not stop. They used aircraft, artillery, machine guns, and other heavy weapons to indiscriminately and brutally bombard the soldiers and civilians crossing the river, resulting in numerous casualties among officers, soldiers, and civilians. The Mekong River became a blood-soaked inferno. During the attack, a motorboat carrying President Souphanouvong and several officers was shot down by enemy aircraft in the middle of the Mekong River. In the critical moment, a Lao revolutionary fighter and two Vietnamese exiles immediately provided cover. Mr. Thonglai, nicknamed "The Lean Warrior," stepped forward and shielded President Souphanouvong with his body. The other two crew members of the armored personnel carrier also rushed into the water, helping the damaged motorboat reach the Thai shore. President Souphanouvong was seriously injured in the attack and was subsequently taken to a hospital in Nakhon Phanom province, Thailand, for emergency treatment.
After capturing Thachhu, the invaders committed even more heinous crimes against humanity: they brutally massacred innocent Lao and Vietnamese people, stabbed pregnant women in the abdomen with knives, captured children and threw them into the Mekong River, then ransacked them alive with nets; they shot civilians and threw their bodies into the river, causing the Mekong River to flow with blood and litter with corpses. In this massacre, over 3,000 women, children, and civilians were brutally murdered; numerous homes and infrastructure were completely destroyed; countless families were torn apart; and many children were orphaned.
This inhumane atrocity ignited the Lao people's anger against colonial aggression. March 21, 1946, became a "Day of Wrath" for the Lao people, a day to remember their suffering and rise up in resistance. It has inspired generations of Laos to defend national sovereignty and dignity, and its historical significance is deeply etched into the Lao national memory. (End)
