April 24, 2025
VIENTIANE – Party and state leaders on Wednesday paid their final respects to General Khamtay Siphandone, a former President of Laos, when his ashes were taken to the National Revolutionary Cemetery.
The ashes of General Khamtay Siphandone, who was also a former Chairman of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee, were delivered to the National Revolutionary Cemetery in Xaythany district, Vientiane, following his cremation on April 7.
Among those present on the occasion were the Venerable Thelanu, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, senior Party and state leaders, former Party and state leaders, other government officials, and members of the Siphandone family.
Member of the Politburo of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Prime Minister, Comrade General Chansamone Chanyalath, represented senior Party and state leaders and the Siphandone family in paying tribute to Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone.
“After witnessing Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone’s participation throughout nearly eight decades of the revolutionary movement, we can affirm that he was an outstanding and resolute revolutionary activist of the Party,” General Chansamone said.
“Throughout his revolutionary life, he was always energetic, committed to ideology, had a firm grasp of the Party’s policies, and was imbued with a sharp vision.”
“He made great contributions to organising and leading the Party’s revolutionary cause from the time the Party was founded, gradually expanding his efforts to achieve complete victory,” General Chansamone said.
Comrade Khamtay Siphandone was a strategist with a broad political vision, an outstanding military strategist, and a resolute commander of combat forces. He guided and built up the armed forces so they were able to put up a strong resistance and defeat the enemy, who was hundreds of times superior in strength, he added.
General Khamtay was able to accurately predict the development of changing circumstances and take the initiative in devising proactive solutions.
His closest comrade in battle was President Kaysone Phomvihane and he also worked shoulder to shoulder with other leaders to formulate the best directions, policies, strategies, and revolutionary tactics during each phase of the revolution, General Chansamone said.
Comrade General Khamtay Siphandone was a Party leader who carried the banner of unity and solidarity within the Party and revolutionary forces, as well as the entire Lao people.
This earned him the respect and trust of his comrades, and his colleagues throughout his life, as well as the respect and trust of people from all walks of life, General Chansamone said.