PATHET LAO CAVES

A series of unpublished pictures about the CIA secret war in Laos during the Vietnam War. Images of General Van Pao, leader of the Hmong mountaineers who used to be trained to fight against the Vietcong. The postwar fate of these ethnic groups that were hired to be cannon fodder against the North Vietnamese immediately revealed the role of their commanders as well as the U.S. aims. Images of what is now a museum to remember the incessant bombing in the karst region of Houaphan, north east of Laos, where people were looking for a safe place against Uncle Sam’s bombs. Unceasingly for 18 years, 24 hours, bombs were dropped every 8 minutes. This unbelievable data matches the data released by both sides, thus they can be considered real data. Such an epic is largely unknown and it affected the idea of U.S. and other Western countries loosing the Indochina War. The aggressive strategy of imperialism has passed from military to economic stage, while people who have endured death and destruction for decades are now absorbed and deeply involved in the development of a surrounding globalization. A harsh lesson for the ruling classes of those who fought for their independence, but even tougher for those who, behind the ethics of freedom, especially in the West, believed that this could only be based on consuming today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow. Freedom is something else, and often it requires sacrifices, and this cannot be misunderstood as various levels of consumption, regardless the ethic behind it. Freedom, when obtained through sacrifices and struggle for an ideal ties in easily with the ethics of dignity. The second kind of freedom that follows the consumption in a globalized world is nothing but subservience, limitation and often alienation, which is only for the benefit of those who produce these values, and to the detriment of the user.

Patet Lao caves. Carsic nature of caves. Laos 2008 - © Carlo SaccoPatet Lao caves, near the entrance. Laos 2008 - © Carlo SaccoTourist office in Ponsavan. Laos 2008 - © Carlo SaccoAnti bombing protection of Patet Lao caves. Laos 2008 - © Carlo SaccoEntrance to Souphannouvong private home. Laos 2008 - © Carlo SaccoPrivate Souphannouvong's home during the war. Laos 2008 - © Carlo SaccoRed prince Souvannuvong. 2008 - © Carlo SaccoPatet Lao caves. Informations sheets. 2008 - © Carlo SaccoVery often in Laos houses are sourrounded by unexploded bombs - © Carlo SaccoPatet Lao caves. Start of deep. Laos 2008 - © Carlo SaccoCaptured communist suspects. Sam Neua, Laos 1959Edgar Buell calling at radio with planes in order to parachuteEdgar Buell visiting with Meo family in Huei Kimin. Laos 1962Egar Buell with young Meo male nurse trainers. Laos 1962Hmong refugee using home-made musket. Laos 1970Laotian paratroopers play cards inside plain going to reinforceMajor general Vang Pao with his Meo's Army. Laos 1970Summary justice for a captured Pathet Lao i.e. buried in the earth
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