The current flag was adopted in
1975
and
was the flag of the Pathet Lao. It replaced the flag used since 1952. The flag
of Laos is one of the few communist-style flags not featuring a star.
The colors of the flag represent:
Red: the blood shed in the fight for freedom;
Blue: wealth;
White: represents the full moon over the Mekong River as well as unity under
the communist government.
The blue in Laotian flag meaning the Mekong River. The white circle is the
symbol of reunification of two Laotian regions divided by the river (Robert
Lacontre in Le Figaro 6.1.78)
Jaume Olle,
11 September 1999
Smith says that the white disk represents the promise of a bright new
future for the country.
Znamierowski says that white represents the unity of the multiethnic
[Laotian] society under Communist rule.
DK Pocket Book says:
- (caption on the left of the flag): "The white disc on a blue stripe
represents the full moon over Mekong river."
- (caption on the right of the flag): "The white disc symbolizes
unity under Communism."
- (in text): "In the centre is a white disc symbolizing the unity of
the people under the leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party
and the country's bright future.[...] The white disc on a blue background
is also said to represent a full moon against the Mekong river."
Ivan Sache,
25 March 2003
I recently read the book, "The Politics of Ritual and Remembrance:
Laos Since 1975" (which is quite interesting despite the apparently
boring title.) In it there is a long footnote about the current flag of Laos
and the previous one. About the previous one (1952-1975,) it was originally
the flag of the Kingdom of Luang Phabang (one of the three Kingdoms that Laos
broke into about 200 years ago, the other 2 being Champasak in the south which
gave up all sovereignty in 1946 and Vientiane which was destroyed by the Thais
in 1828.) The three-headed elephant is the mount of the Hindu god Indra who is
very popular in Laos. The story that it represents the three kingdoms becoming
one was made up much later as is a bit ironic considering that it originally
represented only one of those kingdoms!
In the 40's a group called "Free Laos" or "Lao Issara"
sprang up to fight the French, and they declared their own state after the
occupying Japanese surrendered in 1945. The state lasted about 6 months (and
was never recognized) before the French regained control. The Lao Issara
wanted a national flag that would have no royal symbol on it to be separate
from the royal flag (as Thailand had done.) The design they choose was the
current Lao flag, though I don't know if they ever officially made it the flag
of Laos. Whatever the case, the communist Pathet Lao liked to pretend that
they were the successors to the Lao Issara.
Robert Wilson,
26 December 2002
The protocol manual for the London 2012 Olympics (
Flags
and Anthems Manual London 2012
) provides recommendations for national flag
designs. Each NOC was sent an image of the flag, including the PMS shades, for
their approval by LOCOG. Once this was obtained, LOCOG produced a 60 x 90 cm
version of the flag for further approval. So, while these specs may not be the
official, government, version of each flag, they are certainly what the NOC
believed the flag to be. For Laos: PMS 032 red, 293 blue. The vertical flag is
simply the horizontal version turned 90 degrees clockwise.
Ian Sumner
, 11 October 2012
The Constitution of the Lao People's Democratic Republic was promulgated on
14 August 1991 during the Sixth Session of the People's Supreme Assembly
Second Legislature (13-15 August 1991).
Chapter IX
Language, Script, National Emblem, National Flag, National Anthem and
Capital City
Article 75.
The Lao language and Lao script are the language and
script officially used.
Article 76.
The National Emblem of the Lao People's Democratic
Republic is a circle depicting in the bottom part one- half of a cog wheel
and red ribbon with the inscription "Lao People's Democratic
Republic", and decorated with crescent-shaped ears of rice on the two
sides and red ribbon stretched between the middle of the rice ears with the
inscription "Peace, Independence, Democracy, Unity and
Prosperity". A picture of that Luang Pagoda is located between the tips
of the rice ears. A road, a paddy field a forest, and a hydroelectric dam
are depicted in the middle of the circle.
Article 77.
The National Flag of the Lao People's Democratic
Republic is dark blue with red edges and a white moon. The width of the flag
is two-thirds of its length. The area of the red edges on each side is
one-half of the dark blue area. The area of the white moon is equal to
four-fifths of the dark blue area.
Article 78.
The national anthem of the Lao People's Democratic
Republic is "Xat Lao" song.
Article 79.
The Capital city of the Lao People's Democratic
Republic is Vientiane.
Source:
Constitutions - What they tell us about national flags and
coats of arms
. P. Vagnat & Jos Poels
[vap00]
.
The full text of the Constitution is available on the website of the
Lao
embassy
in the United States.
Ivan Sache,
27 November 2005