This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/18/world/asia/crash-in-laos-kills-top-government-officials.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Air Crash in Laos Kills Top Officials for Security | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| BANGKOK — A plane carrying senior Laotian government officials crashed Saturday morning, leaving at least four people dead, Laotian diplomats said Saturday. | BANGKOK — A plane carrying senior Laotian government officials crashed Saturday morning, leaving at least four people dead, Laotian diplomats said Saturday. |
| Two major figures in the security apparatus of the authoritarian Laotian government were killed in the crash: the deputy prime minister, Douangchay Phichit, and Thongbane Sengaphone, the minister of public security, according to two Lao diplomats. | Two major figures in the security apparatus of the authoritarian Laotian government were killed in the crash: the deputy prime minister, Douangchay Phichit, and Thongbane Sengaphone, the minister of public security, according to two Lao diplomats. |
| For a Communist party that relies on force and intimidation to stay in power, the loss of the two officials who were considered by many to be the most powerful people in the security apparatus was a significant blow. The governor of Vientiane province was also killed in the crash. | For a Communist party that relies on force and intimidation to stay in power, the loss of the two officials who were considered by many to be the most powerful people in the security apparatus was a significant blow. The governor of Vientiane province was also killed in the crash. |
| In addition to serving as deputy prime minister, Mr. Douangchay was also the defense minister and a member of the Politburo, the highest decision-making body of the Communist party. Mr. Thongbane, the chief of public security, was feared in the country and was said to be one of the officials leading a crackdown against dissent over the past 18 months. | In addition to serving as deputy prime minister, Mr. Douangchay was also the defense minister and a member of the Politburo, the highest decision-making body of the Communist party. Mr. Thongbane, the chief of public security, was feared in the country and was said to be one of the officials leading a crackdown against dissent over the past 18 months. |
| The crackdown included the disappearance of the most prominent civic leader in the country, Sombath Somphone, an agriculture specialist who led efforts to liberalize the hermetic Communist leadership. | The crackdown included the disappearance of the most prominent civic leader in the country, Sombath Somphone, an agriculture specialist who led efforts to liberalize the hermetic Communist leadership. |
| Mr. Sombath was stopped at a police checkpoint in December 2012 and has not been seen again. | Mr. Sombath was stopped at a police checkpoint in December 2012 and has not been seen again. |
| The Lao News Agency posted photos on its website on Saturday showing the mangled wreckage of the plane, an Antonov AN-74TK300. The news agency, citing a statement from the prime minister’s office, said that it was a Laotian Air Force aircraft and that it had crashed in the village of Nadi, west of the Xiangkhouang airport and not far from a major archaeological site of prehistoric carved stone vessels, the Plain of Jars. | The Lao News Agency posted photos on its website on Saturday showing the mangled wreckage of the plane, an Antonov AN-74TK300. The news agency, citing a statement from the prime minister’s office, said that it was a Laotian Air Force aircraft and that it had crashed in the village of Nadi, west of the Xiangkhouang airport and not far from a major archaeological site of prehistoric carved stone vessels, the Plain of Jars. |
| The authorities were “helping to rescue the survivors,” the news agency said, without offering details about the number of people killed. | The authorities were “helping to rescue the survivors,” the news agency said, without offering details about the number of people killed. |
| The plane was traveling from the capital, Vientiane, to the mountainous northeastern province of Xiangkhouang, where the officials were planning to attend a military ceremony. | The plane was traveling from the capital, Vientiane, to the mountainous northeastern province of Xiangkhouang, where the officials were planning to attend a military ceremony. |
| State television in Laos showed footage of rescue workers recovering debris from the aircraft, which appeared to have crashed in a jungle-covered area. | State television in Laos showed footage of rescue workers recovering debris from the aircraft, which appeared to have crashed in a jungle-covered area. |
| A news presenter said the crash occurred around 7 a.m. “The cause of the plane crash is still unknown,” the presenter said. | A news presenter said the crash occurred around 7 a.m. “The cause of the plane crash is still unknown,” the presenter said. |
| The crash was the second in Laos in the past year. Last October, 49 people were killed when a Lao Airlines flight crashed in southern Laos. | The crash was the second in Laos in the past year. Last October, 49 people were killed when a Lao Airlines flight crashed in southern Laos. |
| The Foreign Ministry in neighboring Thailand said it had “received reports” about the crash. | The Foreign Ministry in neighboring Thailand said it had “received reports” about the crash. |
| “There were about 20 passengers on board, of which most were of high stature,” said Sek Wannamethee, a spokesman for the Thai Foreign Ministry. | “There were about 20 passengers on board, of which most were of high stature,” said Sek Wannamethee, a spokesman for the Thai Foreign Ministry. |