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Laos
Laos was a battleground for its own conflicts and for those of its neighbors and intervenors. Explosives dropped by South and North Vietnam, the United States, China, and Thailand made uncountable victims. It is estimated that about a tenth of the Laos population died between 1959 and 1975–95% of them were civilians.
The current flag was adopted in 1975 by the totalitarian regime that took power after the war. During the following years, this administration would be accused of various crimes against humanity, including genocide. The authoritarian leadership is over, but the flag is still the same. The red stripes represent the blood shed in the fight for freedom.
It is estimated that there are about 80 million unexploded bombs in Laos’ territory, which is just one of the living symbols of the turbulence the nation has experienced over the past 200 years. The people, the soil, and the flag of the country carry this burden and its scars.
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Laos Without Blood
Our inspiration to create the new flag comes from Lan Xang’s empire tradition (1353- 1707). During this period, Laos developed its culture, language, religion, and independent politics. The flags of that era–including other regimes, since the empire was divided into three–reveal minimalist aesthetic choices.
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Elements
In our proposal, the Moon representation becomes more prominent after removing the two red stripes of the current flag, which represent the blood shed on both shores of the Mekong. Now, instead of division, the river symbolizes prosperity and abundance while reflecting the moonlight.
Also, it is essential to note the Moon has a mystical presence in Laos’ history. The capital Vientiane was known as Chandapuri, literally “Moon City.”
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Colors
Other benefits of a white and blue flag are the simplification of its reproduction and its identification. Neighboring countries Thailand and Cambodia use the same combination–the latter showing similar proportions and a central white symbol.
Our will is that the Full Moon can illuminate the path to healing Laos’ scars and to shed light on its rich past, and not just on the sad chapters of its history.
