How did communist ideology gain a foothold in traditional Laotian culture?
The Communists are professional politicians and they worked well with the poor. They listened to what they wanted to change and [to] their desires. This was a big change. They used words like clean government, patriotism, independence, peace, social progress, dignity, freedom, and justice, which were bad under the monarchy. People thought they would do better with the Communists, have a say in the government, freedom, and a good family life. They promised a society without class where everyone was equal and there was hope for a better life. The Communists didn’t deliver. What irked you about the grievance hearings at the ministry and why didn’t you comply when asked by the Chief of Staff? They pushed employees to express complaints and denounce superiors. This is different than the traditional Laotian way of being. We see both sides of a situation, so there is harmony in relationships. We seek peace, not angry denunciation. I also didn’t like that he asked me as though I had to agree.
