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| Crash in Laos Kills Top Government Officials | Crash in Laos Kills Top Government Officials |
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| BANGKOK — A plane carrying key senior Laotian government officials crashed Saturday morning, leaving at least four people dead, Laotian diplomats said Saturday. | BANGKOK — A plane carrying key senior Laotian government officials crashed Saturday morning, leaving at least four people dead, Laotian diplomats said Saturday. |
| Killed in the crash were two top figures in the security apparatus of the authoritarian Lao government: the deputy prime minister, Douangchay Phichit, and Thongbane Sengaphone, the minister of public security, according to two Lao diplomats. | Killed in the crash were two top figures in the security apparatus of the authoritarian Lao government: 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 what were arguably the two most powerful people in the security apparatus was a significant blow. | For a Communist party that relies on force and intimidation to stay in power, the loss of what were arguably the two most powerful people in the security apparatus was a significant blow. |
| The governor of Vientiane province was also killed in the crash. | The governor of Vientiane province was also killed in the crash. |
| In addition to his post as deputy prime minister Mr. Douangchay was defense minister and a member of the Politburo, the highest decision-making body of the Communist party. Mr. Thongbane, the public security head, was feared in the country and was said to be one of the officials leading a crackdown against dissent over the past year and half. | In addition to his post as deputy prime minister Mr. Douangchay was defense minister and a member of the Politburo, the highest decision-making body of the Communist party. Mr. Thongbane, the public security head, was feared in the country and was said to be one of the officials leading a crackdown against dissent over the past year and half. |
| That crackdown included the disappearance of the most prominent civic leader in the country, Sombath Somphone, a United States-trained agriculture specialist who led efforts to liberalize the hermetic communist leadership. | That crackdown included the disappearance of the most prominent civic leader in the country, Sombath Somphone, a United States-trained agriculture specialist who led efforts to liberalize the hermetic communist leadership. |
| Mr. Sombath was stopped at a police checkpoint in Dec. 2012 and has not been seen again. | Mr. Sombath was stopped at a police checkpoint in Dec. 2012 and has not been seen again. |
| The Lao news agency posted photos to a web site 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 it was a Laotian Air Force aircraft and it had crashed in Nadi village, west of the Xiangkhouang airport and not far from a major archeological site of prehistoric carved stone vessels, the Plain of Jars. | The news agency, citing a statement from the prime minister’s office, said it was a Laotian Air Force aircraft and it had crashed in Nadi village, west of the Xiangkhouang airport and not far from a major archeological 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 on the number of people killed. | The authorities were “helping to rescue the survivors,” the news agency said, without offering details on the number of people killed. |
| The plane was traveling from the capital, Vientiane, to the mountainous northeastern province of Xiangkhouang, where the officials were due to attend a military ceremony. | The plane was traveling from the capital, Vientiane, to the mountainous northeastern province of Xiangkhouang, where the officials were due 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 at around 7 a.m. “The cause of the plane crash is still unknown,” the presenter said. | A news presenter said the crash occurred at around 7 a.m. “The cause of the plane crash is still unknown,” the presenter said. |
| A Lao Facebook page showed images of thick black smoke rising up near what appeared to be an airport runway. The images could not be independently confirmed. | A Lao Facebook page showed images of thick black smoke rising up near what appeared to be an airport runway. The images could not be independently confirmed. |
| The crash was the second in Laos in the last year. Last October 49 people were killed when a Lao Airlines flight crashed in the south of the country. | The crash was the second in Laos in the last year. Last October 49 people were killed when a Lao Airlines flight crashed in the south of the country. |
| The Foreign Ministry in neighboring Thailand said it “received reports” about the crash. | The Foreign Ministry in neighboring Thailand said it “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. |