I have received a reliable email report that the former Lao President Nouhak Phoumsavanh has died.

Nouhak Phoumsavanh died yesterday evening after being in a critical condition at Mahosot Hospital for the last month or so. He had been in a coma for many weeks. There will probably be a week’s official mourning, as was the case when Kaysone Phomvihane passed away.