The most bombed city of History

For: Daniel Landa and Yeray Martin (Text and photos)
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Notice to readers: This article is accompanied by an unusual amount of data and figures without which I think is difficult to understand the magnitude of the bombing described herein.

Each 8 minutes a bomb fell in Lao. so during 9 years. They released 270 cluster bombs million, two tons of ammunition for each Laotian. And Laos was not even in war.

Between 1964 and 1973, United States dropped more bombs on Laos than in all of World War II. They intended to cut the supply Vietnamese attacking the neighbor and so, Laos became the most heavily bombed country in history and that history is still visible in the streets of Phonsavan, near the border with Vietnam. It was definitely the place hardest hit in Laos for its strategic situation in the conflict of the "Vietnam War".

Laos became the most heavily bombed country in history and that history is still visible in the streets of Phonsavan

It took many hours to reach this city. Actually, we wanted to go way, but sometimes the journey is coming to get you. Phonsavan streets were populated with fruit and vegetable stalls. A woman cut her hair to a client on the sidewalk, cars circulated slowly. Not a place with grace, nothing striking in the four streets away from all major tourist destination. But it does not exist Phonsavan. It is a memory of another city that simply volatilized. any foundation, brick or facade visible in this town rose after the war, because there was nothing left, absolutely nothing. The city was reduced to dust by Americans. Obsessive animosity with which they attacked this place lacks any military sense, strategic, And of course, ethical.

In addition Panic, the enemy that sowed landmines killed or injured other 50.000 People, in a country considered neutral. That during that war that was not theirs, and others 12.000 Laotians have been victims of mines after the end of conflict. Today, 42 years after, They remain a slaughter and statistics speak of 300 annual deaths, many of them in the vicinity of Phonsavan.

In addition Panic, the enemy that sowed landmines killed or injured other 50.000 People

The 30% not bombs to explode, what still constitutes an indecent number of artifacts that rolled around, in backyards, on the streets, in schools, everywhere there were holes, giant blow jobs, shrapnel and unexploded bombs. And those bombs, are cluster, mortars, howitzers, grenades or what I know the names of the different pumps, today decorate hotels, museums and private homes of the inhabitants of Phonsavan.

Our hotel was a modest place but the reception was full of bombs. Restaurants vases or pots houses are caps American artifacts. Some pumps larger exhibit themselves as ornaments, without which no longer knows Phonsavan tell their story.

Restaurants vases or pots houses are caps American artifacts

It was overwhelming coexistence of its inhabitants with the horror of their ancestors, but perhaps the best turning faces memory mortars in containers for flowers.

The Plain of Jars

Phonsavan very close to a plain that neither can explain extends. No one has been able to find answers to why the stones are scattered on the plain. There are hundreds, thousands of them. They are huge jugs, some up to three meters in diameter. Carved granite stones from five centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ.

As often happens with archaeological mysteries, scientific theories compete with legends, with much more grace. I'll skip the first to tell the truth, what really happened here is that there was a town of giants in Laos long. And these giants were fierce had to fight with another tribe of men also huge. But our Giants won the battle and King, Khung named Cheung , and it was a scoundrel and giant fiestero, he decided he had to celebrate this triumph. Thus, carve ordered pitchers so that soldiers could toast rice wine. And that was how they appeared after pitchers, the remains of a true macro botellón.

And that was how they appeared after pitchers, the remains of a true macro botellón.

The problem is that as the smallest and meanest men, much later they bombed the whole area and planted mines to other men, they were neither at war nor anything, impede the passage of their neighbors so they can win a war that after, also, they lost, as well, for all that, the Plain of Jars of giants is today the world's most dangerous archaeological site.

We saw the gaps with pitchers who were not footsteps of giants wanted to believe, but detonations of bombs and watched the posters announced the end of a road, because beyond, still they buried underground mines and die there occasionally, Today! the locals who mislead step.

the Plain of Jars is today the world's most dangerous archaeological site.

There are many sites with jugs, but only a few accessible. Even in that, Phonsavan has been marked, without access to much of the archaeological treasure that would give them time.

There are places on Earth with adversity preys, cities like Phonsavan, with the descendants of those men who dodged bombs and now circulating slowly through the streets, They open their markets and cut their hair on sidewalks. Maybe not a place with much grace, but they, More than anyone, They deserve to live in peace.

 

 

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Comments (1)

  • Alvaro

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    tremendous article.

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