Minister for Defence Expresses Condolences on the Passing of Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for National Defence

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen has written a personal letter of condolence to Major Soulixay Phichit, son of the Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Lieutenant-General Douangchay Phichit and his wife Mrs Thanda Phichit who both passed away in a tragic plane crash in Xieng Khouang province, Lao PDR, on 17 May 2014. The text of Dr Ng's letter is appended.

18 May 2014

MAJ Soulixay Phichit
Staff Officer, Asia Pacific Division
Foreign Relations Department
Ministry of National Defence
Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Dear MAJ Soulixay,

My wife and I were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of your beloved parents, LG Douangchay Phichit and Mrs Thanda Phichit. We had just met up with them a few weeks ago in Hawaii where the Defence Ministers gathered for the ASEAN-US Informal Defence Ministers' meeting. We enjoyed their friendship and I admired your father's dedication and commitment to his responsibilities at the Lao Ministry of National Defence.

I am honoured to have worked with LG Douangchay as a fellow ASEAN Defence Minister. His passing is a great loss to Laos and the Lao Ministry of National Defence.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your loss. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.

Yours sincerely,

DR NG ENG HEN