Major General Soutchay Thammasith became the minister of security of Laos in 2002, replacing Asang Laoly. Laos (ˈlɑːoʊs or /ˈlaʊs/ officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a Landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma Before becoming the security minister, he was the vice minister of the interior. He retired on February 17, 2005, citing health reasons.