The Committee for the Defence of National Interests (original name in French: Comité pour la défense des intérêts nationaux; abbreviated CDNI or CDIN) was an anti-communist right-wing political party founded in the Kingdom of Laos on 17 June 1958.
It was backed by the United States embassy; American support was manifested in political advice and civic actions such as Operation Booster Shot.
It also supplied political expertise to Lao right-wing politicians through such propaganda efforts as Operation Booster Shot, run by the Central Intelligence Agency and the US Air Force.
In reaction to the leftist victories, young conservative Lao politicians and military officers, as evidenced by their group's nickname of les Jeunes (the youngsters),[2] formed the Comite pour la Defense des Interets Nationaux (Committee for the Defense of National Interests, or CDNI) on 17 June 1958.
[7] As a member stated, "... certain families continued to divide titles and prerogatives among themselves ..." and "... ministerial posts cloaked the most disgraceful trafficking or were traded about like currency.
"[8] On 23 July 1958, the new CDNI managed a vote of "no confidence" on Souvanna Phouma, relegating him to a subsequent exile as Ambassador to France.
[3][4][5] Among the young Royal Lao Army officers belonging to the CDNI were Oudone Sananikone[9] and Colonel Phoumi Nosavan.
Although he had accommodated them, Phoui Sananilone disliked having the "Young Turks" of the CDNI usurp his administration; he considered them an illegal political party.
On 7 September, as the U.N. Security Council opened proceedings on Laos, Phoui declared martial law.
It was during this process that it became apparent that the United States, despite its rhetoric, was in a poor position to overcome geographic difficulties and intervene in Laos to back the CDNI.
In return, CDNI adherent Phoumi Nosavan seized the nation on 25 December 1959 and deposed Phoui.