A number of government officials lead the procession of local men. In Halpern's fieldnotes, he emphasizes throughout that while some high level officials were thought to be corrupt, many were idealistic and quite frustrated that they were unable to make their dreams for Laos a reality. Phoui Sananikone, for a time prime minister of the Royal Lao Government, appears in the front of the procession second from left in the purple sampot.