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On January 2008, Congress has released a report for Laos and U.S. Relations.
Here is the Table of Contents for the Report.
U.S. Interests and Bilateral Cooperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
U.S. Assistance Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Policy Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Developments of the Past Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Hmong-American Leader Vang Pao Arrested . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Congressional Act Removes Terrorist Label on Hmong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Political and Economic Situation in Laos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Politics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Foreign Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Economic Conditions, Trade, and Foreign Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Laos-U.S. Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Foreign Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Human Rights Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Religious Freedom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
The Hmong Minority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Hmong Refugees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
List of Figures
Figure 1. Map of Laos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Laos: Background and U.S. Relations
The United States and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR) cooperate in important areas despite disagreements regarding human rights policies in Laos and the LPDR’s strong ties with China and Vietnam. Areas of U.S.-Laos cooperation include: the recovery of Americans missing in action (MIAs), counter-narcotics efforts, the removal of land mines, and avian flu.
The United States provides relatively little foreign assistance to Laos. Total U.S. assistance to Laos in FY2007 was estimated to be $4.8 million compared to $4.3 million in 2006. Most U.S. aid has focused on counter-narcotics and de-mining efforts. Funding for de-mining efforts declined in 2007 and is likely to decrease further in 2008. New aid program areas include public health, economic development, judicial reform, and civil society. The United States government remains concerned about the plight of former and remaining Hmong insurgents and their families, with ties to the U.S.-backed Hmong guerilla army of the Vietnam War period, who now number some 2,000-3,000 persons. Some Hmong-American and international human rights groups claim that the “mountain Hmong” are virtually defenseless and continue to be subject to Lao army campaigns and political persecution.
Approximately 8,000 Hmong wishing to emigrate to the United States currently reside in a camp in Thailand’s Phetchaboun province. The United States has urged the Thai government not to deport the Hmong unless they are interviewed for refugee status, and has encouraged the Lao government to allow international monitoring and
humanitarian access to resettlement efforts. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-161, Section 691(b)) provides that, for the purposes of Section 212(a)(3)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Hmong and certain other groups shall not be considered to be terrorist organizations and thus barred from entry into the United States.
Social and economic conditions in Laos reportedly have improved in some areas.
The country was upgraded to Tier 2 on the U.S. State Department’s trafficking in persons list (2007) for making significant efforts to curtail trafficking, although significant problems remain. Religious freedom reportedly has improved,
particularly in urban areas. Opium production and use have dropped dramatically since 1998. The country reportedly has made progress in deepening economic reforms as it prepares to apply for membership in the World Trade Organization
(WTO). This report will be updated as warranted.
By: Deur Julie Tcha
The details of the resolution are in the box directly under the story.
Much of the community does not know about AJR 36 because they don’t attend organization meetings and did not work directly with Jones on the resolution.
Jones’ Field Representative Melanie Ramil and a board member of Hmong American Ad Hoc Committee of Sacramento, Thomas Lee said they have not publicized the resolution because they are waiting until it is heard in the state Assembly in January.
“We’re not in the position to do anything right now,” Lee said. “Once the resolution is heard on the floor then we’ll publicize it.”
This may explain why people are not aware of the resolution.
“I’ve never heard of the resolution,” said social work major at Sacramento State Tom Xiong, 22, an active member of Hmong University Student Association of Sacramento State.
“I think I’m pretty involved in the Hmong community,” he said.
This resolution only needs to be passed in the state Assembly. Once it is passed, it is sent to Congress that would decide whether to take the specific actions in AJR 36.
“(If passed) what this resolution says is ‘hey, look, California cares enough to pass this on to you in the federal level, so we hope that you will take these actions’,” Ramil said.
Ramil and Jones say they feel strongly about the Hmong human rights violations abroad because it affects many in the United States.
“We wanted to write this up because there is a big Hmong community in Sacramento that we care about,” Ramil said.
Jones and Ramil met with about 20 community members in July and August to discuss the resolution.
Lee was one of the many who attended these meetings. “They needed our support on a resolution and we (the Hmong community) are behind it,” Lee said. Once it is heard, some think that the community can do more.
“The community members should use it as a tool to go to the federal level and urge senators and representatives to take action,” Ramil said.
1. Asks the Congress and the president of the United State to:
2. Ensure Laos fulfills its obligation to respect human rights and to investigate allegations of human rights violation.
3. Encourage Laos to allow the United Nations to provide humanitarian aid to those in jungle.
4. Encourage Laos to have a third-party monitor those hiding in the jungles who wish to come out the safety of
coming out.
5. Hold the United States Department of State accountable for addressing this issue.
6. Ensure Hmong asylum seekers in Thailand have fair trial.
7. Encourage Thai government to stop toe forced deportation of the Hmong back to Laos.
By: staff
Since June, the Hmong community has devoted a lot of time and effort into exposing and helping improve the Hmong issues.
The issues are anything from those in hiding in Laos, those afraid of being repatriated from Thailand to Laos, the leaders arrested on charges of terrorist acts and the Hmong being known as terrorists under the Patriot Act.
The easiest way to get political officials to pay attention to the needs of the Hmong community is by voting in elections, whether it is in a local or general election.
Voting is more than just a privilege, it is a responsibility you have as an American adult citizen. Many people, whether Hmong or not, have taken this power for granted.
It’s understandable that many feel discouraged to vote because they feel their vote doesn’t matter. But it does, such as the close call in the 2000 presidential election.
Your vote is your voice and politicians more than know that, they use it as their tool. Hence, the issues they fight for or against are targeted towards those valued voters. Remember, politicians work for you. You elect them to work for what you want.
If you are concerned with anything and feel that your political leaders can make the difference, then start voting. You need to start pressuring them into hearing your voice. Start making them realize that they need to fight for what you want. You have the power just as much as politicians.
Another useful way to get political leaders to pay attention to the needs of the Hmong community is by rallying and protesting.
This method is successful when rallies are well organized and participation is high. Rallies help expose issues on a grand scale in a way that voting doesn’t.
Because the media may help further expose it on a national and international scale, it becomes a well known issue.
A high-participation and well-organized rally will pressure political officials to respond. Once political officials become aware that they are not doing their jobs, they will try to find a common ground.
Don’t be discouraged if you are too young to vote or do not have the time to participate. There are other ways to help improve the Hmong community here and abroad.
Report by Fact Finding Commision
February 28, 2008
On February 27, 2007 at about one o’clock p.m. Bangkok time, twelve (12) Hmong refugees from the Huay Nam Khao camp, Phetchabun Province, were forced by Thai military to return to Laos, their native country where they tried to escape persecution. Initially, during the forced repatriation process, some of the refugees thought these four families were part of the 136 families that were screened in December 2007 who had volunteered to return.
The surprising incident started at about nine o’clock in the morning were some 70 Thai military in uniform entered the refugee camp and ordered three groups of the Hmong refugees to go outside the fenced camp to be screened. Upon completion of the screening process, four families – 12 people – were forced by Thai military to return to Laos.
Many were thrown into the trucks by soldiers, which frightened some children causing them to run for help. A ten year old child who witnessed his mother, Mee Vang, being thrown into the back of the truck by the military was frightening and he took off running crying for help. Dramatically, the military unleashed their dogs to chase the boy. Instead, the dogs attacked another boy, Chong Lee (Coob Lis) who is four (4) years of age, who happened to be a bystander at the chaos. The dogs bit Chong Lee on the side of his head and his face. Chong has been receiving medical care from
Doctors Without Border who is stationed at the camp site to provide health assistance to the refugees. By 2:00 p.m., the four houses that the returned families previously lived in were completely torn apart and taken down by Thai military. This intention was the signal to the rest of the remaining Hmong refugees in the camp that they too will be returned to Laos.
The whereabouts of these four families remain unknown to those refugees in the camp and the rest of international community. They were transported in two trucks. The vehicles are registered to Phetchabun Province. Their license plate numbers are 821 and 824.
The following are the names of the 12 victims that were forced repatriated from Huay Nam Khao:
Name Sex Age Relationship Address/Group Number
Wa Lor Yang M 65 Head of household B04120
Yee Vue F 61 Wife
A Yang M 24 Son
Bao Vang F 24 Daughter-in-law
Shai Yang M 1yr Grandson
———————————————————————————————————
Cha Lee M 25 Head of household A07208
Pa Nhia Thao F 23 Wife
Koma Lee M 1 yr Son
——————————————————————————————————
Mee Vang F 62 Head of household A09214
Vang Lee M 12 Son
Chai Lee M 10 Son
———————————————————————————————————
Zoua Vue F 36 Head of househoud B07115
According to sources, these 12 people are not part of the 136 families who volunteered to return to Laos in December 2007. Sources also revealed that Pa Nhia Thao, the 23 year old woman who is the wife of Cha Lee, was promised by Lao authorities with rewards if she could volunteer herself, provided other refugees’ names, and influence them to returned to Laos. They returnees were not aware that they would face forced repatriation by Thai military when they were ordered to go outside the camp for the screening.
These four families – 12 people – were transported from the refugee camp to Khuang Keng on February 27, 2008. They were kept in Khuang Keng over night. In the duration at Khuang Keng, Zoua Vue, the 36 year old woman who was all by herself, disappeared in the middle of the night. The whereabouts of Zoua Vue remain unknown at this time.
On February 28, 2008, the remaining eleven individuals were transported from Khuang Keng to Nong Khai. From Nong Khai to Vientiane, Laos, they were covered up on the trucks, so no one could see them. These eleven people were turned over to Lao PDR authorities in Vientiane.
According to sources that has been following closely on this incident, shortly after they were handed over to Lao authorities, Cha Lee was hit twice on the head and kicked once by the Lao authorities. The group then were sent to the prison in Muang Pak Sa, where the 21 teenager girls, who were detained by Thai authorities in November 2004 in Kha Khao, Phetchabun province and turned over to Lao authorities in December 2004, were jailed. The final destination for these eleven individuals and their treatment by authorities are unknown at this time and remained frightened and deeply concerned by family members as well as Hmong community leaders in exiled.
Commentary: If this repatriation process for Hmong refugees in Thailand and Hmong refugee resettlement in Laos is a bilateral effort of the Thai-Lao governments and international community, it is the responsibilities of Thai-Lao governments, United Nations, Human Rights organizations, and international community to enforce this bilateral effort to monitor and ensure that no returnee is missing on the way from Thailand to Laos and that they are being treated humanely by Lao government and his direct service authorities. United Nations, Human Rights organizations and other third parties must have full access to participate and monitor the Hmong refugee repatriation and resettlement program in Thailand and Laos, and a long term monitoring plan must be developed and implemented by United Nations, Human Rights organizations and other NGOs.