By: Deur Julie Tcha

A resolution asking Congress and the president to take action on the Hmong human rights violations in Laos and Thailand, Assembly Joint Resolution 36, was introduced to the state Assembly by Assembly member Dave Jones on Aug. 20.

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.

Actions:

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.