Suab Hmong Broadcasting, The communication sources for Hmong worldwide
Photos of LPDR visited Hmong Refugees in Thailand
Created on Monday, 10 August 2009 23:18
Lao official delegation visited Hmong refugees’ camp in Thailand. Click here to see photos taken by LPDR.According a Thai article: Hmong refugees who agree to go back to Laos are paid 300,000 kip (1,200 baht) each, and are given five rai of land each.
The Thai government also gives the Hmong 15,000 baht each when they return home.
Brig Gen Buaxieng said the ethnic Hmong were part of Laos' "bigger family" and they deserve proper treatment by the Lao government.
"The Lao Hmong will get freedom like other people under the law in Laos," Brig Gen Buaxieng said.
He said the Lao government had also promised not to prosecute the Hmong who have been involved in the drug trade or other crimes.
He said Hmong offenders who return home would be pardoned for their past offences but would be punished if they violate the law again.
Many Hmong refugees at the camp do not want to return to Laos for fear of persecution.
They expect to be repatriated to other countries, including the US.
US embassy deputy chief of mission James Entwistle, who visited the Hmong camp recently, said the US had no plans for a large-scale resettlement program for the camp's residents.
Lt Gen Nipat Thonglek, chief of the Supreme Command's border affairs department, said all Hmong must be sent back to Laos by the end of this year.
He said the Thai government had done all it could to provide them with the best possible humanitarian aid.
"Lao Hmong refugees have entered the country illegally," he said.
"Solving the problem is a bilateral effort between the Thai and Lao governments.
"Most importantly, the Lao government will not accept foreign intervention of any kind."