Hmong Refugees Live in Fear in Laos and Thailand
Written by Other News Source   
Saturday, 24 July 2010 19:27
By William Lloyd George | Chiangmai. Recently U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Laos Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith met in Washington for the highest-level talks between the two countries since the end of the Vietnam War. For the U.S., the meeting was part of a strategy to re-engage with Asia, while Laos hoped the D.C. visit would boost trade. After years of frosty relations following America's carpet-bombing of Laos in the 1960s and '70s, the meeting was overall a symbolic break from the past.

Improved relations with the U.S. would surely benefit most citizens of Laos — though not everyone is so upbeat about the possibility. Meeting TIME at a secret location in Thailand, a Laotian Hmong refugee who recently escaped a repatriation camp in Laos says the Washington exchange will do nothing to help thousands of Hmong still being persecuted in Laos. "They are only talking about imports and exports, not how to help Hmong people who once supported America," said Pao Chang using an alias for security.


During the Vietnam War, the CIA enlisted more than 60,000 Hmong from the Royal Lao Army to form a secret army to disrupt Communist supply lines and rescue American pilots. Fierce mercenaries, the Hmong acted as an effective counter to North Vietnam's growing support base in Laos. When the Communists won and the CIA left, a handful of senior Hmong were flown out, but the majority that remained faced Communist retribution for siding with America. The Pathet Lao publicly announced they would wipe out the Hmong and attacks intensified. Some Hmong groups fled deep into the jungle — where more than 3,000 continue to live to this day — the rest fled to Thailand seeking asylum, where they remained until recently. (See a brief history of the Hmong and the CIA)

On Dec. 28, 2009, Pao Chang and more than 4,000 other Hmong asylum seekers in Thailand were rounded up by local Thai authorities and forcibly sent back to Laos. "We based these actions on our immigration law, which considers them to be illegal migrants, so they were dealt with accordingly," Panitan Wattanayagorn, spokesman for the Thai prime minister, told TIME. Only six years earlier, Thai authorities had helped resettle 14,000 Hmong refugees in the U.S. The Thai about-face on its Hmong population sparked an international furor, with countries including America and Australia condemning Thailand for refusing to protect the minority group. Although Thailand never signed the United Nations Convention on Refugees, the U.N. was outraged the government had involuntarily sent back refugees. "To proceed would not only endanger the protection of the refugees, but set a very grave international example," said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, at the time.

Even more troubling for the United Nations were the 158 Hmong refugees being held in the Nong Kai immigration detention center, who had been granted refugee status and invited to resettle by America, Netherlands, Australia and Canada. "We were ready to leave," said Pao Chang, showing his family's acceptance letter from a third country along with tickets for a flight out. "Then Thai authorities came to us on the day and just said, 'No, you can't go. We have an agreement with Laos that no Hmong are to leave Thailand.'" Asked for comment, Wattanayagorn said the move came only after "Laos had assured Thailand the returning Hmong would not face persecution."

Thailand's involvement in the U.S.'s "Secret War" in Cambodia and Laos is often overlooked. Allied with the U.S. against the Communists in Laos and Vietnam, the Thai military trained many of the senior Hmong leaders. Times have clearly changed. Thailand is now Laos's number one foreign investor, and according to Joe Davy, a Hmong advocate, deporting the Hmong is just another example of political fence-mending following years of border conflict. "The main reason Thailand sent them back was pressure from Laos, which has always accused Thailand of harboring elements of the Hmong resistance," Davy says.

After a series of multilateral meetings in December 2009, the Laotian government agreed that the 158 registered refugees could resettle elsewhere on the condition they spent 30 days in Laos. "They told us if we were still not happy in Laos, we could leave, but it was just a trick," says Pao Chang. A few days later, says Pao Chang, Thai soldiers forced him onto a bus and took him to Laos where authorities ordered him not to tell foreigners he wanted to leave. He says he was then sent to a repatriation camp, where armed guards — many of whom had fought against the rag-tag groups of Hmong fighters who remain in the jungle — had his family under 24-hour surveillance. Pao Chang says he was given a "flimsy house and a tiny plot of bad farmland." Says Pao Chang with tears in eyes: "The conditions were unbearable; there were no schools and only two nurses for thousands of people."(Read "A Blackbird's Song.")

In order to ease the international community's concerns, the Laotian authorities organized two official visits for foreign diplomats. During one visit, Pao Chang says a senior commander gave him a script ordering him to tell diplomats he was being looked after and had no desire to move. Those who refused to abide by the script were denied day passes to leave the camps. After unknown assailants burned down camp farmland, Pao Chang decided he had to escape. "If I stayed, they eventually would have found a way to kill me," he says.

Pao Chang escaped the camp, traveling through Laos at night without identification and illegally crossed the Mekong River. Chang says, "If the authorities would have caught me, I would have been executed." Now in Thailand, the future of Pao Chang and other families who have followed remains unclear. He has papers from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) certifying his refugee status, but he has little faith they will protect them. "Last time I showed this paper to Thailand they hit me on the head," Pao Chang says.

Wattanayagorn says if they are caught, returning Hmong asylum seekers would be treated as illegal migrants and sent back to Laos — regardless of U.N. documents. According to Kraisak Choonhavan, MP of the Democrat Party, Thailand has never signed an international refugee treaty so it is not bound by UNHCR rules, but even Choonhavan didn't know why Thailand wasn't letting the Hmong families invited by third countries leave. "There is something strange going on here," he says.

Source: time.com

Comments (6)add comment

Tswv yim said:

Tswv yim
 - Zaj npau suav ntawd, Yaj lawm os.
- Phooj ywg kuam aws...Kuv ploj lawm ob hnub...Vim computer...Tsi ua hauj lwm lawm...Tej koj hais ntawd...Tsuas pom daim duab xwb...Cav tsi yog tug tseeb...Kuv twb sau ib zaug hauv no lawm...Thaum tseem hluas...Kuv nquag yos hav zoov heev...Tug ntoo yiag li cas...Deb npaum cas...Nyob puag pem plawv zoov nuj txeeg...Yog kuv nyiam lawm...Kuv tsi ntshai hnyav...Yeej txiav kwv...Kom txog tsev... ua tsev lawm...Tug hluas nkauj zoo mog...Khoom nruab nrog...Zoo nkauj tawb txiv neej tshaj plawg...Kuv twb hlub dhau ntau tug lawm...Tsuas zoo li...Yug tug hauv tsev xwb...Tsi txawv npaum cas...Yug tug hauv tsev...Txawm muaj noob nyoog...Tsib caug tawm xyoo...Hluas nkauj cuaj caum tsib feem pua...Daim nqaij plees...Twb zoo tsi npaum...Yug tug hauv tsev lawm...Cov hluas nkauj...Plaj Plhu nyiag ntsais...Cev ntaj ntsug...Soob xais cuag...Nkauj suav nyab laj...Thaum qhau loo pw nthhi...Xub ntiag hmlos hmlee li...Maum nyuj haw quav lub xwb...Ua li ua koj tham ntas...Xyov ntev luv...Tshum tsi txog li...ua sis tas...Dhuav tsheej hli...Tsi xav ntsib...Tsi xav pom zaum tshiab..Hiv..Hiv..Om...Kuv ntshai tsam...Kuv phooj ywg...Nej txhua leej...Tug hlub hauv tsev...Tsi zoo nkauj...Thiaj pheej nkag internet Saib xeev nong khai...Ncig nroog Vientiane...Yog saib ntau...Ces kho siab...Yoog phoom ntau...Neej kub hnyiab os...Kuv tug kheej txiav txim siab li cas...Ces li ntawd...Tsi pauv hloov siab li os...Txiv neej yawg...Yog txiv neej yawg...Txhob ua ntoo pheeb raws cua...Tswj tug kheej...Ruaj nreeg khov kho...Saib meej...Xyuas tseeb...Xyuam xim...Txhob ua dog dig...Tsam luag txob thuam cem yug tsi zoo...Ces ceeb laj mloog.smilies/cry.gifsmilies/cry.gif
 
July 28, 2010
Votes: +0

Koua said:

Koua
 ...
Hi!! nyob zoo phooj yws Tswv Yim koj mus tau 2 hnub no tsi yog koj rov mus nrhiav cov qub hluas nkauj thau ub nyob Looj Ceeb lawm lov??smilies/cheesy.gifsmilies/cheesy.gifsmilies/cheesy.gifsmilies/cheesy.gif
koj hais tias koj tsi nco sab tim ub thiab yeej tsi mus tim ub ib zawg lawm no.
kuv qhia koj mus rau youtube.com koj mus sau (nonglek) es koj mloog saib puas tseem kho koj siab lawm thiab?? yog li ca ho qhia kuv paub thiab
kuam
 
July 28, 2010
Votes: +0

Tswv yim said:

Tswv yim
 - Nyob zoo os, Phooj ywg kuam, Phooj ywg theroots aws.
- Internet Puag tau ob hnub ntau...Nco nej txhua tug...Kawg nkaug li os...Nej yog hluas nkauj mas...Ntshe twb muab siav ciaj...Tsoo pluav peem tuaj pauv siav tuag lawm os...Neb cov lug yog kawg...Tej zaum kuv koj mas...Khiav tsi dhau choj (Hin Heu) es tig rov pauj kev chawj chim...Hos cov feem coob...Ntseeg saub ne...Saub dag tias...Huab tais hmoob...Yov nqeg saum ntuj los...Saub nyiag nrhw khaws qe zeb toob txuab...Qe zeb quav tshis...Dag hmoob ruam tias...Pov haum ntuj...Muab pob zeb liab...Txua ua thwj ntaus...Dag hmoob tias...Yawm saub tso los...Rau lauj ntxuam...Yawg tis...Yawg npe...Vaj tswv cim...Thiaj muaj 13 tug huab tais hmoob mas...Thaum nas kos tau qhov twg...Kuv ua tub sab laj siab kawg...Ntawm yawg zoov...Yawg vaj tswv cim...Seb nkawd tej hauj lwm...Ua li cas.

- Thauum ntawd nkawd zoo siab kawg...Nkawd hais tias zaum no...Kee tig txog...Zim txwv tig...Rau hmoob lawm...Cov noj nyiaj...Ntxais pej xeem roj...Nqug pej xeem ntshav nrog huab tais laug...Mus tas lawm...Tshuav neeg tshiab...Neeg zoo...Neeg dawb...Neeg huv nyob ua hmoob...Cov saub hais yog nkaug nplog liab nyab laj ntag...Tshuav leej puav nyuas seem tuag khiav tsi dhau...Rov los cawm siav ua tub tes...Ua tub taw...Soj peb hauj lwm...Yov tau muab tu kav theej sai tom ntej no...Tsi li ntawd...Vaj pov cov nyuas hlwb tseem nyob...Yov txeeb hmoob huab tais ua...Thaum ntawd yawg zoov...Paub kuv zoo heev lawm...Tseev muaj tswv yim...Nyob twj ywm...Tsov rog txhua npluav tua nroog moos cab...Cia paj kaub lawv sab laj ntaus tswv yim...Paj kauj niaj hnub muab yav niag hlau lwj dag hmoob tias (Yog yawm saub rab kob suam...Yawm saub tso rau paj kaub cheem rog) Yug cov ib txwm ua hauj lwm...Rau yawg hlob vaj pov...Niaj hnub nrhiav kev tawm khiav sab thaib...Thaum tawm txog sab thaib...Vaj xeeb lawv...Yeej txwv tuag nthi...Tsi pub cov tub hluas...Ntxhais hluas khiav tawm tuaj txawv teb chaws...Lub caij nyoog ntawd...Kuv ntsia zoj lawv tej hauj lwm txia dej...Ua hauj lwm kwv tij...Hauj lwm neej tsa txheeb ze...Nom dej cawv...Tham hluas nkauj...Yuav niam yau...Kuv ntxhi twj ywm...Cov huam nab team Pob ntseg...Yij meem nyiag coj tsoom tub hluas...Ntxhais hluas tuaj sab thaib...Khiav tuaj txawv teb chaws...Kawm txawj ntse...Pub hmoob lub neej tom ntej nce pem suab...Txhob ntseeg lawv...Tej lug haub ntxias dag...Lawv tsi ua teb chaws...Lawv nrhiav kev lom zem xwb...Muaj ib co...Tog nrhw luag khiav tawm...Nyiag cab luag tsiaj txhu...Sau luag khoom vaj tse nplua nuj...Ib txhia tseem zov kev tua...Cov khiav tawm teb chaws tuag pawg lug...Nplog tsi tua heev npaum ntawd os...Cov tua heev tshaj plawg...Yog peb cov nyuag hmoob ntag...Cov niaj hnub tuaj teb chaws mes kas no mas...Cov phooj ywg aws...Lawv nrhiav txhua yam tswv yim kaus suav daws...Hmoob mes kas...Ruam tshaj plawg...Hmoob nplog ua liaj teb fab twg...Tau tas nrho...Yooj yim kawg nkaug...Nyuam qhuav haum thiab mas.
 
July 28, 2010
Votes: +0

Koua said:

Koua
 ...
Phooj yws Theoots
koj cov lus thiab koj txoj kev xav ces yeej yog 99% li lawm nawv.
cia kuv piav mentsis txog qhov uas koj hais tias koj yog VP ces hais tias peb sawv dawg mus kom tas.
raws li kuv nyob thiab kuv pom rau lub sij hawm 1975-1978 ntawd mas VP yeej lawm ntsiag to li lawm nawv tab sis cov nom me tseem nyob coob leej lawv tsi xav raug nplog liab coj mus kawm ces lawv yog cov uas khiav mus hav zoov thiab lawv dag ntau yam rau pej xeem hmoob li koj hais ntawd ,ces sawv daws txawm tawm coob zuj zus nram nplog liab rov los nyob toj roob hauv peg los nyob ruam tshaj npua yeej tsi paub dab tsi hlo li lam nyob lam ua nkaus xwb los yeej tseem tawm coob zuj zug los nyob hav zoov lawm ces twb mus txog xyoo 1980 thiaj muaj neeg hais rau VP tias hmoob coob heev nyob hav zoo hniaj hnub tog koj xwb yog li no VP thiaj xav hais tias cia nrog hmoob ua tso qhov yuav tau thiab tsi tau yeej tsi paub li ces thiaj ua txog hnub no ua txog qhov VP los mam kaw tib si lawm thiab kuv pom tias hmoob tsi ruam lawm tab sis ho tsi ntse tiag thiab tab tom uas nyiag cam nyiag zaj tab sis lub ntsiab lus tiag tiag hmoob yeej tseem tuav tsi tau hais tsi tau kom meej meej li nawv ces thiaj zoo li lawm tiagsmilies/cheesy.gifsmilies/cheesy.gifsmilies/cheesy.gifsmilies/cry.gifsmilies/cry.gifsmilies/cry.gif
 
July 27, 2010
Votes: +0

therOOts said:

therOOts
 ...
smilies/grin.gifsmilies/grin.gifsmilies/grin.gif Kuam aw...Ua neeg ces yeej muaj teeb meem li no tiag, Yog yuav muab coj los xav ces yeeej tus siab. Tiam si ua zoo xav ces yeej tim yus tus kheej thiab.Cov laus ib txwm hais pajlus tias, Thaum luag tsaj tsi nrog luag tsaj, Luag tsaj tas ces yus ua dev nuam yaj.los lus no muaj tseeb tiag,cas thaum sawv daws khiav laos tuaj rau Thailand no tsi yog sawv daws tsi paub sav sawv daws yeej paub lawm tias Yawg VP khiav lawm ces yeej nyob tsi tau los pheej xav nyob ces thaum khoo kaas refugees tag lawm ces kojmas khiav ces lig lawm xwb thiab thiaj zoo li no tiag cov kwv tij.

Kuv muab xavlos lawm tam si no kuv mas understand tias yog vim licas peb thiaj khiav tuaj, thiab ibtxhia ho tsi khiav, yog vim Peb Yawg VP. thiab pebcov uas niam txiv tsi xav ua nom ua tswv ces khiav caum VP tuaj, hos cov tseem xav ua nom ua tswv ces Yawg VP tias nej nyob kuvyuav rov los nawb, Thaum kuv los txog ces koj yog koluasnial, koj yog Generol...kiag xwb yog li ntawm ibtxhia thiaj tseem ua no pem havzoo ntag yog xav ces tim VP thiab ntag, Yog kuv yog Yawg VP mas thaum kuv khiav tejzaum kuv yuav tias kuv cov hmoob nawb kuvmus lawm ces pebsawv daws mus nawb nyob los luag yuav tsi hlub nej lawm no....Tej no yogkuv kev xav xwb xyov puas yog li ntawm nawb.txawm tias yog tsi yog los thov zam txim nawb...Yawg hlo VP nawb.
 
July 27, 2010
Votes: +0

Koua said:

Koua
 ...
Nyob zoo ib tsoom phooj yws.
raws lis kuv to taub mas zoo li tus Pov Tsab no rov khiav tuaj rau Thaibteb nej xav puas yog li no?????

mej ho xav li ca rau Pov Tsab txoj kev rov khiav tuaj zaum 2 thiab nws lub neej yuav nyob li ca ntxiv?????

Raws li kuv xav cia lam tham xwb tsi tau paub tseeb tias yog li ca tiag. Tab sis hmoob los lus uas hais tias Qiv luas toj yus yaj Qiv luas tai rau ntxhai. los lus no yeej tseem nyob li qub tsi tau hloov hlo li
1 yeej Nongkhai yuav raug kaw ces muaj li no lawm

2 Yeej Vib nais yuav raug kaw ces yeej muaj li no lawm.
3 yeej Nas phu yuav raug kaw ces yeej muaj li no lawm
4 yeej phab nab nib khoos yuav raug kaw ces muaj li no lawm
5 Zog hmoob qhov tshua yuav raug kawv ces yeej muaj li no lawm
6 Yeej Dej Dawv yuav raug kaw ces yeej muaj li no lawm,
7 Yeej kav qhaam Nong khais yuav raug kawv ces muaj li no lawm
hmoob hais tias txawm yuav muaj 120 txoj cai los luas tsi rog koj hais lawm.

Tab sis qhov uas luas hais ces yog li no
1 tsi muaj tsov rog lawm.
2 yog hkiav ib leeg tes yuav khiav 10 leej ntxiv

2 nqais no ua rau luas yeej tsi pub khiav ntxiv li lawm nawm yog leej twg tseem khiav ntxiv ces tsuas muaj tib txoj kev uas
treated as Illegal migrants and sent back to Lao. ces yog mus nyob nplog kuaj lawm xwb tiag.smilies/cry.gifsmilies/cry.gif
 
July 27, 2010
Votes: +0

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