Defenseless Laos, Hmong Refugees Face Overwhelming Force, Transport Caravan In Thailand

[churchill]

World News

Defenseless Laos, Hmong Refugees Face Overwhelming Force, Transport Caravan in Thailand

2009-12-23 07:41:04 - The Lao Human Rights Council, the Center for Public Policy Analysis and Lao Hmong-Americans in the United States have received distressing reports today from refugees in Thailand about a large military convoy of between 50-80 vehicles that has been deployed to the main Hmong refugee camp at Huay Nam Khao in Petchabun Province, Thailand.

Washington, D.C., Bangkok and Ban Huay Nam Khao, Thailand, December 23,2009

The Lao Human Rights Council, the Center for Public Policy Analysis and Lao Hmong-Americans in the United States have received distressing reports today from refugees in Thailand about a large military convoy of between 50-80 vehicles that has been deployed to the main Hmong refugee camp at Huay Nam Khao

in Petchabun Province, Thailand, where between 4000-5000 Lao Hmong refugees are being detained by the Thai military.

“Multiple sources inside the Hmong refugee camp have reported that a large Thai military convoy with dozens of buses and army trucks has arrived in the early morning of December 23 and assembled outside the camp in Petchabun with additional special troops and transport vehicles,” said Philip Smith, Executive Director for the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA) in Washington, D.C. “A frenzy of dozens of clandestine telephone calls and communications from the main Hmong refugee camp in Thailand, and surrounding areas in Petchabun Province, have sought to relay to Washington, D.C., and the world, what is a clear emergency appeal by the refugees to save them from being sent back to the communist regime in Laos they fled as more and more Thai military trucks, buses and soldiers arrive today at the camp.”

“Despite the outcry of international human rights and humanitarian organizations, the Thai military convoy was deployed this morning in an apparent attempt to seek to intimidate and force thousands of Hmong refugees and asylum seekers at the Petchabun camp back to Laos where many fled political and religious persecution as well as attacks by the Lao army,” Smith continued.

“Unfortunately, the Thai military appears to have run out of Hmong volunteers to return to Laos and, in violation of international human rights and refugee law, is deploying new forces to facilitate the potential mass forced repatriation of Hmong political refugees and asylum seekers back to Laos against their will, ” Smith stated. “The timing of the arrival today of the Thai military convoy, and this display of overwhelming military force to the defenseless refugees, appears to have been carefully planned to repatriate the Hmong back to Laos just before the American Christmas and New Year holidays in an effort to catch Western and American policymakers supportive of granting asylum to the Hmong refugees, flatfooted and off guard.”

Smith concluded: “Distressed Hmong-American family members in the United States are also telephoning and reporting to us in Washington, D.C., that they are receiving alarming reports today from their relatives in Huay Nam Khao, and elsewhere in Thailand, about the arrival of the Thai Army convoy that they believe has been sent to the Hmong camp to push their loved ones and the refugees back to Laos by coercive means.”

“At this very moment the Thai government is implementing a mass forced repatriation of all Hmong refugees at Huaj Nam Khao Refugee Camp to return to Laos. Reports came in from representatives in the refugee camp at approximately 5:00 am on December 23, 2009 (Indochina/Thailand time), to the Lao Human Rights Council (LHRC) that more than 80 army trucks and buses have arrived at the Huaj Nam Khao Refugee Camp and military soldiers are preparing to gather all Hmong refugees in the camp by 12:00 pm on December 23, 2009 to be repatriated back to Laos,” Vaughn Vang, Director of the LHRC said.

“These types of soldiers have not been seen before by the Hmong refugees as they are described to be wearing green uniforms with green helmets. At this very moment, all Hmong refugees are refusing to return to Laos and have grouped together in refusal to board the trucks and buses.

“The Thai soldiers have threatened these Hmong refugees that all persons refusing to board the vehicles to be returned to Laos will be brutally beaten or killed tonight without interference from other countries or authorities as the Hmong refugees are of no importance to the world. They further stated that the world community would not care for these Hmong refugees’ lives and will not respond to the mass forced repatriation and the mass killing that will occur in a few hours.

“These Hmong children, women, elders, and civilians are desperately calling upon the United States, United Nations, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), European Union, International League of Human Rights, all international human rights organizations, all countries, and the world community to rescue them.

“It will only be a few hours before their lives may come to an end and the world needs to open their eyes and ears to see and hear the desperate cries of these innocent human beings. There is no time for the world to continue denying the atrocities against these innocent children, women, elders, and civilians. It is time for the world to answer their cries and give them a voice. It is time for the world to grant them the life, liberty, and human rights that they, as human beings, deserve.

“In just a few hours, 4,532 lives of innocent children, women, elders, and civilians may be killed or forced repatriated to Laos and the world needs to take responsibility for these innocent lives.”

http://www.pr-inside.com/defenseless-laos-...ce-r1644200.htm

[Scott]

A very sad development for these people and refugees in general.

[churchill]

PM asserts repatriation of ethnic Hmong to Laos being done under human rights principles

BANGKOK, Dec 23 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva asserted Wednesday that the repatriation of ethnic Hmong to Laos would be carried out under human rights principles and legal procedures.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) earlier reported that rights groups and diplomats have expressed deep concern that Thailand will deport 4,000 ethnic Hmong held in the northeast to the Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic, where they fear persecution, by the end of the year.

Mr Abhisit said that the National Security Council (NSC) on Tuesday discussed the issue and affirmed that Thailand would do everything in accordance with the law and bear in mind the principles of human rights.

Thailand has repatriated 17 groups of Hmong to the Lao PDR and has so far returned 3,059 persons from the ethnic minority group to their homeland to date and, Mr Abhisit said, there was no confirmed case of human rights violations.

He said there was no critical conflict or any fighting in Laos that could affect the ethnic Hmong who were sent back and it is believed that the Lao government had allowed other countries to inspect the well-being of the returnees.

However, the number of ethnic Hmong to be sent back will be decided by the appropriate officials under normal procedures, he said, adding that there are now thousands of ethnic Hmong in Phetchabun and Nongkhai who are under the care of the Thai government.

The premier said Thailand has clear principles on the matter and would have no problem to clarifiy the issue to the international community.

Liselott Agerlid from the Swedish embassy, on behalf of the European Union, reportedly told AFP that diplomats in Bangkok on Tuesday met Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya to voice their concern about the imminent deportation of the Hmong.

Many men among the Hmong helped the United States as soldiers fighting against the communist Pathet Lao (Lao Peoples' Army) during the Indochina War in the 1960s and 1970s.

After the communist victory, many Hmong fled their places of birth and settled in the US and other western countries, while many remain in Thailand and are reluctant to return to their homeland for fear that the Lao government might persecute them.

During the meeting between Thai Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan and Lao Deputy Prime Minister Lt-Gen Douangchay Phichit at the 17th Meeting of the joint Sub-Committee for Cooperation on Security along the Thai-Lao border in Bangkok in September, Thailand affirmed that it will repatriate the remaining 4,505 ethnic Hmong to the neighbouring Lao PDR by the end of this year.

Thailand has allowed Lao officials to visit the Hmong camp in Petchabun province and explain to them its government policy to welcome back the Hmong to their birthplace.

Gen Douangchay said that the Lao government has facilitated the ethnic Hmong who returned to their land and provided them assistance to give them a better living.

The Lao deputy premier stated that there is no anti-government movement in Laos which is now peaceful and has political stability. (TNA)

-- TNA 23/12/09

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=13389

[gbswales]

If this report is true then shame on Thailand - all civilised countries should deal fairly with refugees and asylem seekers. We are not individual isolated countries but part of a world with a communal responsiblity - I address this remark to my fellow UK citizens as well because I feel our laws on asylem and immigration are already too strict.

this NIMBY attitude that unfortunately too many countries have should be eradicated

[Asa]

Another rubbish accusation, the American Hmongs are exaggerating!

1. There isn't any refugee camp at Huai Nam Khao. The displaced group gathered there mostly from Tham Krabok, Saraburi on their own to stay close to their Thai Hmong cousins. They are not being detained. The area is accessible from Khek Noi, Khao Kor, and to Tab Berg and Lom Khao. There are many NGO stationed there to help them. They are in better shape than Thai Hmongs along Thai- Laos mountenous border.

2. They are roaming the mountain freely, destroying reserved forest and watershed from Phu Hin Rong Kladown to Lom Kao, Petchaboon. It is not a comfortable living condition there but certainly better than going home to Laos. 2. If American Hmongs want to help them, they can call their Sen. and Rep. to support settlement in the U.S.

3. They just had good times celebrating Hmong New Year with the Governor.

4. I don't believe any of them were threatened to be killed.

5. I trust any Thai government, red, yellow, or blue will keep on treating them at its best.

6. Buses must be for the voluntary repatriation, and some few rejected cases for U.S. resttlement.

[Credo]

They aren't refugees because Thailand doesn't recognize refugees. Unless they are screened, you cannot definitively say they aren't in need of protection.

There is a big difference between a well-founded fear of persecution and being killed, although being killed would substantiate a fear of persecution.

I am glad you know there family relationships so well, but I doubt the buses and military are there for any voluntary repatriation.

[Bagwan]

Another rubbish accusation, the American Hmongs are exaggerating!

1. There isn't any refugee camp at Huai Nam Khao. The displaced group gathered there mostly from Tham Krabok, Saraburi on their own to stay close to their Thai Hmong cousins. They are not being detained. The area is accessible from Khek Noi, Khao Kor, and to Tab Berg and Lom Khao. There are many NGO stationed there to help them. They are in better shape than Thai Hmongs along Thai- Laos mountenous border.

2. They are roaming the mountain freely, destroying reserved forest and watershed from Phu Hin Rong Kladown to Lom Kao, Petchaboon. It is not a comfortable living condition there but certainly better than going home to Laos. 2. If American Hmongs want to help them, they can call their Sen. and Rep. to support settlement in the U.S.

3. They just had good times celebrating Hmong New Year with the Governor.

4. I don't believe any of them were threatened to be killed.

5. I trust any Thai government, red, yellow, or blue will keep on treating them at its best.

6. Buses must be for the voluntary repatriation, and some few rejected cases for U.S. resttlement.

I do not believe you. Given the attitude to human rights in this part of the world (not only Thailand) I think that there will be more than a grain of truth in this report. Threats against anybody by the authorities in LoS are an every day occurrence. If there is one scintilla of truth in this then I hope that severe sanctions against Thailand are implemented.

If Obama doesn't step in and tell Abhisit in no uncertain terms to desist, or else, then he should be ashamed of himself much the same as the Brit Government who left the Karen to their fate in Burma.

[Scott]

One nonsense post deleted.

[Credo]

The US Embassy will no doubt object, but there is little that they can do. In typical Thai fashion, they will promptly stop cooperating on the Korean arms situation as well as other areas if they do.

It's a delicate balance and Thailand has timed this one to their advantage. As far as the Thais are concerned they are simply emptying the garbage when no one is looking (Christmas) and when everyone is occupied with other significant events.

What they should be doing is mitigating the harm to others by coordinating with the UN and setting up agreements with Laos that gives some assurance about the safety of those repatriated. That's the not the right course of action, but it at least pays lip service to concerns over human rights.

[Krungthepian]

I think Churchill needs to be careful where he sources material.. the TNA site is a conventional news site, which is ok, but the first one - the Centre for Public Policy Analysis is a Washington based lobby group. It has a record of publicising wild accusations that are rarely if ever run in the mainstream media, because there is usually no evidence whatsoever to suggest they are true. A lot of their reports are regarded by governments and journalists here as virtual poppycock. Indeed, there are concerns that this outlet runs exaggerated reports to deliberately stir up sympathy in the US (where about 300,000 Hmong now live) about the plight of the Hmong in Thailand. It's a tricky subject, because they often talk about atrocities committed against "jungle Hmong" in the isolated north of Laos, in the Phu Bia area. But the chances of getting photographic or video evidence to support such accusations are slim. Photos and video did emerge about six years ago in relation to a handful of children allegedly killed by Lao or Vietnamese troops, I believe. Those images were shown at the FCCT (and I think they are on YouTube and other sites on the Net). But there hasn't been anything much since.

Agence France Presse ran a much more credible report on Monday, which your outlet may have carried. The news today (early Wed and still unconfirmed) was that 45 trucks turned up at Huay Nam Khao refugee camp in Phetchabun. (And in regard to an earlier post that Huay Nam Khao is not a refugee camp; let's just note that MSF regarded Huay Nam Khao as a refugee camp and so do all mainstream media outlets; however there is doubt over the status of the 4000 or so Lao Hmong in the camp; a large proportion are thought to be economic migrants seeking a better life in the West, while a smaller group, perhaps just in the hundreds, are believed to be genuine refugees with stronger grounds for fearing persecution if returned to Laos.. I think MSF documented at least 88 people with bullet wounds, for example).

Anyway, as said, today's news was Thai govt trucks arriving to send a large number of these Lao Hmong back to their homeland.

There was another interesting development: Roger Warner, an American writer and author of a terrific book on the Secret War in Laos, wrote a story which was published on the Huffington Post website. It quoted Warner, who knows the Hmong predicament well, as saying that Vang Pao - the legendary Hmong leader - plans to make a return to Thailand and would meet Lao officials in the middle of the Friendship Bridge (halfway across the Mekong between Nong Khai and Laos) on January 10. He will then allegedly return to Laos for the first time since the war and set up a big farm in the south of Laos, where the HNK Hmong could go to work. This would be a major story if true. But initial inquiries by people monitoring the Hmong situation in the three key countries (Thailand, Laos and the US) suggests this story is also NOT true; and that officials in these three countries (including both at the State Department and the US embassy in Vientiane) say they've heard absolutely nothing about the latest Vang Pao plan, and they fear it is simply a financial scam. Members of Vang Pao's inner circle have been accused repeatedly over the years of attempting to scam money of the Hmong diaspora in the US.

One NGO contact alleged today that VP is broke - despite the fact he got off his legal case launched two years ago for supposedly plotting a coup to bring down the Vientiane government. The same contact claims Lao govt officials treated Warner's report with disdain, and asked why would they want to contact a man they regard as a traitor. I should note, this is not meant to belittle Warner, who is a great writer and has deep knowledge of Vang Pao and what the Hmong endured from the early 60s. However, we fear he may have been duped - and that VP won't come to Thailand and the whole plan is bulldust.

I detail these allegations purely to try to illustrate that there are "toxic" (or unreliable, if you are generous) figures in the Hmong community in the US. And one of them is regular source of information quoted on Philip Smith's Centre for Public Policy Analysis website. Journalists here in Bangkok monitoring the Hmong dilemma don't rate it as a credible source.

On the other hand, it does look like the Thai government is about to attempt a mass return of Hmong to Laos. The problem the diplomatic community and many journalists in Bangkok have with this is that Thailand hasn't put a proper screening system in place to determine who are legitimate refugees and who aren't. Laos steadfastly refuses to allow the UN or an independent third party to get involved, for reasons that do it no credit at all.

MSF warned when they withdrew from providing medical care at the camp earlier this year that there could be riots if people are forced to return against their will. This is possible. Abhisit claimed today there were no indications of people who have already been returned to Laos being mistreated. About 3,000 people have been returned to date, but this claim is garbage. There is no proper way to determine that because the Lao government has only allowed "show visits" on a small handful of days when all present could see the Hmong were under pressure to behave and were closely watched when speaking to visitors - be they diplomats or journalists. People who have looked at these returns closely and monitored the visits by Lao officials to the 158 Hmong at the Nong Khai IDC - such as American photographer Roger Arnold - say it is very obvious that Vientiane is using ugly intimidatory tactics both when they visit the IDC, Huay Nam Khao and at Baan Phalak (the main returnee site in Laos).

I think we also need to recognise that hundreds of Hmong - among those suspected of being most at risk of persecution on return - have fled Huay Nak Hao (prior to the construction of bigger fences some months back) and are simply living in the wild in other parts of Phetchabun or in other provinces. One of those was a man who acted as a guide for a BBC correspondent who secretly visited a group of "jungle Hmong" about five years ago. Thailand has never ratified the Geneva Convention on Refugees, largely because that is seen as giving away their right to force the thousands of people who pour in over almost all borders annually back to the countries from where they came. With 140-150,000 people in the Burma border camps and perhaps two to three million Burmese working (most illegally) in Thailand, one has to sympathise with their situation. However, they need to proceed cooly and thoughtfully, cos they could precipitate a major drama. Any move to force the 158 Hmong at Nong Khai, for example, could lead to a mass suicide, as the people there have been locked up for over three years and are now in a highly emotional and vulnerable state of mind. All of these people (which includes 90 kids) have UN refugee status; although that appears to mean nothing to some Thai and particularly Lao officials.

People with a deep knowledge of refugee laws, such as Chulalongkorn's Prof Vitit Muntabhorn, say Thailand should immediately free the Nong Khai Hmong and bring in a third-party to properly screen the 4,000 left at HNK. However it looks like the military feels it can do what it likes because the refugee camp is miles from nowhere and they have gotten away with violence many times before.

On Monday, Hun Sen returned 20 Uighurs who sought refugee status. They were sent back to China despite likelihood they will face long jail terms or even the death sentence. That act - in return for further Chinese aid - was an outrage, loudly condemned by the US and activists.

Let's hope Thailand can act with some restraint; and try to develop a more credible monitoring process, so refugees are treated fairly and with some compassion. Forty years ago, the Hmong put their lives on the line and fought side by side with about 30,000 Thai troops (privately hired by the CIA) against the Communist forces in Laos. Now, their descendants are being treated like the enemy. Thailand needs to remember its history and learn some proper values.

And the US needs to help remedy a problem it started by getting more actively involved.

[Bagwan]

Thank you for a comprehensive and illuminating post.

[Credo]

When the government severely limits the ability of the UN to screen asylum seekers and does not permit agencies that work on resettlement issues, the process will be slow. It's already slow and complicated.

Thanks Krugthepian for that very good summary of the situation.

[meelousee]

Another rubbish accusation, the American Hmongs are exaggerating!

1. There isn't any refugee camp at Huai Nam Khao. The displaced group gathered there mostly from Tham Krabok, Saraburi on their own to stay close to their Thai Hmong cousins. They are not being detained. The area is accessible from Khek Noi, Khao Kor, and to Tab Berg and Lom Khao. There are many NGO stationed there to help them. They are in better shape than Thai Hmongs along Thai- Laos mountenous border.

2. They are roaming the mountain freely, destroying reserved forest and watershed from Phu Hin Rong Kladown to Lom Kao, Petchaboon. It is not a comfortable living condition there but certainly better than going home to Laos. 2. If American Hmongs want to help them, they can call their Sen. and Rep. to support settlement in the U.S.

3. They just had good times celebrating Hmong New Year with the Governor.

4. I don't believe any of them were threatened to be killed.

5. I trust any Thai government, red, yellow, or blue will keep on treating them at its best.

6. Buses must be for the voluntary repatriation, and some few rejected cases for U.S. resttlement.

At first I thought you may have some insight and the situation in Petchaboon had changed untill I got to #5 of your statement. Either you work for the Thai Government or you are a patsy for the Thai Military ready to do just what the NGO's are saying about forced repatriation.

If just one refugee dies tonight I think someone will point a finger at you. I will be one of them want to guess which finger?

[Scott]

Let's exercise care in posting. There are always two sides to every story and although I don't agree with the Thai government's position on this, they and posters have the right to do so. The exchange of information may help everyone. It may also work to bring attention to the plight of the Hmong.

[ManilaLover]

What kind of man Abhisit is if he allow this gonna happen ?

Edited December 24, 2009 by ManilaLover

[ManilaLover]

The US should intervene, they owe the Hmong a big debt for their friendship during the Vietnam War, which included participating in operations -including CIA-backed drug trafficking- that were illegal, but deemed necessary to win the Cold War.

[katana]

http://www.sommerfilms.org/documentaries/Hmong/

[palusa]

Another rubbish accusation, the American Hmongs are exaggerating!

1. There isn't any refugee camp at Huai Nam Khao. The displaced group gathered there mostly from Tham Krabok, Saraburi on their own to stay close to their Thai Hmong cousins. They are not being detained. The area is accessible from Khek Noi, Khao Kor, and to Tab Berg and Lom Khao. There are many NGO stationed there to help them. They are in better shape than Thai Hmongs along Thai- Laos mountenous border.

2. They are roaming the mountain freely, destroying reserved forest and watershed from Phu Hin Rong Kladown to Lom Kao, Petchaboon. It is not a comfortable living condition there but certainly better than going home to Laos. 2. If American Hmongs want to help them, they can call their Sen. and Rep. to support settlement in the U.S.

3. They just had good times celebrating Hmong New Year with the Governor.

4. I don't believe any of them were threatened to be killed.

5. I trust any Thai government, red, yellow, or blue will keep on treating them at its best.

6. Buses must be for the voluntary repatriation, and some few rejected cases for U.S. resttlement.

Oh dear, how can one be so elequently educated but be so blatantly blind

[palusa]

Another rubbish accusation, the American Hmongs are exaggerating!

1. There isn't any refugee camp at Huai Nam Khao. The displaced group gathered there mostly from Tham Krabok, Saraburi on their own to stay close to their Thai Hmong cousins. They are not being detained. The area is accessible from Khek Noi, Khao Kor, and to Tab Berg and Lom Khao. There are many NGO stationed there to help them. They are in better shape than Thai Hmongs along Thai- Laos mountenous border.

2. They are roaming the mountain freely, destroying reserved forest and watershed from Phu Hin Rong Kladown to Lom Kao, Petchaboon. It is not a comfortable living condition there but certainly better than going home to Laos. 2. If American Hmongs want to help them, they can call their Sen. and Rep. to support settlement in the U.S.

3. They just had good times celebrating Hmong New Year with the Governor.

4. I don't believe any of them were threatened to be killed.

5. I trust any Thai government, red, yellow, or blue will keep on treating them at its best.

6. Buses must be for the voluntary repatriation, and some few rejected cases for U.S. resttlement.

Oh dear, how can one be so elequently educated but be so blatantly blind

Elequently? sod it we all make mistakes

[churchill]

Thailand may send Hmong back to Laos

By John Pomfret

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, December 25, 2009

An estimated 4,200 ethnic Hmong, many of whom fought for or are related to soldiers who worked with the CIA during the Vietnam War, are set to be expelled from Thailand back to Laos, where they could face political persecution.

The State Department said Thursday that it was deeply concerned about the fate of the Hmong, an ethnic minority that battled the communist government of Laos for years with U.S. support.

The Thai military had dispatched more than 30 trucks Thursday evening to a refugee camp containing some 4,000 Hmong in central Thailand, and shut off satellite and cellphone service from the camp, according to human rights officials. The Thai military was also believed to be preparing to expel an additional 158 Hmong in a camp near the Thailand-Laos border, even though members of that group have already been granted refugee status by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

continued ..

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...9122402864.html

Edited December 25, 2009 by churchill

[Asa]

I don’t care much about misspelling, misunderstanding in board, and will let it go.

Yesterday Sen. Richard Lugar and a group of U.S. Senators sent a letter to Thai Gov. asking them to reconsider or postpone Hmong repatriation to Laos at the end of the year. They did not make any commitment what they will do to help Thai Gov. handling the case. Dick has been involved with refugees resettlement programme in the U.S. for decades. He knows that most of these people are not refugees, and most had been interviewed and rejected since they were in Nakorn Panom, then to Tham Krabok, Saraburi, then to Huai Nam Khao. Though, these people have no other places to go, their lives here are not that bad. They are highly adaptable and clever. So maybe it’s the best that Thai accept them all at the end of the day. The letter, therefore has no real weight. It's just to show the Sen. had done their duty (for American Hmong).

For Thai Gov. (never the armed forces) who has to host over a million Indochinese displaced people. They simply don’t have enough resources to feed them and to hold them in one area for a long period of time. When a home country offers to take them back, it is indeed a good news. Beside, Lao Hmongs at Huai Nam Khao had not been welcome with open arms from their Thai cousins from start, and Thai Hmongs in Khek Noi can not let them deplete the already scarce farm land. UNHCR, and the U.S. Gov. are no better a helping hand, due to lack of sincerity to solve the problem. They only want The Thai to keep the Lao Hmongs there.

Anyway, beside all accusation, has anyone followed up on resettlement of the Hmong back in their homeland? Are they suffering more than other hillbilly tribemen in Thai Laos border? What happened to the earlier repatriated groups. I never heard that they were executed or sent to hard labour education camps or anything. UNHCR, the U.S., and other third countries should accept it and follow through if they are sincere. They could help resettle them back to Laos. Don’t play good guys and dump s**t on the Thai.

So tell me you have a better idea than this repatriation that will be good for all sides. Forget to mention Gen. Vang Pao, but he is an old debt ridden drunkard, and such has no real influence. Therefore, is not worth mentioning here. Lastly, I think Washington Post is too jumpy to the accusation from American Hmongs.

[churchill]

and from BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8430417.stm

[Sweet Dreams]

Asia Pacific News

Thailand to begin Hmong deportation Monday

Posted: 26 December 2009 1736 hrs

Photos 1 of 1

Hmong refugees at a Thai detention centre in Nongkhai province, northeastern Thailand near the Thai-Laos border (file pic)

BANGKOK: Thailand will begin repatriating more than 4,000 ethnic Hmong refugees to Laos on Monday despite strong international opposition to the move, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Saturday.

The New York-based international rights group said that armed forces had been mobilised for the deportation from a camp in northern Phetchabun province where the Hmong are being held.

"The first wave of action to clear the camp will happen on December 27 night, and the deportation can start on December 28 morning," according to an email sent to AFP by HRW Thailand analyst Sunai Phasuk.

"During that (period), mobile phone (signals) will be jammed to prevent the Hmong from contacting outsiders. More than 100 buses and trucks are put on standby," he said, adding that the army would be in charge of the operation.

A spokesman for the Thai government could not immediately be reached for comment.

The 4,000 Hmong are seeking asylum based on claims that they face persecution from the Laotian regime for fighting alongside US forces during the Vietnam War.

Thailand has promised Laos, which insists the group will be safe after their return, that they would be sent back by the end of the year.

Thailand said the Hmong are economic migrants and refused to grant the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) access to them to assess whether any are, in fact, political refugees.

The United States said it was "deeply concerned about reports of the imminent and involuntary deportation" and Antonio Guterres, the head of the UN refugee agency, on Thursday urged Thailand to call off the deportation.

- AFP/sc

[Sweet Dreams]

Thailand says Hmong repatriation imminent

3:18am EST

By Vithoon Amorn

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's repatriation of thousands of ethnic Hmong asylum-seekers to Laos was imminent despite international objections that they could face persecution back home, a senior army officer said on Sunday.

About 5,000 soldiers, policemen and civil servants were being assigned to carry out the repatriation of the Hmong at a refugee camp in Huay Nam Khao in Phetchabun province, 300 km (186 miles) north of Bangkok, Colonel Thana Charuvat said.

"We will start the operation as soon as we get the final instruction and when everything is ready. That includes mobilizing enough manpower to carry it out, otherwise it may encourage resistance," Thana told Reuters.

"A show of sufficient force on our part is essential to deter resistance, but we have no intention to use force. Our men are armed with shields and batons. They carry no guns or tear gas out of concern for the safety of women and children," he said.

Most of the 4,400 Hmong facing repatriation have settled at Huay Nam Khao since 2004 to seek political asylum, saying they would be persecuted by Laos's communist government if they return.

Over 1,000 of them are men over 15 who could put up resistance to the forced repatriation, according to Colonel Thana, a senior officer charged with running the camp.

"We need to meet the obligation we have made with Laos, and hope that we don't have to postpone it again. Laos has given repeated public guarantees of full safety for the returnees," he said.

FORGOTTEN ALLIES

Known as America's "forgotten allies," Hmong were recruited by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency to fight alongside U.S. forces during the Vietnam War.

When the communists took power in 1975, the Hmong exodus began. Tens of thousands have since been resettled in the U.S.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Friday sought to allay fears about their forced repatriation, saying his government would ensure it took place in a transparent way "without chaos and in accordance with human rights principles."

Thailand regards the ethnic minority group at Huay Nam Khao as illegal economic migrants and has come under fire for denying the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) access to the camp.

Colonel Thana said the media was denied access to the Hmong prior to the repatriation out of official concern they might resort to stunts to draw public attention to their status.

"This is to discourage the Hmong from resorting to possible self-inflicted physical abuses to attract public attention," he said.

Officials at the camp said about 100 buses and trucks would be needed to move the Hmong from Huay Nam Khao to the Thai-Lao border at Nong Khai opposite Lao capital Vientiane.

UNHCR, diplomats and rights groups believe some of the Hmong could qualify for refugee status if a screening process were allowed to take place.

Thailand fears that by facilitating their resettlement in a third country, it could create a "pull factor" that encourages more illegal migrants.

Colonel Thana questioned the sincerity expressed by third countries about accepting the refugees.

"If other countries really want to accept these refugees, they would have been resettled a long time ago," he said.

The U.S. State Department expressed concern on Thursday about reports of forced repatriation, noting that in the past, the Thai government had said many Hmong were in need of protection.

"Forced returns of persons entitled to protection is inconsistent with international practice and Thailand's long history of protection of refugees," acting spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.

UNHCR said Thailand had "the responsibility and international obligation" to ensure those in need of protection in their native countries were returned "only on a voluntary basis."

[Bottlerocket]

Some good links regarding the documentary "Hunted Like Animals" detailing the situation. Much of the footage in this documentary was filmed by Hmong in Laos on 8mm cameras and smuggled out. It provides very definite evidence of persecution, rape, and murder of those people for the sole crime of being Hmong. Get your heads out! Shame on Thailand from bottom to top for taking this approach.

Huntington News

http://www.sommerfilms.org/documenta...mong/index.php

Edited December 27, 2009 by Bottlerocket

[churchill]

Thailand starts deporting Hmong refugees back to Laos

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8432094.stm

[webfact]

1st Lot of Hmong Refugees Left

UPDATE : 28 December 2009

A first lot of 442 Hmong refugees have boarded 16 buses back to Laos. Locals were waiting to see them off while security has been tightened with soldiers present. Members of the press are also present.

-- Tan Network 2009/12/28

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[webfact]

Repatriation has started and a new topic on that subject has been trated.

Please continue here

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thailand-Sta...ng-t325207.html

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