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Lao government continues to hold Hmong refugees hostage
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 PRESS RELEASE – May 1, 2009
Yesterday, the Lao state-controlled newspaper Vientiane Times quoted the Lao Foreign Ministry spokesman criticizing Thailand for its recent offer to allow 158 UNHCR-recognized Hmong refugees resettlement in third countries. The offer was made last week while Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya was in Washington, DC meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss this very sensitive issue.
The Lao FM spokesman belittled Thailand’s Foreign Minister for making such a statement saying he found it hard to believe that “a senior diplomat with much experience in foreign affairs would make such remarks.” This is an amusing comment by the Lao FM spokesman considering that deporting this group of UNHCR-recognized refugees is in clear violation of international refugee law.
For over 29 months now, the Lao government has basically been blackmailing Thailand into repatriating this group of Hmong refugees held at Nong Khai jail. On January 30, 2007, during a failed deportation attempt, Lao authorities were allowed up into the Hmong refugees cell area and gassed the resistant Hmong with an unidentified chemical agent. Those exposed to the chemical, including some young children, were sick for months later having chest pain, headaches, and difficulty breathing in their sleep.
Due to international outrage over the incident, which blatantly defied international refugee law, Thailand softened up and made a generous offer of allowing the group resettlement in third countries. The United States, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands all stepped forward agreeing to resettle the group. Then just days later, Thailand reneged on its promise due to a huge amount of pressure from the Lao government who threatened not to accept the remaining 8000 or so Hmong refugees remaining in Huay Nam Khao camp if the Thais allowed the 158 to go to third countries.
Now, well over two years later, Hmong parents and their small children remain held hostage under torturous-type living conditions until they “volunteer” to return. The Lao government is at it again, putting pressure on Thailand to bar these 158 from resettlement in third countries boldly stating that these countries must seek official permission from the Lao government and that they must be returned first.
How is it that a tiny country like Laos can get away with such a giant breach in international law while superpowers like the United States remain ominously quiet? The tortured and suicidal Hmong refugees in Nong Khai jail are waiting for you to step up to the plate.
Joe Davy
Hmong Advocate
Chicago
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