[Tlc] TL-Hmong refugees

[justinm at ucr.edu]

2007-0903 - ABC Radio Australia - Thai, Lao officials speed
repatriation of Hmong

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s2023021.htm

ABC Radio Australia

Radio Australia - News - Thai, Lao officials speed
repatriation of Hmong

[This is the print version of story
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s2023021.htm]

Last Updated 03/09/2007, 20:19:07

Thai and Lao military officials have met to speed up the
planned repatriation of almost 8,000 ethnic Hmong.

Human rights groups and US congress members have criticised
efforts to send the Hmong back to Laos after hundreds of Hmong
detainees facing deportation recently staged hunger strikes
and threatened suicide.

The meeting comes amid unconfirmed reports that Lao security
forces have cracked down on Hmong villagers in Thai border
areas this year, and that they arrested three Hmong-Americans
last week.

Laos consistently denies any abuses against the Hmong, many of
whose members fought with the United States against communist
troops when the Vietnam War spilled into the landlocked
country in the 1960s and 70s.

A Lao government spokesman says Lao delegation plans to hand
the Thai side a video about Hmong resettlement areas in Laos,
suggesting it be shown to the Hmong to reassure them it is
safe to return.

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
2617 Humanities Building
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu