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| Southeast Asia |
| Hmong repatriated to Laos |
| 2009-03-27 |
| THAILAND will repatriate thousands of ethnic Hmong to Laos, officials said on Thursday, despite concerns that the asylum-seekers will face political persecution. The first group of 350 will be repatriated on Thursday, said Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakee. He said they would go voluntarily, but a Hmong advocate disputed that claim. An agreement was reached to repatriate a total of about 5,000 Hmong tribal people when Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya met with his Laotian counterpart Tuesday during a visit to the neighboring country, Thani said. The Hmong are currently living in Huay Nam Khao village in Phetchabun province, 300 kilometres north of Bangkok. Laos has previously denied they are Laotian, describing them as Thailand's problem. The refugees say they will be persecuted by Laos' communist government if they return because of their Vietnam War-era ties with the United States. Many Hmong fought under CIA advisers during a so-called 'secret war' against communists in Laos. Thailand has repeatedly asserted that the Hmong are not legitimate refugees and have entered Thailand illegally. A Chicago-based Hmong advocate, Joe Davy, said some of those to be returned on Thursday were going against their will. 'At least five heads of households were reportedly coerced into returning,' he said in a statement. The Thai Foreign Ministry denied the allegation. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has repeatedly expressed concern about the fate of the asylum seekers, noting they have been denied access to the agency to determine their reasons for fleeing. Mr Kasit said Thailand has offered to pay 1.5 million baht (S$64,522) to Laos to help build shelters for those who return. A separate group of 153 Hmong asylum seekers who have UN-certified refugee status will be allowed to leave for third countries willing to accept them, Kasit said. They are currently being held at an immigration detention center in Nong Khai province, 500 kilometres northeast of Bangkok, where they have been since the end of 2006. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Many Hmong fought under US Army Special Forces There, fully repaired. Won't help the Hmong much other than free them from the guilt of poor association. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-03-27 16:18 |
| #1 The repatriated Hmong will no doubt be exterminated by the Laos commies. See Mongnards in Vietnam and Cambodia for the greatest unknown genocide occuring today. |
| Posted by: bman 2009-03-27 11:25 |