March 22, 2007

 

Laos’ Assurance to Reunite 21 Hmong Girls with Families in Thailand Questioned

 

Laos (FFC) At the latest formal bilateral meeting between Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, and Thai Foreign Minister, Mr. Nitya Pibulsonggram, the Lao minister told his Thai counterpart that 21 out of the 26 Hmong teenagers have been found, and they were the Hmong girls.  Laos refused to reveal their exact location but assured the girls were in “good health,” and would coordinate with Thailand to reunite the children with their families. 

 

Despite the appearance of progressive cooperation between the two countries on the Hmong issue, Laos has not been forthright by not telling Thailand the true condition of the 26 Hmong children.  Credible sources revealed to the Fact Finding Commission that among the 21 Hmong girls promised by Dr. Sisoulith, 2 died last year.  According to the source, Ker Vue, who was 14 years of age at the time of her arrest died on February 18, 2006.  Six months later on September 20, 2006, Ia Lor, age 11, also died in prison.  The source reveals that their deaths were due to poor treatment and severe traumatizing anxiety due to the separation from their family.  FFC is encouraging the UNHCR, foreign diplomats, and human rights groups to look into the current condition of the 21 Hmong girls promised to be return to their family and the 5 Hmong boys who’s whereabouts is still uncertain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laos initially blamed the secret deportation to be Thailand’s problem although the process was carried out through joint cooperation between authorities along both sides of the border.  Laos denied any knowledge on the whereabouts of the Hmong teenagers while separating the 5 boys from the girls and secretly transferring them to an undisclosed facility.  FFC also challenges Laos’ assurances the girls were living in villages with family members.  Reliable sources report the girls have been imprisoned at Ban Thong Noi, Muang Pakxan, Borikhamxay Province, near military encampment #17.

 

 

 

The Fact Finding Commission is dedicated to exposing the plight of the veterans of the U.S. Secret War who have hid in the mountains and jungles of Laos for the past thirty years to escape the retribution of the communist Lao government for their loyalty services to the United States during the U.S. Secret War in Southeast Asia.

News Releases

1566 Huntoon Street

Oroville, CA  95965

e-mail: ffc@factfinding.org

www.factfinding.org

Mai Ker Vue, 14 years of age at the time of arrest on November 29, 2005.

Ia Lor, 11 years of age at the time of arrest on November 29, 2005.