February 28, 2008

 

Thailand Forcibly Repatriated 12 Hmong Refugees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On February 27, 2007 at about one o’clock p.m. Bangkok time, twelve (12) Hmong refugees from the Huay Nam Khao camp, Phetchabun Province, were forced by Thai military to return to Laos, their native country where they tried to escape persecution.  Initially, during the forced repatriation process, some of the refugees thought these four families were part of the 136 families that were screened in December 2007 who had volunteered to return. 

 

The surprising incident started at about nine o’clock in the morning were some 70 Thai military in uniform entered the refugee camp and ordered three groups of the Hmong refugees to go outside the fenced camp to be screened.  Upon completion of the screening process, four families – 12 people – were forced by Thai military to return to Laos.   Many were thrown into the trucks by soldiers, which frightened some children causing them to run for help.  A ten year old child who witnessed his mother, Mee Vang, being thrown into the back of the truck by the military was frightening and he took off running crying for help.  Dramatically, the military unleashed their dogs to chase the boy.  Instead, the dogs attacked another boy, Chong Lee (Coob Lis) who is four (4) years of age, who happened to be a bystander at the chaos.  The dogs bit Chong Lee on the side of his head and his face.  Chong has been receiving medical care from Doctors Without Border who is stationed at the camp site to provide health assistance to the refugees. 

 

By 2:00 p.m., the four houses that the returned families previously lived in were completely torn apart and taken down by Thai military.  This intention was the signal to the rest of the remaining Hmong refugees in the camp that they too will be returned to Laos.   

 

The whereabouts of these four families remain unknown to those refugees in the camp and the rest of international community.  They were transported in two trucks.  The vehicles are registered to Phetchabun Province.  Their license plate numbers are 821 and 824. 

 

 

News Releases

www.factfinding.org

Left: A family of 4 Hmong families that was forcibly repatriated by Thai officials to Laos.

 

Right: Lao PDR Government Spokesperson,

Yong Chantalangsy elaborated to the state owned media groups regarding the Lao/Thai

repatriation program.

 

Photos are courtesy of DKJ, Lao PDR’s official photographer.