November 16, 2003


Forced Starvation Takes a Toll on the Children
and Elderly in the Jungles of Laos

Laos (FFC)  In a report dated, October 18, 2003, Yang Tua Thao, one of the leaders of the Freedom Fighters in North of Vientiane province, reported that in the last 27 years the LPDR government has used military forces to kill the United States Secret War veterans and their families.  He stated now the LPDR government is using starvation as a new military strategy against the veterans and their families who are still living in the jungles and mountains of Laos.  The communist military forces have been surrounding water and food sources and setting up landmines around cassava and other consumable plants.  The veterans and their families are dying from starvation. 

Yang Tua Thao reported that on October 17, 2003, he received a report from the group in Xieng Khouang province which is known to the current government as Mouang Xaysomboune Special Zone.  The report stated that from October 11, 2003 to October 17, 2003, six children and three elder adults died from starvation: 1) Ms. Ying Vue five years old; 2) Ms. Kia Moua five years old; 3) Ms. Yee Xiong three years old; 4) Ms. Lou Xiong six years old; 5) Mr. Coua Lee six years old; 6) Mr. Tua Xiong three years old; 7) Mr. Tong Ger Her 54 years old; 8) Mrs. Cee Vue 60 years old; and 9) Mr. Khoua Vang 54 years old.   

Yang Tua Thao reported that on Ocotber 18, 2003, he received another report from the group in Houa Phan province.  It was reported that from October 11, 2003 to October 18, 2003, five adults and one child died from starvation: 1) Mr. Chong Leng Her 40 years old; 2) Mr. Nou Xa Vang 54 years old; 3) Mrs. Zang Vang 56 years old; 4) Mrs. Lee Her 48 years old; 5) Mrs. Chia Lor 60 years old; and Ms. See Vang three years old.

He also reported that on October 18, 2003, he received a report from the group in Vang Vieng.  It was reported that from October 11 to October 18, eight children died from starvation: 1) Ms. Ying Her four years old; 2) Ms. Jou Xiong two years old; 3) Ms. Chou Her six years old; 4) Ms. Mee Lee six years old; 5) Ms. Va Xiong fours old; 6) Ms. Chia Lee five years old; 7) Ms. Mai Xiong three years old; and 8) Ms. Neng Xiong two years old.

In a plea to the outside world, Yang Tua Thao asked the United States government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee to intervene and rescue them immediately.  He proposed that:
1. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee must provide humanitarian aids to all the veterans and their families who are facing death from starvation;
2. The United States must intervene and ask the LPDR government to withdraw its military forces out of the Special Zones and other areas and provinces where the US Secret War veterans and their families are; and
3. The United States and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee must find a safe passage to bring the veterans and their families out of Laos immediately.

Yang Tua Thao wanted to share with the free world, especially the United States and United Nations that Cambodia and Laos were the two neutral countries during the Vietnam War, and the United Nations and United States intervened and provided humanitarian aid to the Cambodians, but not the US Secret War veterans and their families in Laos who have been chased, hunted, and killed for 28 years.  Therefore, it is time for the United Nations and United States to intervene and provide humanitarian aids to the veterans and their families under the same conditions they did for Cambodia.