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Laos (FFC) The surrender of over 900 Freedom Fighters including men, women, and children to LPDR authorities has been confirmed. More people are expected to surrender if those that are detained are treated humanely as promised by Lao government officials.
The Fact Finding Commission learned that 400 members of the U.S. Secret War veterans group or "Freedom Fighters," that have been hiding in the Pha Sie Cliff area of the Xaysomboune Special Zone, surrendered to LPDR officials at Phonsavan. The group consisted of the elderly, women and children along with some men. Eight men are believed to be leaders among the group. FFC has been informed the remaining members of this group, led by Moa Tua Ter, is preparing to surrender, however, they are monitoring the treatment given to those are now in the hands of the communists. It is expected that if the international community monitors the surrender and humanitarian aid is provided those that are detained, those that remain in the mountains will themselves surrender. This group of U.S. Secret War Veterans and their families was the subject of a Time Magazine report by journalists Andrew Perrin and Philip Blenkinsop published in May of 2003.
About 300 people belonging to a group led by Yang Toua Thao surrendered in Sala Phukhoum, Luang Prabang Province. It was reported that one local villager, a Hmong man, attempted to speak to those that surrendered and was taken into custody.
Another 250 Freedom Fighters and their families under the leadership of Tong Xia Vue and Wa Zher Vang surrendered in the Borikhamxay Province.
The Freedom Fighters are veterans of the U.S. Secret War who fled with their families to the mountainous jungles of Laos to escape retribution of the communists following the Pathet Lao takeover of the country in 1975. For nearly thirty years they have been chased and hunted by the communists. Recent international criticism has been leveled at the LPDR government for reported forced starvation and military attacks against these people. Though some 150,000 to 180,000 fled to the jungles in 1975. It is believed twenty groups consisting of about 13,000 people remain in the jungles today. These groups look to the U.S. government to rescue them.
The surrenders come on the heals of an interview with U.S. State Department, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, Matthew P. Daley with Radio Free Asia broadcast February 4, 2004. In that broadcast Daley, referring to those hiding in the jungle, stated "the government of Laos has to adopt a more open and transparent approach so that the international community can be confident that these people are being treated in accordance with broadly-held international standards. He adds that if that were to happen, the U.S. would be prepared to work with the Lao government through mutually acceptable non-governmental organizations to assist with medical care, with development efforts, and to see that these people become more integrated into the fabrics of Laotian society." Those hiding in the mountains rely on Radio Free Asia broadcasts for news from the outside world. It is unclear if Daley's promise of U.S. intervention had an influence on the Freedom Fighters decision to surrender.
In a published statement Amnesty International has called upon "the Lao government to provide UN specialist agencies and other non-governmental organizations access to those who have put down their arms and to their families in order to assist with basic humanitarian needs, including food and health care requirements. Longer term assistance with their reintegration into Lao society will also be needed. It is essential that neutral observers are given access to these groups of former rebels in order to independently assess their situation and the veracity of on-going claims of serious human rights violations being made by overseas ethnic Hmong groups."
The Fact Finding Commission joins Amnesty International in it's plea that the Lao government treat these people in a human manner and allow the international community to insure their safety and bring needed humanitarian aid.
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