January 20, 2004

General Vang Pao Responds to Bangkok Post Article


California (FFC) On January 5, 2004 the Bangkok Post published an article titled   Lao resistance forces stronger.  US-based Hmong sending them cash in which it was reported." Resistance forces in the Lao border province of Sayaboury have become more active after receiving financial support from Hmong based in the United States, including former military leader General Vang Pao."    The report identified Wanjong Saewang, alleged leader of the resistance movement, as the "son" of General Vang Pao.  The article reported "military commander Rawi sae Maa and Tai sae Wang" were responsible for recruiting Hmong living in northern Thailand.

In a recent interview with General Vang Pao the Fact Finding Commission asked him to respond to the article and the allegation that he and other Hmong in the United States provide financial support to the resistance groups in Laos.   

General Vang Pao responded, "If they received such information, they should contact me to find out if the information was correct and true.  I still do not understand who they are talking about - although they claimed in the article that it was my son's name.  I deny the allegation, and I do not know any of the individual names reported in the Bangkok Post article.  I believe that the intent of the article in the Bangkok Post was to blame me for wrongdoing.  In reality, if they received such report, they should contact me and clarify the information with me.  I will be more than happy to answer any questions they might have.
I also want to say that I am a citizen of the United States of America, and I fully understand and know my rights and responsibilities and the laws of the United States.  As a citizen of the United States of America, I absolutely cannot and do not have the authority and rights to conduct war in or with other country."

I would say that if Bangkok Post wanted to know what has been going on in Laos, they should contact me, and I would help clarify that for them.  I feel sorry for Bangkok Post that they did not corroborate the information they reported. They wrote the article the way they perceived and wanted it to be.  Therefore, the information was incorrect and misrepresenting the current situation in the Kingdom of Laos.

During the interview with the Fact Finding Commission, General Vang Pao emphasized his announced "Doctrine of Peace" in which he offered to engage the Lao government in talks aimed at bringing to an end the conflicts in Laos and obtaining humanitarian aid for the resistance force in the mountains.
 
Commentary:  The Fact Finding Commission questions the sources on which the Bangkok Post relied for the information reported in the January 5, 2004 article.  FFC has closely followed the resistance groups in Laos and have been in direct contact with many of those involved.  In the article Post reporters in Nan identify Wanjong Saewang as the leader of the Lao resistance and being supported by Rawi sae Maa and Tai sae Wang.   First of all General Vang Pao does not have a son named Wanjong Saewang.  Rawi sae Maa and Tai sae Wang are not known to our sources in Southeast Asia.  The known leader of the Lao Citizens Movement for Democracy is Kham Koie Sanasery.  A group of dissident ex-LPDR soldiers, which identify themselves as the Free Democratic People's Government of Laos (FDPGL), are lead by a man who identifies himself as Kaitong Phounsina.
We strongly question the credibility of the Post's reporters and their "sources."  In an article last year the Bangkok Post reported that FFC commission member, Ger Vang, was identified as the ringleader of the LCMD revolt in Laos.  FFC simply reports information received from the various resistance groups in Laos, we don't run the war.  Mr. Vang, a ranking member of the Fact Finding Commission is a citizen of California and works as a researcher, our cultural consultant and our interpreter.  He is not involved in international political intrigue.  We strongly suggest the Bangkok Post check out their sources and information before reporting unsubstantiated allegations as fact.