March 23, 2004

Five Children, Two Women Killed in Attack Against Freedom Fighters

Laos (FFC) Moua Toua Ter, leader of the U.S. Secret War veterans group in the Xaysomboune Special Zone in northern Laos, reported his group was under heavy attack at 3:00 PM, Tuesday, March 23, 2004 by LPDR and SRV military forces.  He reported five children, and two women were killed in the attack.  In his statement Moua Toua Ter reported  three LPDR and two SRV units used M16 and M18 helicopters to fire machine guns and rockets at the group.  The incident occurred northwest of the old CIA base at known as Lima Site 17 near the village of Nam Chong.

Dear Members of Congress,   Recent reports of voluntary surrenders of U.S. Secret War veterans and their families, who have been hiding in the mountains of Laos, to Lao Peoples Democratic Republic authorities have proven to be inaccurate.  Also reports of the LPDR offering amnesty to these people seem to be without foundation. 
The following report released by the Fact Finding Commission demonstrates the LPDR's unwillingness to pursue a peaceful resolution to this problem and allow humanitarian aid to reach these people.
The "crime" these people have committed against the Lao government is not that they are a threat to the internal security of Laos.  The true crime is their loyalty to the United States during the Secret War.  Respected international journalists have visited these groups and found them isolated, starving, and ill equipped to fight, having only a handful of weapons left over from the Vietnam War era.  In 1975 the Pathet Lao vowed to "destroy to the root" those that had been loyal to the United States during the war in Southeast Asia.  The communists continue their campaign to exterminate this group of ethnic Hmong, Lowland Lao, and Khmu. 

The Fact Finding Commission is grateful to Congress for the actions taken to date on behalf of these "American Veterans" who are still trapped behind enemy lines.  We ask Congress to insure the United States will no longer tolerate this inhumane treatment of our loyal allies and to pursue a course that leads to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for these people so bravely fought for that cause.

Thank You!    The Fact Finding Commission                                                                              March 23, 2004