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Meeting with Congressman Kind Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Representative Kind is demanding transparency, accountability, and
access to refugees. He is requesting that the Lao government allow
members of the American Embassy to visit with the Hmong families and
access their needs. Representative Kind will collaborate with
Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Representative Howard Berman (CA), on drafting a letter to the Lao
government and will meet with a bipartisan group to brainstorm as to
what action needs to be taken when he returns to Washington D. C.
*Some important information will be shared when the appropriate time
comes. A statement from Representative Kind may be released within
24 - 48 hours.
Janet Slind is organizing a meeting in the Eau Claire area with
local Hmong people.
Reactions: Thai
Vue expressed several concerns: he felt that the Hmong refugees are
not a high priority for Congress, he feels that the Hmong refugees
sense a loss of hope because of the repatriation, he expressed a
desire for measurable accountability, he feels that negotiations
with Lao or Thai governments take forever, and that there are many
former Hmong veterans who fought in the “Secret War” that need
protection. Mr. Vue posed this question to Representative Kind: “Can
you … will you … along with Congress provide protection to the Hmong
Refugees?”
Some challenges:
Getting the bipartisan group to work with the State Department to
give this issue top priority. The United States has little leverage
with Thailand and Laos. Thailand faces significant political
pressure from Laos. Representative Kind asked if the Lao Government
knew which Hmong refugees worked for the CIA during the Vietnam War.
How will the U. S. know who to help if there is not a list? If a
list were to be composed and given to the Lao government, would this
pose a safety concern for the Hmong veterans? In response, Thai Vue
said that the Lao government knows which Hmong refugees worked for
the CIA. Mr. Vue said that these veterans should be allowed to leave
Laos.
As we were meeting, registration of all Hmong refugees was to be
taking place. Again, Thai Vue reaffirmed that the Lao government
must be held accountable for the Hmong veterans.
Top priority:
the safety and well-being of the 158 UNHCR screened Hmong refugees.
Representative Kind said that the U. S. is awaiting confirmation
about the removal of the 158 Hmong from the Nong Khai Detention
Center. These documented refugees need to be resettled NOW!
Thai Vue said that his sources told of the Hmong people leaving
behind personal belongings, many suffered beatings, and some were
jailed upon entering Laos. Again, he reaffirmed that all Hmong
people must have their basic needs taken care of and be treated
fairly.
Representative Kind responded that the United States, France,
Australia, Germany, and Great Britain have offered assistance such
as food and medical attention. He continued that now while on Lao
soil the Hmong people can begin applying for visas. (Who will help
them do this?) Likely, costs for visas would be waived. If this is
successful, host families may be needed at a later date.
Zong Vang related that he was told that the screening process
involved picture taking. After the screening, some Hmong were
released while others were detained. He continued that the “jungle
people” have no family or home to relocate to. In response,
Representative Kind said that supposedly the Lao government built
150 new homes for this relocation. Kind will check on this.
Victor Yang, shared that people were arrested that refused to leave
the Thai camp, the soldiers sprayed tear gas, people were not
allowed to take personal belongings, some Hmong who were initially
jailed, have been released but it’s unknown what future they may
have. Victor made a personal plea that Representative Kind help to
bring Sandy’s father and family here to the U.S.
Representative Kind asked if they had heard of any reports of
mistreatment since arriving in Laos. But it is too early to have any
documented accounts.
Sandy Her made an emotional appeal also for the safety and
well-being of her father and family. She has suffered many losses of
family members including her mother, a brother, and sister. It has
been emotionally damaging to Sandy to continue to hear bad news
about her family. At times, she feels the situation to be hopeless
and unbearably despairing.
Representative Kind stated that he will work on:
-
asking for immediate access to the Hmong people
-
seek to allow international groups access
-
providing medical and food assistance
-
work on obtaining refugee status for those qualifying and then
visas
Representative Kind asked “do the Hmong feel any hope for the
future?”
Thai Vue answered that they feel “no hope” just a “dead end” now
that they are in Laos. They fear possible death now and have very
little hope of being rescued. It is possible that given an
opportunity they will escape. Mr. Vue also stated that to assure
accountability a visit by members of Congress is warranted.
Representative Kind said that the Lao government would need to
approve of such a visit first. It is important that our Embassy in
Laos gain access to the Hmong people so that the U. S. can receive
reliable information. NGO’s on the ground will be able to gather
important information and are more reliable than Congressional
visits in which officials are shown only what the hosting government
wishes. But Representative Kind will follow-up with the State
Department about a future visit.
Rev. Moua stated the importance of urgency in helping the Hmong
people so as to protect them from being murdered and disappearing.
He hopes we can work with other countries to raise our voices more
loudly.
Representative Kind reaffirmed that our Embassy is in touch with the
Lao government, he will continue to demand accountability, and he
will draft a letter with Representative Berman.
Rev. Moua said that he heard that our State Department approved the
“repatriation”. Representative Kind stated that our government was
against the “repatriation”. He emphasized that the U. S. was clear
about not wanting this to happen and was mislead by the Thai
government.
Wanda asked if Thailand had broken any international laws with the
repatriation. And if so what consequences would Thailand suffer.
Representative Kind said that he would check to see if Thailand
violated any laws and that a State Department official would come to
La Crosse and give an update on the events in Laos. Any
correspondence from Representative Kind will come from the D.C.
office or from Janet Slind via e-mail.
Currently we have a trade agreement with Laos and a bi-lateral trade
agreement with Thailand. The U. S. does not have any substantial
foreign investments with Thailand.
The meeting adjourned just before noon.
Attending:
Thai Vue, Zong Vang, Victor Yang, Sandy Her, Wanda Wochos, Rev Houa
Moua, Pat Soell
Update:
Representative Kind wrote a letter on January 4, 2010 to
Secretary of State Clinton (see attachment)
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