We have discussed the Thai handling of refugees from Myanmar and the possible human rights violations. Perhaps an even greater human rights issue is the Thai effort to force Hmong people to return to Laos, a place where the communist regime has carried out a policy of genocide of the Hmong people since they fought against the communists during the Vietnam war.
The Hmong were convinced by the U.S. government (with prompting by the CIA) to fight against the communists in Laos and against the Vietnamese who built the Ho Chi Mihn trail to move supplies and troops from North Vietnam and China across Laos to attack South Vietnam. The only thing that stood between smooth and extensive logistical flow were the Hmong in Laos who acted as the only ground forces to stem the flow of North Vietnamese and Chinese troops, weapons, and supplies along the extensive Ho Chi Mihn trail.
Once the Vietnam War ended, the United States withdrew all support for the Hmong. Where they at least had U.S. air support during the war, they were left to fight a hopeless battle against the brutal communist regimes in Vietnam and in their own country. The brutal Pathet Lao regime carried out a systematic effort to exterminate the over matched Hmong. The Pathet Lao used chemical and biological weapons against the Hmong in their genocidal efforts.
Facing certain genocide, many Hmong fled across the Mekong River into Thailand. A very high percentage of Hmong perished in the exodus. They lived in refugee camps in Thailand (under typically abysmal refugee camp conditions) and those few who could, emigrated to the United States. The Hmong that still live in Laos are considered "terrorists" and live their lives hunted by the Laotian government.
Despite the Hmong sacrifice, the United States government denied any involvement in a "secret" war in Laos. It was not until 1997 that Hmong efforts in fighting against the Vietnamese was formally recognized by a small memorial at Arlington National Cemetary to honor the Hmong and Laotians who fought against the communists. Hmong veterans paid for the memorial.
In 1991, the Thai government began implementing a plan of forced repatriation of Hmong people back to Laos where conditions had not improved and death was all but certain for anyone forced back.
In 2004, the U.S. State Department announced that an estimated 15000 Hmong refugees in Wat Tham Krabok refugee camp would be allowed to come to the United States as described in this State Department article.
To this day, the Hmong in Thailand live in fear of repatriation by the Thai military and there is strong evidence of abuse by the Thai military in Hmong refugee camps. This story from the Asia Times Online covers the recent systematic effort by the Thai military to send the remaining Hmong refugees back to Laos, most likely against their will. Unfortunately, according to the article, the United States is involved in the effort to make the "problem" go away in an effort to improve relations with a brutal communist regime. I shudder to think that our own government is complicit in sending 5000 people back to a regime that wants them dead.
More Hmong Resources:
Building Bridges: Teaching about the Hmong in our Communities - notes from a presentation at the Hmong Cultural Resource Center in St. Paul, MN. This is a great overview of the history and modern plight of the Hmong people.
Hmong Homepage - a large directory of Hmong resources.
Still a Secret War - a short YouTube video on the Hmong plight.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Yes,the Hmong people were recruited by the US to fight against the Vietnamese, and they were extremely effective. The Hmong did hold of Vietnamese forces in the north, and when the war ended, the US ended all support for them.
ReplyDeleteIt is ashame that it has taken so long first for their efforts in the clandestine war to be recognized and then because they have been hunted by the Thais. It is also ashame that they had to flee their homelands for their lives.
It is difficult to hear the they have been forced to return to their homelands and certain death.
I agree with that is horrible that our country denies the issue which helps Hmong to certain death. But look at history and our invovlement in supporting groups of terror in the name of democracy. Our country killed Diem and supported Lon Nol; we supported Marcos in the Phillipnes when Imelda Marcos spent millions on luxury living at the expense of the Fillipino people. And lets not talk about South America during the 1950s and 1960s.
Thank you for the comments about he Kmong.