Sept. 24, 2006
 
Sommer Reports 19 Hmong Starved to Death in Laos
 
By David M. Kinchen
Editor, Huntington News Network
 
According to human rights activist and filmmaker Rebecca Sommer, Yang Toua Thao, Hmong leader of a group of approximately 400 Hmong people living for more than 30 years hiding in the mountainous jungles of Laos, was crying desperately, when he finally reached Vaughn Vang by solar panel satellite telephone last Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006. Sommer said that Hmong living in hiding are dying each day from starvation, health problems or being shot.
 
Nineteen children and elders from Yang Toua Thao’s group died from starvation in the months of July and August 2006, Sommer told HNN. Their names are at the end of this story.
 
Most members of his group, one of many others, have been living in- hiding, chased and running for their lives from military attacks, for more than 30 years, since the Vietnam war ended in 1975, Sommer said. She is a German-born, U.S. based documentary filmmaker and representative of Society for Threatened Peoples International, Indigenous Department, who has been contributing news to Huntington News Network on this case of apparent human rights abuse that has not received widespread coverage in the mainstream media.
 
The grandfathers of the remaining pockets of Hmong groups in hiding were left behind, when the U.S. pulled out of Southeast Asia, and did not made it to the safety of Thailand, were recently over 6,800 Hmong refugees fled the growing military presence in Laos, and currently await their fate, to be send back to Laos, as illegal migrants -- by Thailand.
 
Since 2004 the Laotian military training units are reported to have mushroomed and have surrounded and entered the mountains, where the Hmong live in hiding and fear. Those who were lucky to make it to Thailand are telling a tale of having been attacked by Laotian and Vietnamese soldiers, with heavy artillery, and chemical weapons.
 
“We are surrounded -- they ( the soldiers) are everywhere, we have no way to search for wild food, we have to stay inside the caves and sit quite,” whispered Yang Toua Thao during his phone call with Vaughn Vang, the executive Director of the Lao Human Rights Council, a Hmong organization based in Wisconsin, where many Hmong refugees were resettled after the Vietnam War. “We are hiding, they know we are here somewhere, and they want us to starve to death, we are so scared.”
 
“About four years ago, U.S.- based organizations smuggled solar panel satellite telephones to some of the larger Hmong groups in hiding, to gather evidence on the genocide inside Laos,” said Sommer. ”Since then, Hmong organizations receive reports directly from the conflict areas, which they record and translate, as evidence,” she added.
 
Yang Toua Thao reports that many new soldiers arrived, especially in areas including Muang Phoun; Muang Phou Khoun, Muang Kaxee; Muang Vang Vieng; and Muang Phaxai.
 
On August 24, 2006, his group was surrounded by soldiers, who settled in base camps in the area, constantly surveilling the periphery where the desperate group -- mostly women and children -- are hiding in dark caves underground.
 
“We haven’t heard from Yang Toga Thao’s group for a while, “ said Kue Xiong, the president of LHRC. “Since they reported last time from heavy attacks, we could hear the gunfire during the call, it is really a hopeless situation for these people.”
 
“The soldiers contaminated the water, and destroyed all the wild potatoes we could use to eat -- our children and elders are dying now on a daily bases” said Yang Toua Thao. “I beg you, can you help us, can you call the UN, the U.S., we need to be rescued, please . . .“
 
“It is each time a very sad to talk to these groups, they are my people. I myself was in this situation, but that was after the war ended, and I escaped to Thailand and live now in the U.S., safe, with food, a car, and my family,” said Vaughn Vang. “I will not give up helping my people; it is outrageous that this is allowed to happen, that these people are tortured, starved and massacred like animals.”
 

 
“It is crazy, when I have American friends over, and they hear my dad on the phone – asking ‘killed or starved’ while he is writing down the names of the dead people, their ages, gender,” said Khang Vang. “It takes a long time to explain the whole story of the Hmong being killed for over 30 years by the Lao government.”
 
“On August 29, 2006, six families totaling 32 people decided to come out of their hiding places during a massive military attack,” said Seng Thao, from LHRC, Green Bay, Wisconsin. “We have no idea what happened to them, most likely nothing good.”
 
Here are the names of the 19 who died:
 
1. Mai See Lee
F
5 yrs

2. Mai Nou Xiong
F
8 yrs

3. Mai Khoua Yang
F
6 yrs

4. Mai Ya Mee Xiong
F
7 yrs

5. Shoua Yang
M
10 yrs

6. Boua Lor Xiong
M
60 yrs

7. Ka Toua Yang
M
65 yrs

8. Zong Cha Vue
M
58 yrs

9. Ka Nou Vang
M
60 yrs

10. Ze Ma Vang
M
65 yrs
11. Nou Ying Vang
M
60 yrs

12. Na Ther Xiong
M
64 yrs

13. Nou Doua Xiong
M
65 yrs

14. Ka Mai Vang
M
62 yrs

15. Mai Shoua Vang
F
8 yrs

16. Soua Vang
M
8 yrs

17. Mai Ying Lee
F
4 yrs

18. Xao Yang
M
4 yrs

19. Ka Khoua Lee
F
6 yrs