Oct. 31, 2006
 
HMONG REFUGEE CRISIS: 52 Hmong May be Sent Back to Laos by Thai Officials
 
By David M. Kinchen
Editor, Huntington News Network
 
This is another chapter in the seemingly never-ending story on the Hmong Lao crisis, where Hmong Lao flee persecution in Laos, and enter Thailand as illegal migrants.
 
Since 2006, when Thailand tightened implementation of illegal migration policies, hundreds of Hmong are held in prisons, according to sources reporting to HNN.
 
52 Hmong refugees are threatened to be deported back to Laos, in the next day's. On Oct. 17, 2006, 14 detained Hmong refugees were forced into boats by Thai police officers from Boueng Kang police station in Nongkhai Province, Thailand, and dumped at the Laos side of the river.
 
"They tried it two times before with the group of 14 Hmong refugees, this time I believe that they used a boat - to avoid that Laotian authorities see them, and would deny the Hmong entry into Laos" said Rebecca Sommer, from the Society for Threatened Peoples International.
 
On Oct. 12, 2006, five days after being detained as illegal migrants in Thailand, the 14 Hmong were dumped for the first time at the Lao side of the border by the Thai police, who said to Kue Xiong that they had “run out of patience with illegal migrants."
 
At the border, the Lao authorities and Thai police had discussions, the Lao authorities declined to allow the group of 14 Hmong entry into Laos, Sommer told HNN. The 14 Hmong begged the Thai police to not repatriate them to Laos, fearing that they would be severely punished, and reminded the Thai police that they fled Laos in the first place out of fear of persecution.
 
The Thai police took the 14 scared Hmong people back to the police station in Muag Loei, at Loei Province, after the Lao authorities made it clear that they would not take the 14 Hmong people, Sommer said.
 
The Thai police tried the same action to dump the 14 Hmong at the Lao side three days later, with a similar result, that the Lao authorities would not allow them entry.
 
Sommer: “After being dumped by boat at the Lao side, Nhia Blia Yang, the leader of the 14 Hmong for the last time used his cell phone, and reported that he could see Laos soldiers approaching, while the Thai police had left with the boat back to Thailand. The phone call got disconnected. Since then, his cell phone remains not answered. It is assumed, that the Lao soldiers took the cell phone." Hmong US community Leader Chou Chou Tchang reports, "To this day, no one ever heard again from the 14 Hmong"
 
"Hmong human rights advocates made attempts to locate the missing 14 Hmong people, went to the location where they are assumed to have been dumped by the Thai police boat, questioned villagers and fishermen, and Lao authorities from that region, but it seems, that the whole group of desperate repatriated refugees now disappeared inLaos." said Sommer.
 
" We are worried about the 14 missing people, and now they want to deport the next ones, this time 52 people," said Kue Xiong, from Hmong Lao Human Rights Council. “Two groups are detained in the same prison, and we received reports that the police will deport them back to Laos very soon ."
 
"Everyone can help, we call upon the US based Hmong community and NGO's," said Sommer. “Just write an e-mail to the Chief Police officer Samphone, and explain that the people cannot be sent back because they come from the jungle, that they may be endangered to be punished, mistreated or even killed."
 
Chief Police officer Samphone's e-mail:
wasanasri_06@hotmail.com
 
"We hope that e-mails will help to encourage the Thai authorities to allow them to stay in Thailand" said Vaughn Vang, executive director of Hmong Lao Human Rights Council."It would be good to write them friendly letters, explaining that these people had no intent to violate migration laws -- but to seek safety, let's help out people now."
 
"During our awareness -raising campaign at the United Nations last week, we had an encouraging meeting with officials of Thailand's Mission to the United Nations in NYC ," Sommer said. "We made them aware about this pressing matter, and hope that they will intervene on behalf of the threatened 52 Hmong detainees."
 
The first group of the currently detained 35 Hmong people escaped from Laos to Thailand September 11, 2006, crossing by boat to Nong Khai province, Thailand. They got arrested, after arriving by Taxi at the refugee camp White Water, Petchabun. On the same day Thai police brought them back to Nong Khai province, Thailand, and they are detained in the Nong Khai province detention facility.
 
Before they fled to Thailand, the group lived in-hiding, in Laotian conflict areas, in mountainous Phou Dapho and Phou Bia, province Xieng Khouang.
 
The Phou Bia group merged with their relatives from the Phou Dapho group , while they fled from place to place, running away from being hunted, chased and attacked by Laotian military.
 
The second Hmong group of 17 people escaped from Laos to Thailand Spetember 17th 2006, again by boat to Nong Khai province, were they got arrested on their way to the refugee camp of over 7500 Hmong in Petchabun province. The 17 people are since then in the same Nong Khai detention facility.
 
First detained group:
 
Names: (please note, the gender is guessed, not confirmed)
 
1. Soua Yang
2. Yao Yang
3. Padai Yang
4. Anou Yang
5. Nong Yang
6. Der Yang
7. Tong Yang
8. Koua Yang
9. Neng Yang
10. Payao Thao
11. Neng Yang
12. Cheng Yang
13. Ge Yang
14. Mai Yang
15. Lue Yang
16. Yer Yang
17. Nao Pao Xiong
18. Mee Thao
19. Thao Pao Xiong
20. Mai Chao Xiong
21. Mai Shoua Xiong
22. Shoua Xiong
23. Paoge Xiong
24. Maiyong Xiong
25. Chue Xeng Xiong
26. Neng Thong Xiong
27. Chou Xiong
28. Paochoua Xiong
29. Yee Xiong
30. Soua Xiong
31. Pashoua Blay Xiong
32. Chue Xiong
33. Nou Xiong
34. Neng Vang
35. Chao Yang

Second group:

1. Pao Vang
2. Xai Vang
3. Chee
4. Yer
5. Lia
6. Neng Ihou Vang
7. Ma Vang
8. Chue Nou Xiong
9. Pao Shouaneng Xiong
10. Xeng Xiong
11. Ker Vue
12. Cheng Vang
13. Thong Vang
14. Kue Vang
15. Nhia Vang
16. Neng Vang
17. Paxhia Vang

Editor's Note: Check the HNN archives for previous stories on Hmong refugee crisis.