May 28, 2008

Hmong: Urgent Appeal For Help After Camp Burns


Sample ImageHmong diaspora will embark on a hunger strike to highlight the plight of their brethren in Thailand who are now disposed after their refugee camp was destroyed.

Below is a press release issued by the World Hmong People’s Congress:

Twenty-five Hmong leaders will be on a hunger strike [at the Food Smart, 544 University Ave. St. Paul, MN 55103] from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and supported by the Hmong community due to their Hmong brothers and sisters did not have any foods, clothes, and a place to sleep since the Camp was burned down last Friday 23 [May], 2008 in Huay Nam Khao Refugee Camp, Phetchanboun Province, Thailand.

Hmong victims reported that about 10:00 a.m. on Friday May 23, 2008, the Thai authorities entered to the Hmong refugee camp, threaten Hmong with guns and sticks, forced everyone to leave their homes; they did not have time to take their belongings. “We had not burned our shelters” - stated a Hmong lady who cried and watched [as] her home is the next one to be torched by Thai authorities.

According to Pakistan Observer May 24, 2008, about 1500 of the Hmong bamboo grass-roof shelters were burned down.

The World Hmong People’s Congress, [makes an] urgent appeal to the United States Government, United Nations, European Union, ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), NGOs (nongovernmental organizations), and the International Community to take the following urgent actions:

1) IMMDIATELY provide humanitarian aid such as food, clothes, shelters, and healthcare to the 8000 Hmong refugee camp in Huay Nam Khao, Phetchanboun Province, Thailand;

2) REQUEST Thai government to allow the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and other NGOs to enter the camp to screen and register these Hmong refugees, since Thailand is a member of the UN;

3) APPEAL to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to address the Hmong crisis both in Thailand and Laos at the UN Security Council and the General Assembly for a solution since it was recommended by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) 2003;

4) DEMAND that Chommaly Sayasone, the President of Lao People’s Democratic Republic and his regime must immediately stop his race policy against the HMONG CHAOFA INDIGENOUS NATION, including the use of Vietnamese mercenaries to hunt the Hmong civilians in the rainforest and start an initiative to find a peaceful dialogue with the Hmong ChaoFa, at Hmong ChaoFa State (Xaisomboun Special Zone) as it was strongly repeated recommend by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (66th Session March 2005 Geneva, Switzerland).