New University of Minnesota Professor, Mai Na Lee, Teaches First Hmong History Class

It's an old article but well worth noting & sharing

Submitted by Bob San
University News Service



Mai Na Lee, the first female Hmong professor at the University of Minnesota, is accustomed to charting new courses.

Lee is the first Hmong woman to earn a PHD from UW-Madison. She is also the first Hmong in the United States to earn a PHD degree in history.

This fall at the U of M, Lee is teaching the first course on Hmong history titled: Hmong History Across the Globe. It is believed that this is the first time a Hmong history class is being offered as a regular curriculum course at a major research university in the U.S. There are classes about the experience of Hmong in the United States and classes on Hmong culture and language at various universities; but Lee's class, which examines Hmong interaction with lowland Southeast Asian states (pre-1893), under French colonial rule (1893-1955) and their entanglements with the Americans as guerrilla soldiers in a Secret War in Laos (1960-75) and subsequent exile to the West (1975-2006), is the first of its kind.

Lee was born in Laos and came to the United States when she was 12. Her family settled in Wisconsin, moved to St. Paul and returned to Wisconsin. She came back to Minnesota when she enrolled at Carleton College in Northfield. She started out as a pre-med major, having geared toward the sciences since high school, but decided to learn about the history of Hmong. Much to her surprise, there was nothing to learn. "When I went to the library there were lots of materials about India, China and Japan but there were nothing about Hmong."

Lee found her calling.

"I started getting interested in the history of the Hmong people," Lee recalled. "I needed to know and write about my own history."

An encounter with Carleton history professor Chang-tai Hung inspired Lee to abandon the financially secure pre-med degree for the less financially secure, but the soul-searching career of an historian.

"Professor Hung's lecture on the triumphs and barriers of Chinese nationalists of the

early 20th century who searched for ways to save their peoples' souls really inspired me to become a historian, because at that time in my life (as well as now), I was very concerned about the soul (history) of my own people," Lee recalled.

Lee changed her major to East Asian (China and Japan) history with a concentration in women's studies and graduated with a BA from Carleton. She went on to earn her Master's degree and PhD in Southeast Asian history with emphasis on the history of Hmong from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In 2005, Lee again broke new ground when she wrote her dissertation titled: The dream of the Hmong kingdom: Resistance, collaboration, and legitimacy under French colonialism (1893-1955, (Laos, Vietnam). Her paper was the first scholarly journal to explore Hmong history in the Southeast Asian context.

"That (the fact that nothing had been written about Hmong history) is just sad, because the Hmong have played such a central role in the first and second Indochina Wars in Laos," Lee said. "You don't read about them and things you read are not historically accurate."

As Lee neared graduation, she anticipated a hard time finding a tenure track job as a historian of Southeast Asia who specialized on the Hmong, a highly marginal topic in the field.

"The Hmong, or for that matter, Highlanders and Montagnards, are not the most significant topics among the ranks of Southeast Asian scholars," Lee said. "Most scholars of Southeast Asia focus their attention on the plains, on the lowlanders - Thais, Indonesians, Filipinos, etc. So, I had been quite depressed about my job prospects. It's one thing to do history to try to find your people's soul, but it's quite another to realize that what you do may not put food on your table because it is not popular among your cohorts. As I approached the completion of my studies, that reality hit me. Here I was, all those years, driven only by my idealism and dreams, and now I had to think about paying back student loans."

But thanks to the work of U of M professors Ann Waltner and Mary Jo Maynes, Lee was offered a great opportunity. Waltner, a professor of history, and Maynes, then chair in the history department, convinced the higher up administrators to appoint Lee as a Presidential Post-doctorate for two years (2005 & 2006) until the tenured-track position opened up this fall.

"I am here because of people who see a need for a Hmong historian at the U of M," Lee said. "Although the timing of my arrival to the university is a bit late, considering that the Twin Cities has been home to the densest Hmong population anywhere in the globe for the last 30 years, it was perfect for me. If I had gone to Florida or Massachusetts I would teach just Southeast Asian history, but not about the Hmong," Lee said.

Lee also is drawn by the large and vibrant Hmong community in the Twin Cities. She is particularly excited about the fact that her courses may channel more Hmong students to study Hmong history.

"I went into history for personal knowledge and gratification," Lee said. "Teaching at the U of M will allow me to work with Hmong students who may also have a longing to search for their history and personal identity."

"This unique course will be of particular interest to anyone who works with or simply wishes to gain more knowledge about the current status of the Hmong and their past history and about how they ended up in the United State," Lee said.

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Bill would allow Hmong veterans to be buried in U.S. national cemeteries

By MICHAEL DOYLE
Sun-Star Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- Hmong and Laotian war veterans could secure treasured burial spots in U.S. national cemeteries under legislation now being drafted by San Joaquin Valley lawmakers.

Prompted by the natives of Laos who fought side by side with U.S. Special Forces and CIA officers during the Vietnam War, the region's House members are seeking support for the burial benefit.

Supporters call this fair compensation for those who sacrificed much.

"We helped the United States fight that war," said Wangyee Vang, president of the Fresno-based Lao Veterans of America. "We deserve to have this." In a letter circulating among congressional colleagues, Reps.

Jim Costa, D-Fresno, George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, and Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, are rallying additional support for the Hmong burial bill. The bill will be introduced once more co-sponsors are gathered.

"This bill is written narrowly enough so as not to grant these individuals full veterans status, just internment benefits in national cemeteries, which they so richly deserve," states the letter, initiated by Costa's office.

Traditionally, the Hmong have resided in the mountains of Laos. Beginning in the early 1960s, Vang and others were recruited by U.S. personnel to assist in a largely covert theater of the broader war in Southeast Asia. Tens of thousands of Hmong and Lao are estimated to have died.

After the war, with Laos fallen into communist hands, many emigrated to this country. Presently, an estimated 130,000 Hmong and Lao live in California, with many in the San Joaquin Valley.

Along with the lowland Lao, the Hmong have lobbied in recent years for various immigration and other benefits. Until now, though, they have not explicitly sought burial rights in U.S. national cemeteries. Politically, it is easier to ask for one benefit at a time rather than an outright declaration of veteran status.

Steve Robertson, legislative affairs director for the American Legion, said Wednesday that extending the burial benefits to Hmong and Lao veterans is "in the realm of possibility," though the veterans advocacy organization has not taken a formal position.

"In general, we've been very, very supportive of assisting that group of veterans," Robertson said. Still, it's rare for anyone other than U.S. military veterans and their immediate family members to win burial rights in one of the 130 Veterans Administration national cemeteries. The closest parallel to the Hmong's request came several years ago when Congress extended the cemetery benefits to Filipino soldiers and guerrilla fighters from World War II.

A few other groups have likewise won national cemetery burial rights, including World War II merchant mariners and officers with the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The available burial areas overseen by the VA's National Cemetery Administration range from the 322-acre San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella to the four-acre Sitka National Cemetery in Alaska.

Separately, the Department of the Army oversees the world famous Arlington National Cemetery. Many facilities have been swamped with demand, particularly as veterans from the World War II and Korean War generation age.

"We've got a lot of cemeteries that are already maxed out," Robertson noted.

Verification of service is one potential hurdle, accentuated because of the covert nature of the war in Laos.

Unlike U.S. military veterans, the Hmong were not provided a DD-214 form that attests to their service. Previous bills aiding the Hmong typically required proof such as affidavits signed by superior officers.

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Hmong, Lao veterans seek burials in national cemeteries

By Michael Doyle | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON -- Hmong and Laotian war veterans could secure treasured burial spots in U.S. national cemeteries under legislation now being drafted by San Joaquin Valley lawmakers.

Prompted by the natives of Laos who fought side by side with U.S. Special Forces and CIA officers during the Vietnam War, the region's House members are seeking support for the burial benefit. Supporters call this fair compensation for those who sacrificed much.

"We helped the United States fight that war," said Wangyee Vang, president of the Fresno-based Lao Veterans of America. "We deserve to have this."

In a letter circulating among congressional colleagues, Reps. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, and Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, are rallying additional support for the Hmong burial bill. The bill will be introduced once more co-sponsors are gathered.

"This bill is written narrowly enough so as not to grant these individuals full veterans status, just internment benefits in national cemeteries, which they so richly deserve," states the letter, initiated by Costa's office.

Traditionally, the Hmong have resided in the mountains of Laos. Beginning in the early 1960s, Vang and others were recruited by U.S. personnel to assist in a largely covert theater of the broader war in Southeast Asia. Tens of thousands of Hmong and Lao are estimated to have died.

After the war, with Laos fallen into communist hands, many emigrated to this country. Presently, an estimated 130,000 Hmong and Lao live in California, with many in the San Joaquin Valley.

Along with the lowland Lao, the Hmong have lobbied in recent years for various immigration and other benefits. Until now, though, they have not explicitly sought burial rights in U.S. national cemeteries. Politically, it is easier to ask for one benefit at a time rather than an outright declaration of veteran status.

Steve Robertson, legislative affairs director for the American Legion, said Wednesday that extending the burial benefits to Hmong and Lao veterans is "in the realm of possibility," though the veterans advocacy organization has not taken a formal position.

"In general, we've been very, very supportive of assisting that group of veterans," Robertson said.

Still, it's rare for anyone other than U.S. military veterans and their immediate family members to win burial rights in one of the 130 Veterans Administration national cemeteries. The closest parallel to the Hmong's request came several years ago when Congress extended the cemetery benefits to Filipino soldiers and guerrilla fighters from World War II.

A few other groups have likewise won national cemetery burial rights, including World War II merchant mariners and officers with the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The available burial areas overseen by the VA's National Cemetery Administration range from the 322-acre San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella to the four-acre Sitka National Cemetery in Alaska.

Separately, the Department of the Army oversees the world famous Arlington National Cemetery. Many facilities have been swamped with demand, particularly as veterans from the World War II and Korean War generation age.

"We've got a lot of cemeteries that are already maxed out," Robertson noted.

Verification of service is one potential hurdle, accentuated because of the covert nature of the war in Laos. Unlike U.S. military veterans, the Hmong were not provided a DD-214 form that attests to their service. Previous bills aiding the Hmong typically required proof such as affidavits signed by superior officers.

The Hmong burial benefits bill will leave verification standards up to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Book shines light on Hmong recipes

By JOAN OBRA
The Fresno Bee
Quick question: Can you name three Hmong dishes? If you can't, that's no surprise.

For even in the San Joaquin Valley, home to one of the country's largest Hmong populations, the cuisine of this Southeast Asian group largely remains a mystery.

But a new book could change that. "Cooking from the Heart: The Hmong Kitchen in America" (University of Minnesota Press, $29.95) is a landmark work that chronicles the Hmong experience -- from traditional foods in the mountains of Laos, to dishes they share with other Southeast Asian cultures, and finally, to new meals that evolved in America.

Most of these dishes aren't served in restaurants.

"It's very much a cooking culture," says co-author Sami Scripter. "I learned from just being involved."

"Cooking from the Heart" is the fruit of a long friendship between Scripter and co-author Sheng Yang. The two met more than 25 years ago, when Scripter worked at the elementary school Yang attended in Portland, Ore.

Scripter's daughter was the same age as Yang, and the two families became close. Yang even lived with the Scripters for about a year to improve her English.

Their book notes that they prepared meals together: "Sami learned to cook rice the Hmong way using an hourglass-shaped pot and woven basket steamer, and Sheng learned how to make (Sami's husband's) favorite dinner: meat loaf, baked potatoes and peach pie."

As Scripter learned more secrets of the Hmong kitchen, idle talk of penning a cookbook turned into a project that took her to Hmong communities across the country.

Recipes include ones from Fresno, such as the salty, spicy, tempura-battered shrimp made by the mother-in-law of Yang's daughter.

Indeed, the Valley is an ideal place to use this cookbook. For it's one of the few places in the United States where the ingredients are widespread.

Browse through the Asian sections in Save Mart supermarkets, and you can make stir fries with beef, string beans and oyster sauce, or chicken wings stuffed with vegetables, vermicelli noodles and ground pork.

If you visit farmers markets, ask Southeast Asian growers to bring fresh lemongrass and Thai chili peppers. With these staples and Save Mart's Asian condiments, you can cook dishes such as chicken drumsticks with Hmong-style barbecue sauce and cracked crabs flavored with chilies, coconut milk and herbs.

And if you shop at the Valley's Asian markets, you're in for a treat.

Buy Hmong sausage and cook it with cabbage. Or look for toasted sticky rice flour and make larb, a popular Laotian salad of ground meat or fish that's mixed with lots of seasonings, then served with lettuce and sticky rice.

Local resources can help you move beyond the book. For example, Scripter and Yang describe some of the herbal medicines used extensively by the Hmong, but they don't delve deeply into it.

Herbal medicine "is as much about the practitioner as it is about the herbs itself," Scripter says. "You go to that person and that person says, 'When did the rash start? Tell me about this, tell me about that.' Almost always, (the treatment) is not just one herb but it's several of them together."

At the University of California Kearney Agricultural Center in Parlier, a new garden offers the public a rare look at about 50 of these herbs. As perhaps the only Hmong research garden in the country, it includes common and scientific names for the plants.

"They're not really common on California farms," says UC farm adviser Richard Molinar, who created the garden with his field assistant, Michael Yang.

A recent tour with local Hmong herbalists showed the overlap between the culinary and medicinal. To treat a rash, bruise some garlic chives and rub them into the skin, May Xiong says.

Vietnamese coriander (also known as Vietnamese mint, laksa leaf and luam laws in Hmong), helps blood clot, she adds.

Xiong and others collected a mix of herbs and tied them into a bundle. Combined with chicken in a soup, it helps mothers heal after giving birth, they say.

In their book, Scripter and Sheng Yang include a recipe for this soup.

"Women who eat this soup after bearing a child also maintain strong bones in old age," they write.

Still other herbs are strictly medicinal, with an unpleasant flavor. "Cooking from the Heart" describes such a soup that Sheng Yang's sister ate after breaking her leg and pelvis in a sledding accident. She healed so quickly, it "astounded" the Western health professionals.

Of course, using these herbs properly requires the expertise of a Hmong herbalist. Visit Xiong in XC Supermarket (formerly TC Supermarket) at East Kings Canyon Road and Winery Avenue.

It's just one more reason to explore local Asian markets.

"A person has got to be willing to step out of what they are accustomed to," Scripter says. To experience all that Hmong cuisine has to offer, "you've got to be willing to go into an Asian grocery store and figure out what you're looking at."

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Lao Hmong Veterans Bill Spearheaded in U.S. Congress by Jim Costa, Nunes, Cardoza, Radanovich, Kagen, Honda

Colonel Wangyee Vang, of the Lao Veterans of America Institute in Fresno, California, has been in Washington, D.C. urging bipartisan support for U.S. Congressman Jim Costa's (D-CA) effort to honor Lao Hmong veterans with burial benefits. (Photo Credit: Center for Public Policy Analysis courtesy Lao Veterans of America Institute)

2009-10-27 16:21:28 - The hoped for, and anticipated, new legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, to seek to honor Lao and Hmong veterans and grant them burial benefits in the United States, has been spearheaded, or supported, by U.S. Congressmen Jim Costa (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Steve Kagen (D-WI), Mike Honda (D-CA), Tim Holden (D-PA), Frank Wolf (R-VA), Jim Langevin (D-RI ), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Ron Kind (D-WI) and others.

Washington, D.C., Fresno, California and Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 27, 2009

A bipartisan coalition in the U.S. House of Representatives led by U.S. Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA) have expressed their intention to introduce legislation to honor and seek to grant veterans burial benefits at U.S. national cemeteries to Lao and Hmong veterans who served in defense of the Kingdom of Laos
during the Vietnam War.

“As you may know, Officers from the CIA's Special Activities Division trained and led Hmong men in Laos and into Vietnam during the war. These indigenous forces numbered in the tens of thousands and they conducted direct missions against the Communist forces and their North Vietnamese supporters, fighting shoulder to shoulder with US soldiers said U.S. Congressman Costa in a recent letter he sent to Members of Congress seeking support for his potential new legislation.

Congressman Costa continued: “Since the end of the conflict in Vietnam, thousands of Hmong families have resettled in many areas around the United States, and successfully integrated into American society"

The hoped for, and anticipated, new legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to seek to honor Lao and Hmong veterans and grant them burial benefits in the United States has been spearheaded, or supported, by U.S. Congressman Jim Costa ( D-CA ), Congressman George Radanovich ( R-CA ), U.S. Congressman Devin Nunes ( R-CA ), U.S. Congressman Steve Kagen ( D-WI ), U.S. Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA), U.S. Congressman Tim Holden ( D-PA ), U.S. Congressman Frank Wolf ( R-VA ), U.S. Congressman Jim Langevin ( D-RI ), U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher ( R-CA ), U.S. Congressman Dennis Cardoza ( D-CA ), U.S. Congress Delahunt ( D-MA ), U.S. Congressman Jim Moran ( D-VA ) U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy ( D-RI ), U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin ( D-WI ), U.S. Congressman Ron Kind ( D-WI ) and others.

“We are very grateful for the crucial leadership of Congressman Jim Costa and the other Members of Congress from the Central Valley especially Congressman Devin Nunes, Congressman Dennis Cardoza and Congressman George Radanovich who have said that they will help to introduce this important bill to help our Lao and Hmong veterans with burial honors and benefits in the U.S. House of Representatives said Colonel Wangyee Vang, National President of the Lao Veterans of America Institute headquartered in Fresno, California. “The dignity and respect that this will help to bring our Lao and Hmong veterans is very important to the Lao and Hmong community and we appreciate very much the leadership of Congressman Costa and his colleagues in the U.S. Congress on this matter

“Led by U.S. Congressman Jim Costa, a bipartisan phalanx of Members of the U.S. Congress, appear to be poised to introduce historic new legislation to seek to grant burial benefits and help restore honor to Lao and Hmong veterans of the U.S. Secret War in Laos said Philip Smith, Executive Director of the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA).

The Lao Veterans of America, Inc., Lao Veterans of America Institute, Center for Public Policy Analysis, Counterparts, Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Department of Defense have held annual National Lao Hmong Veterans Recognition Day events in Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam War Memorial and U.S. Congress for over a decade to honor the Lao and Hmong veterans and their families. In 1997, a monument and tree was dedicated by the organizations in Arlington National Cemetery. www.media-newswire.com/release_1091987.html

The inscription on the monument reads:

“Dedicated To
The U.S. Secret Army
In The Kingdom Of Laos
1961 - 1973

In Memory Of the Hmong And Lao Combat
Veterans And Their American Advisors
Who Served Freedom's Cause In
Southeast Asia. Their Patriotic Valor
And Loyalty In The Defense Of Liberty And
Democracy Will Never Be Forgotten

YOV TSHU TXOG NEJ MUS IB TXHIS ( You Will Never Be Forgotten— Both in Lao Language and Hmong Language)

LAO VETERANS OF AMERICA
May 15, 1997”

Thousands of Lao and Hmong veterans and their refugee families from across the United States have attended the events in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. and Arlington Cemetery.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/laos-hmong-veterans-memorial-ceremony-at-arlington-national-cemetery-58047832.html

After a 10 year effort, in 2000, President Clinton signed into law the Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act spearheaded by the late U.S. Congressman Bruce Vento (D-MN) in 1989-2000, U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) the Lao Veterans of America, Inc. and others. The legislation (known as H.R. 371) granted honorary citizenship to some 10,000-13,000 Lao and Hmong veterans who served in the U.S. Secret Army in Laos and Kingdom of Laos during the Vietnam War.

The Lao Veterans of America, Lao Veterans of America Institute, Center for Public Policy Analysis and a coalition of Lao and Hmong organizations have sought to educate awareness about the plight of Lao and Hmong veterans in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Congress. media-newswire.com/release_1103634.html
presszoom.com/print_story_145173.html

Contact:

Mr. Juan Lopez or Ms. Maria Gomez
info@centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org

Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA)
Washington, D.C.
Tele. (202) 543-1444
www.cppa-dc.org

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Couple uses entrepreneurial spirit to serve Hmong in area

Q You just moved into this new building in July. Why did you buy the building?

A Chungyia Thao: Our business has expanded and we need a bigger space. We'd like to bring other businesses in here so when our customers or clients come in, we'd like to tell them we have other services too.

Q You're thinking of this as a one-stop shop for Hmong people?

A Chungyia: Right. We have three businesses (tenants) already. One is mortgage. One is my brother-in-law who is doing Hmong language classes and he is a Hmong cultural consultant. The third one is a home care agency from Michigan.

Maiyoua Thao: Other services that we'd like to see are like insurance or investments.

Q You own four businesses catering to the needs of the Hmong community, including translating services, a business and residential directory, a grocery and a home care agency. The home care is new?

A Maiyoua: Yes. It's for seniors and disability. The elderly are the ones who are suffering from the injuries from Laos or depression.

Q Is the need very big?

A Chungyia: We get calls every day for PCW (personal care workers). The Hmong parents don't want to go live in assisted living because they don't have Hmong food. They don't have Hmong workers. It's hard to communicate.

Maiyoua: The elderly don't want to go to a nursing home. It costs less to stay home than go to a nursing home. (PCWs) help with daily living activities and personal hygiene. We can help them until they get very severe and they need more skilled care. We send a nurse in to assess what kind of needs they have. The PCW have to have six months experience or train for 40 hours in training classes. We do TB tests and background checks.

Q What is your translation service?

A Maiyoua: It's Hmong to English. We also have Spanish, American Sign Language and other languages.

Q Why did you sell your Asian Taste restaurant in Appleton?

A Maiyoua: It's a lot of work. We added a nightclub to it because there wasn't any entertainment for Hmong people between age 30 to 55. We work here Monday to Friday, and then Friday evening we had to be there. Saturday night we had to be there.

Q You have a lot on your plate and you also have four sons. Why start all these businesses?

A Chungyia: My part of the family, we have businesses. Her part of the family also has businesses. They've been doing business for generations.

Q So you both come from entrepreneurial families?

A Maiyoua: Our parents started their businesses here and we learn from them. The more we do, the more we see many directions out there. Many opportunities. The more we do to help our community, the more we see the needs out there. Doing one thing leads to another.

Q You helped the last wave of refugees get settled. Are any of them starting businesses?

A Maiyoua: One started his own business, a sushi business in a grocery store.

Q What skills do Hmong people need to learn to adapt to business here?

A Chungyia: They have a lack of management skills. If you don't have management skills, you cannot go very far. They tend to do grocery, and they think when they buy the product from the wholesaler, they just set it on the shelf and stay at the cash register. The customer walks in and gets what they want and they just collect the money. It's not that easy.

Q What is your overall business goal?

A Chungyia: Our goal is to meet our clients' needs. We not only do that, but we provide free service to them. One of our employees brings in a phone bill and we call the phone company and dispute the phone bill. If they get laid off, we call the state for them for unemployment.

Q But you can't make money if you do that.

A Chungyia: We think that as you own your own business you have to go extra mile to help your client, to help the community. They will advertise your service to the larger community.

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Hmong Sisters pho noodle brand

Look what I found when going to the Asian store the other day to make pho for the family! Hmong Sisters noodle brand!

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Veterans of Laos Secret War Mobilize on Capitol Hill

"Colonel Wangyee Vang, and the Lao Veterans of America Institute's delegation of Lao and Hmong leaders have traveled from the Central Valley of California, and across the United States, for crucial, high-level meetings on Capitol Hill and Washington, D.C., to seek to educate policymakers in the U.S. Congress and Obama Administration about the dire plight of Lao and Hmong veterans and their refugee families," said Philip Smith, Executive Director of the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA).

(Media-Newswire.com) - U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, D.C., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota and Fresno, California,October 23, 2009- Colonel Wangyee Vang, National President of the Lao Veterans of America Institute, meet with senior Members of the U.S. Congress and U.S. Congressional staff again today on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to seek to rally support to honor and grant veterans benefits to Lao and Hmong veterans who served in the “U.S. Secret Army” in Laos.

“Over the last week, and again today, I am here in Washington, D.C., to educate and provide critical information to the U.S Congress and Obama Administration about the Lao and Hmong veterans who should be honored and granted veterans benefits at the highest levels for their unique service to the United States to defend the Kingdom of Laos and Thailand during the Vietnam War,” said Colonel Wangyee Vang, National President of the Lao Veterans of America Institute ( LVAI ), the nation’s largest Lao and Hmong veterans organization. “We will not stop until action is taken to assist our Lao and Hmong veterans and we are appealing to key Members of Congress to help take the leadership in this noble and courageous effort to press forward.”

“We are here again to rally support in the U.S Congress and Obama Administration regarding the serious need for veterans benefits for the Lao and Hmong veterans,” explained Colonel Wangyee Vang from the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. “It is important for the U.S. Congress and Obama Administration to honor the Lao and Hmong veterans who served and suffered in the very heavy and bloody fighting as allies of the United States defending the Kingdom of Laos.”

“We are being told, and are hopeful, that potential legislation may be forthcoming soon from the U.S. Congress,” Mr. Vang concluded.

The potential development of new legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to seek to honor Lao and Hmong veterans and grant them burial benefits in the United States has been spearheaded, or supported, by U.S. Congressman Jim Costa ( D-CA ), George Radanovich ( R-CA ), U.S. Congressman Devin Nunes ( R-CA ), U.S. Congressman Steve Kagen ( D-WI ), U.S. Congressman Tim Holden ( D-PA ), U.S. Congressman Frank Wolf ( R-VA ), U.S. Congressman Jim Langevin ( D-RI ), U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy ( D-RI ), U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin ( D-WI ), U.S. Congressman Ron Kind ( D-WI ), U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher ( R-CA ), U.S. Congressman Dennis Cardoza ( D-CA ), U.S. Congress Delahunt ( D-MA ), U.S. Congressman Jim Moran ( D-VA ) and others.

“Colonel Wangyee Vang, and the Lao Veterans of America Institute's delegation of Lao and Hmong leaders have traveled from the Central Valley of California, and across the United States, for crucial, high-level meetings on Capitol Hill and Washington, D.C., to seek to educate policymakers in the U.S. Congress and Obama Administration about the dire plight of Lao and Hmong veterans and their refugee families,” said Philip Smith, Executive Director of the Center for Public Policy Analysis ( CPPA ). www.centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org

“Clearly, there remains a long overdue need to honor and grant veterans burial benefits to those Lao and Hmong combat veterans who fought to assist the United States in its military and clandestine struggle in the Kingdom of Laos during the Vietnam War against invading North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao Communist guerilla forces,” observed Smith.

“The Lao Veterans of America Institute, the Lao Veterans of America, Inc., the CPPA and others in the Lao and Hmong community are seeking to develop awareness about the urgent need to grant honor and dignity to the Lao and Hmong combat veterans, especially as it relates to granting honorary burial benefits to them,” Smith said.

In 1997, the Lao Veterans of America dedicated a monument in Arlington National Cemetery to the Lao and Hmong veterans and their American advisors. www.media-newswire.com/release_1091987.html

The Lao Veterans of America spearheaded legislation in the House and Senate, signed into law by President Clinton in 2000, that granted honorary U.S. citizenship to thousands of Lao and Hmong veterans of the U.S. Secret Army in Laos.

Potential forthcoming legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to seek to honor Lao and Hmong veterans and grant them burial benefits in the United States has been spearheaded, or supported, by U.S. Congressman Jim Costa ( D-CA ), George Radanovich ( R-CA ), U.S. Congressman Devin Nunes ( R-CA ), U.S. Congressman Steve Kagen ( D-WI ), U.S. Congressman Tim Holden ( D-PA ), U.S. Congressman Frank Wolf ( R-VA ), U.S. Congressman Jim Langevin ( D-RI ), U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy ( D-RI ), U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin ( D-WI ), U.S. Congressman Ron Kind ( D-WI ), U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher ( R-CA ), U.S. Congressman Dennis Cardoza ( D-CA ), U.S. Congress Delahunt ( D-MA ), U.S. Congressman Jim Moran ( D-VA ) and others.

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Mr. Juan Lopez or Ms. Maria Gomez
Tele. ( 202 ) 543-1444
info@centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org

Center for Public Policy Analysis
2020 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Suite No.# 212
Washington, D.C. 20006
United States of America ( USA )

The Center for Public Policy Policy is a non-profit research organization and think-tank focused on foreign policy and national security issues. www.cppa-dc.org

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Lao Veterans of America Institute Appeals For Laos, Hmong Burial Honors

Colonel Wangyee Vang of the Fresno, California, Lao Veterans of America Institute is in Washington, D.C., to urge Members of the U.S. Congress and President Obama to help Lao Hmong Veterans with Benefits ( Photo: Center for Public Analysis--Courtesy Lao Veterans of America Institute )

Members of the U.S. Congress and the Obama Administration in Washington, D.C., have been urged by the Fresno, California-based Lao Veterans of America Institute and others to move forward to honor and grant veterans burial benefits to Lao and Hmong combat veterans who served with U.S. military and clandestine units in the Kingdom of Laos during the Vietnam War.

Washington, D.C., St. Paul, Minnesota and Fresno, California, October 21, 2009

Members of the U.S. Congress and the Administration of U.S. President Obama have been urged to move forward to honor and grant veterans burial benefits to Lao and Hmong combat veterans who served with U.S. military and clandestine units in the Kingdom of Laos during the Vietnam War. The effort
has been spearheaded by a coalition of organizations including the Center for Public Policy Analysis, the Lao Veterans of America Institute, the Lao Veterans of America and others.

“After years of education and advocacy by key members of the Lao and Hmong veterans and the community, Members of the U.S. Congress are now apparently moving forward with potential new legislation that will seek to grant burial benefits to Lao and Hmong combat veterans who served honorable in combat with U.S. clandestine and military forces during the Vietnam War,” said Philip Smith, Executive Director of Center for Public Policy Analysis in Washington, D.C. www.centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org

”The historic contributions of the Lao and Hmong veterans to U.S. national security during the Vietnam War and the defense of the Kingdom of Laos and the Kingdom of Thailand is important to understand, memorialize and remember, especially in the context of the larger conflict in Vietnam and geostrategic superpower struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Vietnam War and the Cold War,” said Philip Smith at a National Lao Hmong Veterans Day Recognition Ceremonies in Arlington Cemetery in May of 2008. presszoom.com/print_story_145173.html

Efforts regarding the potential forthcoming legislation have been spearheaded, or supported, by U.S. Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA), U.S. Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA), U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), U.S. Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), U.S. Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI), U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), U.S. Congress Delahunt (D-MA), U.S. Congressman Steve Kagen (D-WI) and others.

“We, the Lao Veterans of America Institute, have been vigorously working for the last 10 years to educate Members of the U.S. Congress and the Administration about the urgent need for the Hmong and Lao veterans’ benefits who those combat veterans who were recruited by the American advisors in Laos during the Vietnam War,” said Colonel Wangyee Vang, National President and Founder of the Lao Veterans of America, Inc. (LVAI). The Lao Veterans of America is the nation’s largest ethnic Lao and Hmong veterans organization representing thousands of Lao and Hmong veterans and their families across the United States.

Colonel Wangyee explained further: “Our Lao Hmong veterans supported the United States’ war effort in Vietnam and Laos, such as interdicting the flow of communist north Vietnam’s troops and war supplies on the Ho Chi Minh trail, rescued American Aircrew shot down by North Vietnam Army (NVA), guarded the U.S. radar station at the top of Pha Thi mountain, and provided security for U.S. personnel. It is the largest cover war in the American history. From 1961 to 1975, we lost over 35,000 killed in action, over 50,000 wounded, and over 2500 missing in actions. “

From Washington, D.C., Colonel Wangyee Vang continued: “The surviving veterans of the Lao Hmong U.S. secret army deserve to receive many of the benefits that the United States has for its veterans. We have asked for it because we joined the United States as special allies during the covert war in Laos at the time of the Vietnam War. As one former U.S. Congressman mentioned in his statement if it was not for the Lao Hmong’s assistance the United States’ casualties number may not be 58,000 but it will be 275,000. We as Lao and Hmong combat veterans helped serve the America’s national interests in defense of the Kingdom of Laos and the Kingdom of Thailand.”

“Our friend and colleague, the late U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN), who we worked closely with also stated at the Senate on October 17, 2002, that “Hmong soldiers died at ten times the rate of American soldiers in the Vietnam War. Yet, because America's war effort in Laos was covert, the sacrifices and service of the Hmong and Lao veterans is still largely untold. Now we are American citizens and we deserve honor and help, especially with benefits that will help us provide and honorable burial to our Lao and Hmong veterans. We thank to all the many U.S. Congresspersons who are helping us and support our efforts in this matter.” concluded Colonel Wangyee Vang.

The Lao Veterans of America Institute, the Lao Veterans of America, Inc., the Center for Public Policy Analysis, Counterparts and a coalition of organizations hosted annual National Lao Hmong Veterans Recognition Day Ceremonies in May 2009 at Arlington National Cemetery in the Washington, D.C. The events have been held each year since 1994 in Washington, D.C. and nationally to mark the exodus of the Lao Hmong veterans and their refugee families from the Kingdom of Laos when it was captured by the invading North Vietnamese Army and Communist Pathet Lao insurgents.
www.media-newswire.com/release_1091987.html

Over the last year, the Lao Veterans of America Institute, Lao Veterans of America, Inc. and CPPA have also hosted and cosponsored events in Fresno, California, Providence, Rhode Island, Arlington, Virginia, and nationally in Washington, D.C. to seek to help honor the 15th anniversary of the publication of “Tragic Mountains: The Hmong, the Americans and the Secret Wars for Laos.” (Indiana University Press) by Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt.

The highly acclaimed book by Dr. Hamilton-Merritt details the history of the Lao and Hmong veterans of the U.S. Secret War in Laos and the plight of their refugee families. www.tragicmountians.org

The event was cosponsored by Indiana University Press.
iupress.typepad.com/blog/2009/02/in-response-to-recent-dire-deve

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Center for Public Policy Analysis
Contact: Mr. Juan Lopez or Ms. Maria Gomez
Tele. (202) 543-1444
info@centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org
www.centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org

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Hmong interpreter maintains the bridge between two cultures

Merced Sun-Star - SUN-STAR PHOTO BY LISA JAMES Gao Chang poses outside of the Merced Commons Apartments at a crime prevention class last Thursday. Chang is the Merced's only Hmong/ Lao interpreter.

The victim was young, maybe 16. Somehow the Merced police officer assigned to her high school had learned what was going on: her stepbrother was sexually assaulting her at home.

The girl's mother, who came to Merced from Laos, spoke no English. And that's where interpreter Gao Chang came in.

The school officer walked into Chang's small office last Tuesday at the police department's south station. "He said, 'We need to go to talk to the mother,'" Chang recounted later.

They left for the victim's house immediately. Chang did the talking. He told the woman what they suspected. He gave her information about where to take her daughter for free counseling, then explained that social services could take away her children if she failed to protect them from abuse at home.

As Chang left he handed the woman his card. Don't hesitate to phone with questions, he told her.

Before his workday ended, he answered one more call. A young man who spoke only Hmong had failed to stop at a stop sign on M Street. Someone needed to explain what he'd done wrong.

Chang is one of two interpreters employed by the city of Merced, and he is the only one who speaks Lao and Hmong. Officially, Chang works for the police department, but he's frequently called on by other city agencies.

Besides responding to murder scenes and traffic stops, he spends his days decoding trash and water bills for recent immigrants, translating city brochures, resolving landlord-tenant disputes and explaining why households within city limits aren't allowed to keep more than two live chickens.

He is an adviser, a liaison and, sometimes, a lifeline. In many ways, he is the city's link to its Southeast Asian population.

"Anytime someone calls speaking Hmong or Lao, they're transferred to Gao," Merced Police Lt. Andre Matthews said. "They get to know him fast. They know he's the one who's going to help."

Roughly 10,000 Southeast Asians live in the Merced area, according to Lao Family Community Inc., a local nonprofit. They began coming here 30 years ago in the wake of the Vietnam War as refugees from the mountains and jungles of Laos, and they are still arriving today.

Hmong soldiers were recruited by the CIA in the 1960s to wage a secret war against Communist rebels in Laos. Chang's father was among those soldiers. Later, to escape reprisal, many fled with their families to refugee camps before resettling in the U.S. Thousands have come to the Central Valley.

Chang, who is 50, left Laos in 1979. He spent a decade at a United Nations refugee camp in Thailand, where he met his wife. When they moved from the camp to Merced with three small children in 1989, Chang spoke little English.

He began taking classes at Merced College and got a job as a teacher's aide. He earned an associate's degree in social services and eventually began working at Lao Family, where he spent seven years as a counselor and interpreter. He speaks with a thick accent, but his English is otherwise perfect.

The city hired him five years ago. His official job title is police community aide. "I just think of myself as a helper," Chang said.

A small, earnest man and a father of seven, he wears a tie to work every day. He starts promptly at 8 a.m. by checking his voicemail for urgent messages. Besides police officers and other city employees who need help helping residents who speak only Hmong or Lao, members of the public often contact Chang directly.

"The Southeast Asian community is a very centralized community here," Matthews explained. "Even if they haven't met Gao yet, they've heard about him from people they know." Lao Family and other agencies also distribute his business cards.

When he's not responding to police calls -- some days he gets none, others he spends rushing between them well into the night -- Chang sets to work translating written materials and coordinating a number of programs aimed at helping Merced's Southeast Asian residents adapt and prosper.

He interprets classes for parents about how to keep their kids out of gangs. He organizes quarterly meetings between city officials and heads of the community's 18 major Southeast Asian clans.

He also leads monthly educational gatherings open to all community members, where he discusses topics that can be especially vexing to Hmong immigrants. He cites statistics that say 85 percent of Southeast Asian immigrants own guns and that their families are far more likely to be affected by domestic violence and gambling addiction.

"So those are the things we talk about," Chang said. "We tell them about gun safety, and we've passed out gun locks. We talk about domestic violence and gambling, and we also just explain the laws here and programs that can help them."

Chang, who also speaks Thai, is the third person to hold his position, which the city created in 1990. Part of his salary is funded by a federal grant; the city pays the rest. Besides Chang, the police department employs one other community aide, a Spanish speaker.

Chang's predecessor, city councilman Noah Lor, described the role as "a bridge between two cultures."

"In our culture it's OK to discipline your children harshly," Lor explained. "We believe that a perfect eclipse means a demon is eating the moon and that you should shoot guns into the sky to stop it. Here, you can get in big trouble for those things."

He said Chang helps educate the police about Hmong culture as much as he helps Hmong residents understand local laws. "Our officers need to be aware of the differences so they're not pulling guns on people who don't even realize they're doing something wrong," Lor said. "A little understanding on both sides can go a long way."

Chang agrees. He said the only part of the job he doesn't like is testifying in criminal trials. He added that he feels "honored" to come to work each day.

"I'm very happy to have this opportunity to help the community," he said. "Coming to a new country where everything is different -- it can be very hard.

"But it doesn't have to be like that."

Thanks to Chang, it's been easier for a lot of Hmong and Lao Mercedians.

Reporter Corinne Reilly can be reached at (209)385-2477 or creilly@mercedsun-star.com

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Laos Students Urge Thailand’s Gen. Anupong, PM Abhisit To Release Hmong Refugees Prior to SEA Games

2009-10-15 20:26:04 - Laos and Hmong-American Students from across the U.S. are urging Thailand’s General Anupong and Prime Minister Abhisit To Release 5,000 Lao Hmong Refugees Prior to to the Start of the Southeast Asia Games (SEA) Games in Laos.


Lao Hmong Students Give Voice to Laos Hmong Refugee Crisis in Washington, D.C. & Honor 15th Anniversary of "Tragic Mountains" & author and humanitarian Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt (Photo Credit: Courtesy Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt )

Laotian and Hmong students across the United States are urging the U.S. and Thailand’s government to help release some 5,000 Lao Hmong political refugees at Ban Huay Nam Khao and Nong Khai prior to the SEA games in Laos. The students are active with Laos Hmong scholars and advocates as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including Lao and Hmong human
rights and humanitarian organizations, seeking to grant political asylum to the refugees in Thailand and resettlement in third countries.

“With the approach of the SEA games in Laos, many Members of the U.S. Congress and Lao and Hmong student organizations in America are deeply concerned about the recent brutal crackdown and egregious human rights abuses directed against innocent Lao and Hmong refugees in Thailand said Philip Smith of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Public Policy Analysis ( CPPA )

Mr. Smith concluded: “In recent days, from October 6-10th, as the opening of the SEA games approach, more groups of heavily-armed special Thai troops have been mobilized and violently deployed by Prime Minister Abhisit and General Anupong to the Lao Hmong refugee camp to beat and coercively use their weapons and machine guns against the political refugees and their families who do not want to return to Laos, in an effort to force the Lao Hmong to volunteer to return to the horrific Stalinist regime in Laos they fled. The use of live-fire M-16 weapons by elements of the Thai Third Army and MOI soldiers against women and children in the refugee camp, as well as Lao Hmong clan and camp leaders, is very serious."

In February of 2009, many Lao and Hmong-American students participated in national policy events at the National Press Club and U.S. Congress. media-newswire.com/release_1085718.html

The events included special sessions of the U.S. Congressional Forum on Laos and a series of national policy conferences and meetings in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate organized to discuss current issues regarding the plight of the Lao and Hmong refugees and political and religious dissidents as well as to honor Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt and the 15th anniversary of the publication of Tragic Mountains: The Hmong the Americans and the Secret Wars for Laos (Indiana University Press). www.tragicmountains.org

Key speakers, participants and policy contributors, cosponsors included: U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Members of the U.S. Congress and staff; Dr. Jane Hamilton Merritt, Laos Hmong scholar, Nobel Prize Nominee and author; T. Kumar of Amnesty International; B. Jenkins Middleton, Former Vice President of the Export Import Bank; Distinguished U.S. Foreign Service Officer Edmund McWilliams, U.S. Department of State, retired; U.S. Ambassador H. Eugene Douglas, Former U.S. Ambassador; Schuyler Merritt, public policy research director; Lao and Hmong student leaders and organizations, including Oudong Saysana of the Lao Students Movement for Democracy and representatives of the Hmong Human Rights organization; Vaughn Vang, Director of the Lao Hmong Human Rights Council; Pamela Xiong and Lia Vang, of the Lao Hmong Diaspora Leadership Council; Colonel Wangyee Vang of the Lao Veterans of America Institute; the Lao Veterans of America, Inc.; Mr. Bounthanh Rathigna and Thongchanh Boulum of the United League for Democracy in Laos; Lao Community of Minnesota; Survive, Inc.; Indiana University Press; the Center for Public Policy Analysis and many others.
iupress.typepad.com/blog/2009/02/in-response-to-recent-dire-deve ..

Members of the Lao Students Movement for Democracy of October 1999 are still being imprisoned in Laos for peacefully protesting in Vientiane for change and an open society in Communist Laos.

"This generation of Hmong American college students is most impressive," said Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt, Nobel Peace Price nominee for her work on Hmong human rights issues. "Not only are these students exemplary academics, but many are dedicating themselves to finding justice for their fellow Hmong in jeopardy in refugee camps in Thailand and those suffering in Laos."

"Plaudits to the Hmong Human Rights organization at the University of Wisconsin Madison. These students important and tireless efforts in engaging Wisconsin's Senator Russell Feingold, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the entire Wisconsin Congressional Delegation, might well make the difference between life or death for some of those trapped in Ban Huay Nam Khao Camp in Thailand who face forced repatriation to Laos."

"Those who work on human rights issues in Asia know well how difficult it is to rescue people from injustice and terror. The energy, discipline and commitment to make known the plight of the Hmong political refugees in Thailand who face imminent forced repatriation place these Hmong American students on an international stage," explained Hamilton-Merritt, author of the prize-winning book, Tragic Mountains, The Hmong, The Americans and the Secret Wars for Laos. "Facing formidable opposition from the governments of Thailand and Laos, these students represent a spark of fire and dedication that could ignite appropriate action to rescue these Hmong refugees. Clearly stopping the forced repatriation of relatives of former American allies -- the Hmong -- during the Vietnam War who fear for their lives if forced back to Laos needs urgent resolution."

“As the Hmong Human Rights facilitator of the University of Wisconsin – Madison, I am requesting immediate action to resolve the atrocities afflicting Hmong political asylum refugees in Thailand and the innocent Hmong people being persecuted in Laos said Lao Hmong-America student leader Ms. Ger Yang from Wisconsin who participated in the national policy events in Washington, D.C. and U.S. Congress earlier this year.

Ms. Ger Yang said further: “We, the Hmong American student community, want the repatriation to stop now. It is unacceptable that the 158 political refugees in the Nong Khai Immigration Detention Center have not yet been resettled in third countries. We want an independent third party to screen the refugees at Ban Huay Nam Khao for political refugee status. We want the screening process to utilize only Hmong-speaking translators who are impartial and to provide anonymity and protection for the Hmong refugees who are speaking out. The Hmong refugees have been slowly deported back starting from a population of 8,000 ending with fewer than 5,000. The Hmong refugees should be resettled as soon as possible. The Hmong community including the Hmong Human Rights committee is very willing to assist in any way possible."

From Madison, Wisconsin, Ger Yang observed in conclusion: “I had the opportunity, along with fellow colleagues and Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt, to advocate for the Hmong refugees in Washington D.C. earlier this year in February. At that time, my colleague, Soua Pha stated that her cousin, Me Vang, is still in Nong Khai. His father died fighting with the United States which left Me orphaned. Me Vang was taken in by another family. Eventually, Me was thrown into Nong Khai along with many others who fear they will be persecuted if sent back to Laos. She gave an emotional speech during our Washington D.C. visit about reuniting Me Vang with his brother who resides in California. It is time to address the persecution of the Hmong and to close a chapter of the Vietnam War that is still being written."

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Grant Awarded to Boys & Girls Club for Hmong at Heart Program

The Oshkosh Area Foundation recently awarded a $5,000 Community Impact Grant to the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh for the Club's Hmong at Heart family support program. The program's goal is to help preserve time-honored traditions of the Hmong community.

On Sundays from noon to 4 p.m the Club opens its doors for the Hmong at Heart program. Through collaborative efforts, this initiative assists more than 200 participants in navigating their way through, what are often, unfamiliar surroundings. The program enables participants to overcome barriers through citizenship courses, English language instruction through UWO and legal advice from Legal Action.

During the Sunday program, cultural and recreational activities also take place including Hmong and Thai dance performances featuring the “Shimmering Girls”, American and Hmong cooking and sports.

Hmong history has been passed from one generation to another. With help from Hmong at Heart, generations of Hmong are gradually assimilating into American society, while still retaining and passing on knowledge about Hmong culture.

In the past, the Hmong community has expressed that the lack of affordable and convenient places to gather was a hardship. The Club's Hmong at Heart program is free to participants and offers a place where the Hmong culture can feel welcome and actively share important cultural traditions. The youth that regularly attend Hmong at Heart are also Club members that can be seen at the Club during the week.

For more information on the Hmong at Heart program or for a complete schedule, please contact Lori at the Boys & Girls Club at (920) 233-1414.

As always, the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh is a United Way Agency.

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Bus driver convicted in casino bus crash

COLUSA, Calif.—A Stockton bus driver has been convicted of 11 counts of gross vehicular manslaughter for a deadly crash in Colusa County last year.

After deliberating for about three hours Thursday, jurors convicted Quintin Watts of the manslaughter charges, as well as 21 counts of great bodily injury.

Watts was behind the wheel of a bus carrying 41 mostly elderly Hmong and Mien immigrants to the Colusa Casino Resort when the bus left a rural road and rolled over.

Authorities say Watts apparently dozed off at the wheel, leading to the crash.

Watts is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 4

Colusa County District Attorney John Poyner says the 53-year-old Watts is facing up to 76 years in prison.

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Laos, Hmong Crisis: Thailand's General Anupong Paojinda, Prime Minister Abhisit Open Fire on Refugees

"Royal Thai Third Army soldiers and Ministry of Interior (MOI) troops were apparently ordered by General Anupong Paojinda, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Interior Minister Chaoyarat Canvirakul to deploy to the Lao Hmong refugee camp at Ban Huay Nam Khao for the purpose of targeting specific Lao Hmong camp and clan leaders for abduction and forcible return to Laos," said Philip Smith, Executive Director of the CPPA in Washington, D.C.
(Media-Newswire.com) - October 6, 2009, Ban Huay Nam Khao, Thailand and Washington, D.C. - Newly deployed elements of the Royal Thai Third Army, backed by Ministry of Interior ( MOI ) troops, have opened fire with machine guns on Lao Hmong political refugees and asylum seekers at a refugee camp at Ban Huay Khao, Petchabun Province, Thailand in an effort to intimidate them and force them back to the communist regime in Lao they fled.

“Today, Prime Minister Abhisit and General Anupong have, ironically, ordered the use of U.S. taxpayer-supplied M-16 assault weapons, and thousands of rounds of M-16 ammunition, to be used in the hands of elements of the Royal Thai Third Army and Ministry of Interior troops against some 6,000 innocent Lao Hmong political refugees seeking asylum in Thailand,” said Philip Smith, of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Public Policy Analysis ( CPPA ).

Smith continued: “Strangely, in clear violation of international law and the repeated appeals by Members of the U.S. Congress to His Majesty the King of Thailand, Prime Minister Abhisit and General Anupong are still trying to outdo each other to force the Lao Hmong refugees back to the Stalinist regime in Laos, where the refugees clearly do not want to return, after escaping mass starvation, military attacks by the Lao Peoples Army and systemic religious and political persecution.”
http://www.media-newswire.com/release_1098681.html

The Lao Hmong refugees were allies of the United States and Thailand during the Vietnam War and its aftermath. His Majesty, the King of Thailand, has been a staunch advocate in support of granting political asylum to Lao Hmong refugees in Thailand and fostering their resettlement in third countries like the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France and elsewhere that have agreed to host them.
http://www.media-newswire.com/release_1100183.html

“Today, on October 6, 2009, about 7:00 PM ( Bangkok Time ), Commander Boua Thid, a Thai military commander lead eleven soldiers to covertly enter into the Lao Hmong refugee camp in Huay Nam Khao to seek to conduct the arrest, abduction and forced repatriation of a Lao Hmong man by the name of Nao Soua Vue,” said Vaughn Vang of the Lao Hmong Human Rights Council in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Mr. Vang continued “The Thai soldiers were very hostile toward Mr. Nao Soua Vue, threatening him and other Laotian and Hmong refugees in the camp, These Thai soldiers opened fire and all Thai soldier who were encircling and surrounding many of the Hmong refugees in the camp also open fire at about 15-20 feet above these refugees houses;; Reports described, the sound of the gun fire and bullet flying, almost like when the North Vietnam soldiers attacked Long Cheng air base in Laos many year ago.”

Vaughn Vang further stated: “Last night, thousands of Lao Hmong refugees in the camp in Ban Huay Nam Khao were very terrified by this attack by the Thai military and Ministry of Interior troops;, the refugees all stood up all night and cannot sleep, because they said it is unknown what is going to happen to their life in the night, and they are afraid that some of their fellow refugees may have been killed or wounded by the attack in the refugee camp.”

“We are urging the U.S and the United Nations to immediately seek to stop and reverse the Thai government’s policy under Prime Minister Abhisit and General Anupong of using increased military, physical and psychological force to repatriated these Lao Hmong refugees back to the murderous Communist Laos regime,” Vang said.
http://www.media-newswire.com/release_1096243.html

“Multiple sources in Thailand have confirmed that a heavily armed elite unit of some eleven ( 11 ) Royal Thai Third Army soldiers and Ministry of Interior ( MOI ) troops were apparently ordered by General Anupong Paojinda, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Interior Minister Chaoyarat Canvirakul to deploy to the Lao Hmong refugee camp at Ban Huay Nam Khao for the purpose of targeting specific Lao Hmong camp and clan leaders for abduction and forcible return to Laos,” said Philip Smith, Executive Director of the Center for Public Policy Analysis ( CPPA ) in Washington, D.C.

“Lao Hmong camp and clan leaders in Thailand specifically targeted for abduction and forced repatriation by the special Thai military unit to Laos include Mr. Nao Soua Vue and others,” Smith said. “To his dismay, Mr. Vue had several U.S.-made and supplied M-16 assault rifles pointed directly into his face by the special Thai military unit, and at the heads of his terrified wives and crying children, at the apparent direct orders of Prime Minister Abhisit and General Anupong.”

From the CPPA offices in Washington, D.C., Mr Smith stated further: “Ironically, in a dramatic display of waste, fraud and abuse, the American-made machine guns, M-16 rifles paid for by millions of dollars of American taxpayers’ money and supplied to Prime Minister Abhisit’s government in Thailand , were also fired into the air by Royal Thai Third Army troops under the command of General Anupong in the Hmong refugee camp at Petchabun within inches of the heads of innocent Lao Hmong political refugees.”

Mr. Smith continued: “The horrified and terror-stricken Lao Hmong refugees’ huts and houses were randomly strafed with bullets, and bursts of gun fire, by apparently amused and threatening Thai soldiers; for several hours, the American supplied weapons were fired at the Lao Hmong refugees into the twighlight and night with gunfire eventually illuminating the night sky over the camp; this in an effort to seek to force more Lao Hmong refugees back to the authoritarian, military junta in Laos where they fled horrific religious and political persecution.”
“As of the first week in October, this month, General Anupong and Prime Minister Thaksin. in cooperation with Royal Thai Ministry of Interior Minister Chaoyarat Canvirakul, have also ordered four more trucks of Royal Thai troops and MOI security forces to the Laos Hmong refugee’s camp in Huaj Nam Khao in an effort to prepare for the mass forced repatriation of Lao Hmong political refugees back to the repressive Stalinist regime in Laos where the refugees fled political and religious persecution,” Smith said further.

“Hundreds of new Thai military forces have been covertly moved into position in apparent preparations for a mass forced repatriation of the Lao Hmong political refugees at Ban Huay Nam Khao and Nong Khai, Thailand,” Smith observed.

“Today, many in Washington, D.C., the United States and the international community are deeply shocked and disappointed that following the official visit of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to New York and the Pittsburgh Summit in the United States, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit and General Anupong are using American.-provided M-16 automatic assault rifles and machine guns, American made guns and ammunition, against Laos Hmong refugees,” Smith stated.

“In the last 24 hours, Thai soldiers are firing their American-made and provided M-16 weapons with live ammunition into the air over the heads and make-shift houses and huts of the Lao Hmong refugees in and effort to psychologically intimidate them and force them to volunteer to return to the brutal communist regime in Laos they fled,,” Smith concluded. “There are unconfirmed reports that some Lao Hmong refugees may have been wounded, and possibly killed, in the camp by the outburst of gun fire over the last several hours and the chaos in the camp that has resulted by efforts of the Thai military and its special units to abduct and arrest key Lao Hmong camp and clan leaders.”

According to a Lao Hmong refugee camp and clan leader at Ban Huay Nam Khao who wishes to remain anonymous: “Why do we, the Lao Hmong refugees, not have the basic human rights to live and enjoy the liberty and justice as the United States and United Nations always preach to the world ?”

The Lao Hmong refugee camp leader from Huay Nam Khao said further: “ All we, the Lao and Hmong refugees, and asylum seekers, need and want are to live in peace, free from the political and religious persecution of the Laos military and communist regime; Therefore, we appeal to the United Nations and United States to immediately stop Thailand’s force repatriation policy of forcing us, the Lao Hmong refugees, back to Laos. We will not go back to the Lao communist regime that has hunted, chased and attacked, tortured and killed us and our freedom loving Laotian and Hmong people.”

Vaughn Vang, of the LHHRC from his offices in Green Bay, Wisconsin, concluded: “According to a Thai official at Huay Nam Khao, the Laotian and Hmong political refugees at Ban Huay Nam Khao have been told that the Thai government will conduct a mass forced repatriation of these Lao Hmong refugees back to Laos in the coming days and weeks. The Thai government under Prime Minister Abhisit and General Anupong has ordered more soldiers to help with the forced repatriation of these political refugees back to the communist regime in Laos that they fled .”

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Contact: Maria Gomez

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Hmong rally for accused conspirators

"What do we want? Case dismissed! When do we want it? Now!"

Tria Vang, 25-year-old Hmong activist and part of the Hmong American Ad Hoc Committee, led a spirited crowd of nearly 1,000 through cheers as well as a march around the Matsui Courthouse building.

Organized by the Ad Hoc Committee, Hmong Americans and their supporters protested an indictment against 12 Hmong men accused of conspiring to overthrow the Laos government. It mirrored a similar rally in May of this year for Hmong leader and former general, Vang Pao, 79, who was recently dismissed of the same charges on Sept. 18.

Only one day earlier, Sept. 17, brothers Jerry Yang, 58, and Thomas Yang, 47, were added as conspirators with the 10 others indicted nearly two and a half years ago. According to The Sacramento Bee, there will be very little movement in the case until March; U.S. District Court Judge Frank Damrell Jr. wants to allow the defendants time to review the government's evidence against them.

Vang, who also emceed the Pao protest in March, said more people showed up than he expected.

"(The protest) turned out good, considering it was very sudden," Vang said. "We only talked about it since last Friday. We hope they throw out the case. There's not sufficient evidence to charge the (defendants)."

Some of the speakers included Vaming Xiong, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, committee member Thomas Lee and lawyer James Brosnahan all spoke to the crowd.

"We've been betrayed by this case," Lee said. "There are 12 innocent defendants entrapped; they have no capability to overthrow a government."

Lee added that the previous Vang Pao rally brought good publicity to the case. "It does send a clear message not only here but throughout the world that (U.S.) foreign policy is not fair. We feel that the U.S. is using us as bait to work with the Lao government.

"We don't want to fight the government, but they want to arrest us," he said.

"There is no conspiracy here," Brosnahan said.

"The charges are stupid," said William Thomas, a veteran from Sacramento. Thomas was passing by when he was drawn into the rally by American flags, he said.

Thomas said he supports the Hmong and opposes the indictment. "Give them the benefit of the doubt and drop their charges, too," he said. "The case is a waste of money."

A status conference, or meeting between attorneys, is scheduled for Mar. 15, 2010.

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