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President Bush: "Do the right thing" in Thailand and speak for the Hmong - hear their voices.| | A SAD IRONY
U.S. POLICY TOWARD EAST ASIA
http://www.america.gov/st/peacesec-english/2008/August/20080801130620dmslahrellek3.277004e-03.html
An excerpt from America.gov: Bush Travels to South Korea, Thailand and China
In Thailand, Bush will meet
with Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, in his second visit to the
nation, to commemorate the 175th anniversary of U.S.-Thai relations.
"In other words, we established relations with Thailand, the first
relationship we had in East Asia, under the presidency of Andrew
Jackson in 1833," Wilder said.
Thailand is a major non-NATO
security ally of the United States in a critical and highly valued
partnership, he said. While in Thailand, Bush will deliver remarks on
U.S. foreign policy in East Asia, and cite what has been accomplished
on security and economic issues during his presidency and where that
relationship is likely to go with the next administration, Wilder
said. The speech will include a wider reference to democracy and
freedom throughout the region.
Bush will also meet with
several Burmese dissidents while in Thailand. "I will be speaking to
activists to let them know that the United States of America hears
their voices," he said. ************************************************************
Thailand, Samak Crisis: Ambassador Douglas Appeals to President Bush On Hmong, Laos Repatriation |
| Ambassador
Eugene Douglas joined by the Center for Public Policy (CPPA) and a
coalition of Lao and Hmong organizations in the United States today
urged President George W. Bush, and Prime Minister Samak to address the
crisis of Lao-Hmong refugees who are being brutally forced back to the
regime in Laos that they fled. |
(Media-Newswire.com) -
Washington, D.C.- August 4, 2008 - Ambassador Eugene Douglas joined by
the Center for Public Policy ( CPPA ) and a coalition of Lao and Hmong
organizations in the United States today urged President George W.
Bush, and Prime Minister Samak to address the crisis of Lao-Hmong
refugees who are being forced back to the regime in Laos that they
fled. President Bush and Prime Minister Samak, who also serves as
Thailand's Defense Minister, are slated to meet in Thailand in the
coming days as part of the President's trip to Asia prior to his visit
to the Olympic games in China.
Thousands of Hmong sent back to
Laos in recent months are being persecuted, sent to reeducation camps
in Laos as political prisoners, or have been tortured, summarily
executed or disappeared at the hands of Lao military and security
forces.
http://www.media-newswire.com/release_1069392.html
http://www.media-newswire.com/release_1068048.html
Southeast
Asian scholar, author and journalist Dr. Jane Hamilton asked:
"President Bush is stopping in Thailand on his way to the Olympics in
China. What will he say to the Thai leaders? Will he remind them of
their moral and humanitarian responsibilities to the families of those
who fought most successfully to protect Thailand during the Vietnam
War?"
"We should monitor carefully President Bush's position on this humanitarian crisis," concluded Dr. Hamilton-Merritt.
Dr.
Jane Hamilton-Merritt ( Nobel Peace Prize Nominee for her human rights
work on behalf of the Hmong, author of award winning Tragic Mountains,
The Hmong, The Americans and the Secret Wars for Laos ) http://www.tragicmountains.org
"The
Lao and Hmong-American community, including the Lao and Hmong veterans
who served honorably with U.S. military and the Central Intelligence
Agency during the Vietnam War in defense of the Kingdom of Thailand and
Laos and U.S. national security interests, urge President Bush and
Secretary Rice to raise the Hmong refugee issue President Samak to seek
an immediate halt to the repatriation of Hmong refugees from Thailand
to Laos," stated Philip Smith, Executive Director of the CPPA in
Washington, D.C. "The Hmong human rights crisis in Thailand and Laos
needs to be addressed honorably and resolved in order to grant
sanctuary to the Hmong refugees until they can be resettled in third
countries like France, Canada, Australia, the United States and
elsewhere."
Prime Minister Samak has come under heavy
international criticism for his role in pressuring and forcing back
thousands of Hmong refugees from Thailand back to Laos in recent months.
Amnesty
International, Doctors Without Borders ( MSF ), Human Rights Watch (
HRW ) Reporters Without Borders ( RSF ), the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR ), the CPPA, the Hmong Lao Human
Rights Council, Inc. ( HLHRC ), the United League for Democracy in
Laos, Inc. ( ULDL ), the Lao Movement for Human Rights ( LMHR ),the Lao
Veterans of America, Inc. ( LVA ), the Lao Veterans of America
Institute, Inc. ( LVAI ), the Lao Students Movement for Democracy (
LSMD,the United Nation's Unrepresented Peoples Organization ( URPO )the
Lao Institute for Democracy ( LID ) and other Non-Governmental
organizations have issued urgent action appeals and statement is
opposition to the repatriation of Hmong asylum seekers and political
refugees from Thailand to the communist regime in Laos that continues
to persecute, starve and kill them. http://www.media-newswire.com/release_1068822.html
http://www.media-newswire.com/release_1068645.html
A
bipartisan letter signed by 20 Members of the U.S. Congress was sent to
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday, August 1, by U.S.
Congressman Dennis Cardoza ( D-CA ) urging the Bush Administration and
State Department to work with Thailand to seek to immediately stop the
forced repatriation of the remaining Hmong political refugees and
asylum seekers who are at Ban Huay Nam Khao refugee detention camp in
Petchabun Province and Nong Khai, Thailand.
http://www.media-newswire.com/release_1069576.html
In
June, the U.S. Congress introduced and cosponsored legislation, H. Res.
1273, appealing to His Majesty, the King of Thailand, the Royal Thai
government and the Bush Administration to work to immediately stop the
repatriation of Hmong refugees and asylum seekers back to the Stalinist
regime in Laos. The legislation was spearhead by U.S. Congressman
Patrick Kennedy ( D-RI ), U.S. Frank Wolf ( R-VA ), U.S. Congressman
Dana Rohrabacher ( R-CA ), U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin ( D-WI )
and fifteen Member of the U.S. Congress. http://www.media-newswire.com/release_1067715.html
Ambassador
Howard Eugene Douglas, U. S. Ambassador at Large and Coordinator for
Refugee Affairs ( 1981 – 1985 ) issued the following letter of appeal
as a result of the recent forced repatriation of over 1300 Hmong
refugees from Thailand to Laos:
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W.
Washington, DC
Re: An Appeal to the President of the United States To Uphold America's Honor and Protect the Hmong
Dear Mr. President:
You
are about to depart on a Presidential visit to Asia with stops in
Seoul, Bangkok and Beijing for the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.
Your visit to Bangkok recognizes the 175th Anniversary of U.S. – Thai
relations. Thailand is a respected ally of the United States and the
friendship between the Thai and American people is tested and strong
enough to permit a candid exchange of views. The First Lady's planned
visit to Mae Sot on the Thai – Burma border and the Mae La refugee
camp is ironic in light of another pressing refugee issue that directly
touches America's history in Southeast Asia and the Vietnam conflict
and the lives of many new American citizens.
Today, there are
many thousands of Hmong refugees still in Thailand awaiting
resettlement abroad or a chance to return to their beloved Laos in
safety and freedom. Recently, untold hundreds of Laotian Hmong
refugees have been taken from their camps inside Thailand and forcibly
returned to Laos where they face a dangerous If not fatal reception by
the Laotian authorities. The Thai Army has taken part in these
involuntary repatriations that are in violation of international
agreements and practice. Why was this done now when there are confirmed
reports of Laotian armed actions against the Hmong still inside Laos?
Despite denials by the Lao Government, there are sufficient foreign
witnesses to substantiate that all is not well inside Laos.
Recently,
the United States Congress introduced, in bipartisan fashion, House
Resolution 1273 appealing to your Administration, His Majesty the King
of Thailand and the Royal Thai Government to assist the relatives of
the same Hmong who were loyal and courageous allies of the United
States during the Vietnam conflict. To date, the U.S. Secretary of
State has not replied to the U.S. Congress. The honor of the United
States and its people is known by how we stand with our allies in
victory and in peace. There are Hmong families in the United States,
many of whom are now proud American citizens, who implore you to act
by directing the State Department to work with the Royal Thai
Government to suspend its actions against the Hmong still in camps.
We should assure our Thai ally that we will arrange resettlement to
the United States, Australia, Canada and France and provide for their
support inside Thailand in the interim. Forcing their return to Laos
is dangerous for these Hmong and numerous respected international
agencies and NGOs have testified to that fact. Doctors Without Borders
( MSF ), Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without
Borders ( RSF ), the Center for Public Policy Analysis ( CPPA ) and
other independent organizations have testified to that fact.
Surely,
the Royal Thai Government and the United States can afford this small
measure of additional compassion for the Hmong. It was my honor to
serve under President Reagan and Vice President Bush from 1981 to 1985
as United States Ambassador at Large and Coordinator for Refugee
Affairs. During those years, I worked closely with the Thai
Government and many foreign governments and the United Nations to find
solutions for the world's refugees. Then as now, the United States was
the recognized leader in speaking for those without voice.
Mr.
President, do the right thing and ask the Thai Government to suspend
further involuntarily repatriation of the Laotian and Hmong still
enjoying refuge inside Thailand. Once again, let us show the world
that despite all our many burdens, the United States does not forget
those who were our allies.
Respectfully,
Howard Eugene Douglas
U. S. Ambassador at Large and Coordinator for Refugee Affairs ( 1981 – 1985 )
Austin, Texas
August 4, 2008
( -end letter- )
Three
level letters by the U.S. Senate by U.S. Senator Russell Feingold (
D-WI ), U.S. Senator Norm Coleman ( R-MN ) and other Members of the
U.S. Senate have also been sent to Secretary Rice and the Bush
Administration regarding the Hmong crisis in Thailand and Laos in
recent months.
http://www.media-newswire.com/release_1067181.html
http://www.media-newswire.com/release_1067016.html
In
August of 2007, U.S. Congressman Frank Wolf ( R-VA ) sent a letter
signed by over a dozen Members of Congress to His Majest, The King of
Thailand, with copies to Prime Minister Samak, appealing for assistance
to stop the repatriation of Hmong political refugees from Thailand back
to Laos.
____
Contact: Anna Jones
Tele. ( 202 )543-1444
Center for Public Policy Analysis
2020 Pennsyvlania Ave., NW
Suite No.# 212
Washington, DC USA 20006
Tele. ( 202 )543-1444
e-mail: info@centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org
research@centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org
visit us on the web at:
www.cppa-dc.org |
| | | Posted 8/5/2008 11:02 AM - 70 Views - 4 eProps - 2 comments
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