MISSING AMCIT (VANG, YEH) BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN FOUND DEAD

UNCLAS CHIANG MAI 000058

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC VANG YEH
SUBJECT: MISSING AMCIT (VANG, YEH) BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN FOUND DEAD

REF: CHIANG MAI 50


1. (SBU) The bodies of seven people believed to be a group of
missing Hmong (reftel) have been found in Mae Hong Son province
in northern Thailand. Thai police announced March 29 that
several bodies had been spotted left in bags in a remote area
near Pai district, about 75 kilometers northwest of the Chiang
Mai-area residence where the Hmong were last seen March 1.
Police said the number of bodies and approximate ages matched
reports of seven of the eight reported missing Hmong.


2. (SBU) The missing Hmong included Yeh Vang, 52, a U.S.
citizen who had homes in both Chiang Mai and Minnesota. Some
police and media reports continue to identify all eight as
American citizens, but at this time, post believes only Yeh Vang
was a registered citizen. After consulting with U.S. and Thai
relatives, post believes one other - Peng Vang, 2 - has a claim
to citizenship. Peng is the daughter of Yeh Vang and a Thai
woman who is also among the missing, and it is likely that Vang
was able to transmit citizenship requirements on to his daughter
even though the parents never filed for a report of birth
abroad. The other six missing Hmong are Thailand-based family
friends and housekeeping staff of Yeh Vang; post believes these
six have no claims to U.S. citizenship.


3. (SBU) Post has discussed the case at length with Yeh Vang's
brother Tom Vang, who arrived in Chiang Mai from Minnesota
following news of the disappearance. Tom Vang said family
members are awaiting confirmation of the identities of the
bodies before making any final decisions on repatriating remains
to the United States or issuing public statements.


4. (SBU) Police have sent the bodies to Chiang Mai for
autopsies and believe they will be able to confirm the
identities by April 3. Post's police sources say that the
remains showed signs that they had been strangled and left for
some time. Villagers initially found four bodies after noticing
a bad smell in a ditch; subsequent police searches located three
more bodies.


5. (SBU) The disappearance of Yeh Vang, a prominent member of
the sizable Hmong-American community in Minnesota, led to media
reports in Thailand and the United States and pubic and
congressional inquiries to the Consulate General from or on
behalf of Hmong living the United States. After the
disappearance police initially focused on intra-family disputes,
as reported reftel, but media speculation following discovery of
the bodies has included possible involvement of organized crime
or Lao government-associated hitmen. At this time, post knows of
no evidence to support this speculation.


6. (U) Upon confirmation from Thai authorities of the deaths of
Yeh or Peng Vang, post will initiate normal ACS death case
procedures and work with family members to repatriate remains
and ship personal effects back to the United States.

CAMP