Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VIENTIANE367
2006-04-21 08:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vientiane
Cable title:
LAO MFA REACTS TO MASSACRE REPORT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHVN #0367 1110842 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 210842Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9831 INFO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 6507
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENTIANE 000367
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, PRM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2016
TAGS: PINS PHUM PREF PREL LA
SUBJECT: LAO MFA REACTS TO MASSACRE REPORT
REF: VIENTIANE 360
Classified By: Ambassador Patricia M. Haslach, reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENTIANE 000367
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, PRM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2016
TAGS: PINS PHUM PREF PREL LA
SUBJECT: LAO MFA REACTS TO MASSACRE REPORT
REF: VIENTIANE 360
Classified By: Ambassador Patricia M. Haslach, reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) This morning PolOff passed on to MFA's Human Rights
Unit details from unclassified sources of the reported
massacre of 26 Hmong civilians April 6 in northern Vientiane
province (reftel). We encouraged the Lao government to take
the reports seriously, emphasizing that they came from a
number of credible sources and that the story was already
circulating widely. We urged the GoL to launch a serious
investigation of the reported killing and punish anyone found
culpable.
2. (C) After hearing Poloff's brief, MFA Human Rights Unit
Director Bounpheng Saykanya was visibly agitated as he
responded he had not heard of the incident. However, he
promised to relay the information to his seniors.
3. (C) Comment: Given the low level of our initial approach,
we don't expect the MFA to do anything with the information
at this point, but at least they are aware of the story. The
fact that the information is out there may be enough to lead
MFA to launch some initial inquiries of MND or Vientiane
province military contacts. Meanwhile, evidence of the
massacre continues to build: since yesterday, we have
received several new pieces of information from Hmong sources
substantiating essential details of the killing. End comment.
HASLACH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, PRM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2016
TAGS: PINS PHUM PREF PREL LA
SUBJECT: LAO MFA REACTS TO MASSACRE REPORT
REF: VIENTIANE 360
Classified By: Ambassador Patricia M. Haslach, reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) This morning PolOff passed on to MFA's Human Rights
Unit details from unclassified sources of the reported
massacre of 26 Hmong civilians April 6 in northern Vientiane
province (reftel). We encouraged the Lao government to take
the reports seriously, emphasizing that they came from a
number of credible sources and that the story was already
circulating widely. We urged the GoL to launch a serious
investigation of the reported killing and punish anyone found
culpable.
2. (C) After hearing Poloff's brief, MFA Human Rights Unit
Director Bounpheng Saykanya was visibly agitated as he
responded he had not heard of the incident. However, he
promised to relay the information to his seniors.
3. (C) Comment: Given the low level of our initial approach,
we don't expect the MFA to do anything with the information
at this point, but at least they are aware of the story. The
fact that the information is out there may be enough to lead
MFA to launch some initial inquiries of MND or Vientiane
province military contacts. Meanwhile, evidence of the
massacre continues to build: since yesterday, we have
received several new pieces of information from Hmong sources
substantiating essential details of the killing. End comment.
HASLACH