Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07VIENTIANE640
2007-08-10 11:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vientiane
Cable title:  

"LIKE-MINDED" DIPLOMATIC GROUP DISCUSSES HMONG

Tags:  LA PGOV PHUM PREF PREL TH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7044
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHVN #0640/01 2221122
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 101122Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1453
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0160
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1024
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0247
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 0690
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0089
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0618
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENTIANE 000640 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS (BESTIC)
PACOM ALSO FOR FPA (MCADEN)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2017
TAGS: LA PGOV PHUM PREF PREL TH
SUBJECT: "LIKE-MINDED" DIPLOMATIC GROUP DISCUSSES HMONG
SITUATION

REF: A. VIENTIANE 0453


B. VIENTIANE 0288

C. VIENTIANE 0110

Classified By: Ambassador Ravic Huso for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENTIANE 000640

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS (BESTIC)
PACOM ALSO FOR FPA (MCADEN)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2017
TAGS: LA PGOV PHUM PREF PREL TH
SUBJECT: "LIKE-MINDED" DIPLOMATIC GROUP DISCUSSES HMONG
SITUATION

REF: A. VIENTIANE 0453


B. VIENTIANE 0288

C. VIENTIANE 0110

Classified By: Ambassador Ravic Huso for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: A recent meeting of the "like-minded"
diplomatic group revealed a strong consensus in support of
coordinated pressure on the Lao to improve conditions for the
Hmong ethnic minority and to provide greater access to
returnees and Hmong areas. The situations of the 5 boys from
the group of 26 Hmong children, the 150 being held in Nong
Khai, the group of 8000 in Petchabun, repatriated Hmong from
Thailand, and others being internally resettled all elicited
concern from the group. The like-minded also reviewed the
limited information available on the upsurge in security
activity in Bokeo Province. End summary.

Overall Situation
--------------

2. (C) Ambassador and Pol/Econ Chief attended an August 1
meeting of the "like-minded" diplomatic group hosted by
German Ambassador Weinand with representatives from the
German, Australian, French, and Swedish Embassies as well as
from the EU delegation, UNDP, and UNICEF. Participants
discussed the security situation in Laos with a specific
focus on several Hmong issues. Ambassador Weinand credited
the Government of Laos (GOL) for reports that a number of
political prisoners had been released as part of the GOL's
annual amnesty announcement in December. The EU delegation
is contacting MFA to verify the names of those released.


3. (C) The group discussed the increased reports of activity
by the Lao security forces (including in Bokeo Province where
as many as 100 people may have been arrested) apparently
linked to the Hmong resistance/insurgency. One report
circulating among the diplomats indicates the GOL may have a
list with the names of 200 people wanted in Bokeo Province by
the security forces. Foreigners in Bokeo have been warned
not to travel on certain roads on certain days to avoid
security activity. The Swedish Charge d'Affaires also noted

reports about recent clashes in the former Saysomboun Special
Zone (most of which has been reincorporated into Vientiane
Province).

Hmong Issues
--------------

4. (C) Although the GOL has "found" the 21 Hmong girls who
had been part of the 26 missing children group (actually
detained by the GOL in December 2005 and held until April
2007),the fate of the five boys as well as the adult woman
who had been detained with the 26 children remains unclear.
The German Ambassador noted reports that 18 of the 21 girls
-- who had been sent back to live with relatives in villages
in different parts of Laos in April -- have now fled to
Thailand. Apparently 13 have returned to the Huay Nam Khao
holding camp in Thailand's Petchabun Province where their
parents are located.


5. (C) The group discussed the deteriorating conditions at
the Immigrant Detention Center in Nong Khai Thailand where a
group of 150 Hmong have been held since November 2006. All
are UNHCR-designated and referred to several third countries
for resettlement, but that process is on hold. In response
to escape attempts from the Center in June, the remaining
150 have been in "lock down" for the past five weeks in the
Center's two small holding cells. Conditions are reportedly
very difficult. The like-minded discussed reports that the
Lao and Thai would be willing to send all 150 to a single
recipient country or that the GOL would allow the individuals
involved to emigrate without conditions if the entire group
were to first return to Laos. The "like-minded" agreed that
it would be worthwhile to work with counterpart Embassies in
Bangkok, including especially those Embassies of countries
designated as resettlement locations, to try to find a
solution for this group.


6. (C) The "like-minded" noted that Thailand repatriated 31
Hmong to Laos at the end of May and another group of 160 in
early June. No further repatriations have been reported.

VIENTIANE 00000640 002 OF 002


Although the GOL policy is generally to return repatriated
Hmong to their original home villages, the GOL is said to be
constructing two new villages for those who cannot be
returned to their earlier home villages -- in Punglak near
Kasi, in north-central Vientiane Province, and in Houay
Pakmak in Muang Maet District in western Vientiane Province.
Although MFA had organized tours in February and March for
members of the diplomatic corps to meet earlier repatriated
Hmong, MFA had not yet done this for these more recent
repatriated groups. The like-minded agreed it would be
important to press MFA to keep its promise to do so.


7. (C) The "like-minded" expressed concern about statements
by a Thai general July 22 that all 8,000 refugees in the
Hmong holding camp in Petchabun Province would be returned to
Laos en masse in the next few months. There are reports that
the GOL is constructing a transit camp large enough to hold
temporarily -- or perhaps for a longer term -- as many as
6,000 persons. This may be for the Petchabun returnees or
for people internally resettled or even for residents
displaced by dam construction and other development projects.
The EU representative mentioned that he had recently
discussed with the Foreign Minister and Vice Foreign Minister
the issue of EU assistance for resettlement villages. The
Lao officials appeared interested and suggested working-level
discussions to follow up. GOL acceptance of donor assistance
could allow some access to these groups for monitoring.


8. (C) In October and November 2006, large groups of "remote
people" -- generally family members from groups still
involved in the insurgency -- surrendered to the GOL. Their
fate is generally unknown, although a French NGO, the ICRC
via the Lao Red Cross, and the WFP have apparently been able
to periodically assist some of these people.

Next Steps
--------------

9. (C) In addition to specific agreement to coordinate with
Bangkok Embassy counterparts (para 5 above) and to press MFA
for access to repatriated groups (para 6),the "like-minded"
agreed to coordinate talking points to be used in discussion
with GOL officials. These points would be used on a regular
basis with GOL contacts and focus on improved treatment of
and access to both repatriated Hmong from Thailand as well as
resettled "remote people." Offers of assistance, where
possible, should be continued as a way to gain access to
these groups.

Comment
--------------

10. (C) One issue that continues to divide us and our
Australian colleagues from the others in the "like-minded"
group, is the willingness of the EU and German
representatives and several others to see visits by the
diplomatic corps to meet with repatriated Hmong as an
important tool. We view the two diplomatic corps visits
earlier this year (refs B and C) as important steps in
getting MFA used to the concept of outside monitoring.
However, visits by diplomats are insufficient alternatives to
broad scale and professional monitoring of the multiple Hmong
groups facing difficulties. We have strongly suggested that
an independent organization, such as the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),should be allowed to
undertake the level of monitoring that we see as required in
Laos. The GOL continues to resist this type of international
monitoring.
HUSO