Hmong Returnees Told How To “Act” For Delegation

Hmong Returnees Forewarned How To “Act” For Foreign Delegation

Lao authorities have informed Hmong returnees living in Phonkham settlement, Borikhamsai province that there will be a foreign diplomatic delegation visiting the site on Wednesday, June 16. In preparation for the upcoming visit, authorities have informed the returnees that only one man and woman will be allowed to speak to the visiting officials. The returnees believe this is so that the Lao government has total control over the situation and that a happy picture of the returnees is presented to inquisitive diplomats and news media.

During the last visit by foreign diplomats on March 26, the tour was cut short by Lao officials after some women began speaking out to visiting news media about not feeling comfortable living in Laos and wanting to resettle in a third country. They were part of a group of 158 UNHCR-recognized refugees held in Nong Khai jail for three years, which Thailand forcibly repatriated last December. The United States, Australia, Netherlands and Canada had all volunteered to resettle the group and received assurances from the Thai government that Laos would allow them to resettle in third countries after they returned.

After being forced back to the country they fled political persecution from, it is no surprise that the Lao government is not allowing this group to leave the country. Instead, they have been trying to silence them through intimidation saying that no one wants to resettle them and that they should be happy where they are. The extent and lengths by which the Lao government has been trying to silence this group and not let them speak freely reveals much about the Lao government’s double-talk of how free these returnees really are.

Just recently, possibly due to the upcoming visit by foreign diplomats, local Lao authorities have received orders from the central government to get all the returnees to register their mobile phone numbers with the government. The explanation given to the returnees was so that the government could track down those providing misleading information to the outside world. Returnees see this as just another measure to keep them in check to intimidate them from speaking openly about their situation.

Last week, the news agency AFP had reported that Eric P. Schwartz, US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration, would be visiting Laos soon to discuss the rights of these returnees to leave. If he is part of this delegation it doesn’t look like the returnees will be free to speak to him but I’m sure the Lao government will put on a good show of how “transparent” they are.

ENDS