Hmong refugee children mark 800 days of torture

PRESS RELEASE – January 24, 2009

Nong Khai jail: Hmong refugee children mark 800 days of torture

While Hmong refugee children cry throughout the night, due to a wide malady of prison-induced diseases caused by unsanitary water and overcrowded mosquito-infested cold damp cells, the international community’s outrage remains rather well-contained.

As suicidal Hmong parents watch their young children count their 800th day in captivity at Nong Khai jail, the diplomatic community seems to be playing a rather hands-off approach “hoping” that the new Thai government will do the right thing.

Considering that these children have been denied very basic rights provided for in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Thailand is signatory to, you’d think some agency like UNICEF would be hopping mad by now. I am wondering during these past 800 days what legal efforts have been initiated to draw an end to these children’s ongoing torture.

Meanwhile, the new Thai Prime Minister seems to remain unwilling to discuss this “Hmong issue” with the press but rather throw the responsibility onto the Joint Border Committee to handle. Well, can the principles of international law be so frivolously thrown away like a hot potato whenever it is politically convenient? Isn’t it the Prime Minister who’s in charge of the country? Shouldn’t he lead the way, especially when we are talking about something as critical as upholding international law?

Even Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission has voiced their concerns for these Hmong children. I believe that if the majority of Thai citizenry really knew how awful these children’s living conditions were they’d be totally outraged, just as our American citizenry has been in regards to the conditions at Guantanamo Bay detention center. Now, finally, it looks like our new president will put an end to that.

The US and foreign diplomatic community have been watching this Nong Khai saga spiral downwards for 800 days now. What is their breaking point? When these children’s parents take their own lives? One woman is now in a vegetative state due to the horrific psychological torture the group has been subjected to. Many others are on the verge of committing mass suicide because the Thai government and international community have totally forsaken them.

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