Roger Arnold

Show Navigation
back to search results
Info

Thailand Hmong Refugees Face Uncertain Fate

Refugee, Tong Her, holding his UNHCR refugee certificate in Thailand. He escaped from the jungles of Laos after half his face was shot off by the communist Lao Army. ....His group of Hmong people report an attack against them April 6, 2006 by Lao and Vietnamese military forces near Vang Vieng, Laos. 26 people perished, 5 were injured, and 5 babies died shortly after because their dead mothers could not breast-feed them. Only one adult male was killed, the other 25 victims were women and children (17 children).....On January 30th, 2007, Thai authorities tried to forcibly deport Tong Her along with 152 other refugees. The deportation was postponed after the Hmong men barricaded their jail cell and threatened mass suicide if they were forcibly sent back to Laos where they face possible torture and death. ....The men reportedly declared, "We would rather die in Thailand than be sent back to Laos". ....On May 16, 2007 the Thai Military Junta forced the UNHCR Bangkok refugee office to stop accepting applications from asylum seekers. On Friday night June 8, 2007, after UNHCR and western diplomats had gone home for the weekend, Thai authorities forcibly deported a different group of 160 Hmong asylum seekers to back Laos. The Lao Government called this group of 160 "Economic refugees"; however, they have vanished inside Laos.....Up to 1,000 Hmong jungle people surrendered to Lao authorities last year due to Lao Military pressure, an inability to defend themselves, and lack of food or medicine. ..This includes jungle leader Blia Shoua Her?s group of 438 people who suffered the alleged massacre April 6, 2006. All of these Hmong have vanished and the Lao Government has made no account of their whereabouts or condition despite requests from the UN, Amnesty International, diplomats and human rights groups.....Deporting recognized refugees is an illegal act against a principle of international law called non refoulment. ..**Exclusive**

Add to Lightbox Download
Filename
Hmong Nong Khai 28.1.jpg
Copyright
Roger Arnold
Image Size
3872x2592 / 2.7MB
Contained in galleries
Refugee, Tong Her, holding his UNHCR refugee certificate in Thailand. He escaped from the jungles of Laos after half his face was shot off by the communist Lao Army. ....His group of Hmong people report an attack against them April 6, 2006 by Lao and Vietnamese military forces near Vang Vieng, Laos. 26 people perished, 5 were injured, and 5 babies died shortly after because their dead mothers could not breast-feed them. Only one adult male was killed, the other 25 victims were women and children (17 children).....On January 30th, 2007, Thai authorities tried to forcibly deport Tong Her along with 152 other refugees. The deportation was postponed after the Hmong men barricaded their jail cell and threatened mass suicide if they were forcibly sent back to Laos where they face possible torture and death. ....The men reportedly declared, "We would rather die in Thailand than be sent back to Laos". ....On May 16, 2007 the Thai Military Junta forced the UNHCR Bangkok refugee office to stop accepting applications from asylum seekers. On Friday night June 8, 2007, after UNHCR and western diplomats had gone home for the weekend, Thai authorities forcibly deported a different group of 160 Hmong asylum seekers to back Laos. The Lao Government called this group of 160 "Economic refugees"; however, they have vanished inside Laos.....Up to 1,000 Hmong jungle people surrendered to Lao authorities last year due to Lao Military pressure, an inability to defend themselves, and lack of food or medicine. ..This includes jungle leader Blia Shoua Her?s group of 438 people who suffered the alleged massacre April 6, 2006. All of these Hmong have vanished and the Lao Government has made no account of their whereabouts or condition despite requests from the UN, Amnesty International, diplomats and human rights groups.....Deporting recognized refugees is an illegal act against a principle of international law called non refoulment. ..**Exclusive**