MY People (HMONG) on the front page of NEW YORK TIMES

[ChongLee]

*CORRECTION! My mistake. It's NOT on the front page, but it is IN the newspaper.*
This was forwarded to me.
Read on.
-Chong Lee

--------------------------------------------
CRIES FOR HELP - PLEASE HELP PASS ALONG!



***They have CRIED for Help from the international community and especially the United States of America, yet over 30 years later, these cries continue to go UNHEARD...***

Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen,

Many of you know me personally and many of you do not -- whether or not you do, I'm writing this e-mail to share with you my thoughts on the continuous brutality brought upon the Hmong living in the jungles of Laos by the Laotian government.

Only two years ago (January 2005) did I hear about the story of the Hmong people hiding in Laos who have been hunted down like animals for the past 30 years because they SIDED with the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in the VIETNAM WAR of 1960s. Many great people have endured a very tough struggle full of disappointment and discouraging amount of support trying to spread the story of the Hmong in Laos. On Monday -- December 17, 2007, because of the amount of dedication and will of these amazing people and organizations, someone heard the "CRIES" and on the FRONT PAGE HEADLINER of Monday's New York Times was the story we have been waiting to see --

Old U.S. Allies, Still Hiding in Laos By: Thomas Fuller, New York Times - New York & National Edition


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/world/asia/17laos.html
?ex=1355547600&en=9d92abf72a761c02&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

I had to look at the paper two times to make sure I was seeing what I was seeing and then tears came down my face when I realized how big this article means to our Hmong community and especially the Hmongs hiding in the jungles. Finally, after all these years, finally -- little by little we are beginning to hear what should have been heard many many years ago. The New York Times is one of the United States' most well-known news papers and widely read across the country and internationally. To see the faces of our Hmong people on the front page brought tears of joy, relief, and sadness all at the same time because it confirms that we have, finally, begun to be heard and it's the beginning, but sadness because it is a confirmation that their reality is hell -- they fearfully are fighting to live their lives as we go on with our daily lives.

Important FACT --- Our government has done nothing to stop the mass murdering and torturing of the Hmong -- instead, the Bush administration has strengthen relations with Laos and have passed a law putting the HMONG, who once helped rescue their American soldiers, in the same category of terrorists. Talk about a blow in the face -- **big disappointing sigh**

I don't ask much of you, but only that you re-send this message to anyone and everyone you know. You can make a difference just by telling others of our story -- telling others what is going on. Majority of the Hmong in hiding are women and children. They are starving and dying every single day. PLEASE NOTE *** The LPDR soldiers SPARE NONE! They rape and kill women and children alike.

Websites/links to organizations who are trying to make a difference...

http://www.factfinding.org/mission.html

http://www.rebeccasommer.org/documentaries/Hmong/index.php

http://rebeccasommer.org/

http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/asiaandpacific/southeastasia/laos

http://www.hmongihrw.org/

Please forward this e-mail on or write your own and spread the word. It doesn't take a lot to make a difference, typing a few words does more than you know.

I thank each one of you in advance for your help and support.

Regards,
Sheng Vang
Minnesota

 

[KooLaid]

Never heard of that before. I have heard about the dead bodies being dug up and being reburied someplace else in thailand by the chinese though.

Does this have anything to do with the former Hmong general who got busted recently in the states after trying to gather support and weapons to overthrow the current government?

 

[ChongLee]

Never heard of that before. I have heard about the dead bodies being dug up and being reburied someplace else in thailand by the chinese though.

Does this have anything to do with the former Hmong general who got busted recently in the states after trying to gather support and weapons to overthrow the current government?

THIS particular issue have been going on for years, since the u.s pulled out of Vietnam.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJHerGolvR0&feature=related

The killings of the children and rapes of women came into light in just recent years, with the help of the internet. Those video footages DO exist and are even on the internet. I recall seeing them on youtube a while back.

The grave diggings happened very recent.

The general's case after that.

To answer your question,
I guess it can be said they are all somewhat connected, even through the string of time. Does that justify the general's case?
IMO, not in the fashion he went about.

 

[DrVolkl]

I hate to say this, but if there isn't any oil there, we ain't going in.

There are other countries battling similar atrocities that we have turned our backs to.

Kinda sad what we've become...a corporate war machine. Feel free to disagree.