A LOT of Americans came home safely due to the bravery and talent of these persecuted folks..
We betrayed them, BIG TIME.
A very good site to become aquainted with these fine folks is: http://www.jefflindsay.com/Hmong_tragedy.html
I visited the Hmong community here in California, and it broke my heart to see what these proud but primitive people have been reduced to.
Semper Fi
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Sept. 2004 News: The Government in Laos Continues Slaughter of Hmong People
The human rights abuses of the Communist Laotian government continue in their persecution of the mountain tribe of Hmong people. "Children of Laos tribe 'butchered by soldiers'" is a disturbing story reported by Kim Sengupta in The Independent (United Kingdom) on Sept. 14, 2004.
The torture and slaughter of Hmong children, for example, is one aspect of the state-sponsored terror from the brutal Laotian regime. Also see the Sanity Defense post, "Communist Government in Laos Continues to Butcher Hmong People." I hope the United States will take action against Laos and not reward that terror regime.
2004 Update: Trouble in Thailand, More Refugees Come to U.S., Persecution Continues
In 2004, many more Hmong refugees began coming to the United States. Their story is being told well in a Special Report by Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers - complete with photogalleries and a blog (and an update from November 7). However, Thailand appears to be turning on remaining Hmong refugees in that nation, preparing to force them back to Laos unless the U.S. takes action to rescue them. Many refugees missed a deadline to register for immigration to the U.S. and are now in limbo. In Laos, the brutal Communist government may continue its campaign of vengeance against Hmong soldiers who supported the US. For background, read "The Great Betrayal: Laos' Hmong Tribe Faces Death in Forced Repatriation" by Anthony LoBaido.
SACRAMENTO — Thousands of Hmong refugees coming to California will face enormous challenges ranging from finding well-paying jobs to crossing language barriers, and state policy-makers want to make the move easier. Tuesday, Fresno Hmong leaders joined lawmakers and Hmong advocacy groups at the Capitol to discuss resettlement and determine what can be done to smooth the transition.
About 16,000 Hmong from a refugee camp in Thailand are headed to the United States. More than half are settling in California, mostly in Fresno and Sacramento counties. Fresno is expecting about 3,000 refugees, who began arriving in the summer.
Sen. Deborah Ortiz, chairwoman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, said she wants to make sure California extends a helping hand to the Hmong community.
"We want to make sure that the newest Hmong are welcome here," said Ortiz, D-Sacramento. Hmong are facing many obstacles with education, health care and employment, but lawmakers can head off some potential problems, panelists said.
Integrating Hmong into schools
Dale Shimasaki, chief executive officer of Strategic Education Services, a Sacramento-based government relations and policy consulting firm, suggested that the state superintendent form a group of education leaders to scrutinize funding programs and determine how Hmong children will fit into the mix.
The Fresno Unified School District is expecting many new Hmong students at a time when it is facing a budget crisis, said Tony Vang, a district trustee and professor at California State University, Fresno. The district in August opened the Academy for New Americans to help immigrant students assimilate skills that will allow them to transition to their neighborhood campuses.
Vang said he is concerned that Hmong children struggling to adjust to American culture have a high suicide rate and sometimes join gangs.
"To succeed in this country, it's not always simple," he said.
Ho Tran, president and chief executive officer of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, said Hmong refugees often rely on traditional forms of health care. Many have not been properly immunized or had access to dental care. Tran suggested that health care providers work to establish trust with Hmong patients, perhaps asking them to write down their feelings before and after their appointments because they tend not to talk about concerns. Hmong settlers also face challenges in the workplace, said Roy Kim of the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency. Many Hmong have skills and work histories, but they might not be what California employers are looking for, he said. Kim recommended that lawmakers look for ways to increase incentives for refugees to work and for employees to hire them. Peter Vang, a staff analyst with the Fresno County Department of Employment and Temporary Assistance, said after the hearing that it is important for Californians to understand Hmong history and to prepare for their new neighbors. Said Norman Hui, chairman of the Commission on Asian Pacific Islander American Affairs: "This has been a very, very informative afternoon. … We have learned a great deal about the Hmong."