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Thailand Begins Repatriation to Laos of Hmong Migrants

   Move   comes  despite  international  concerns  that  they  will  face
   persecution in their home country

   VOA News 27 December 2009

   Thai  soldiers  on Monday began the repatriation to Laos of some 4,000
   Hmong  asylum-seekers,  despite  international concerns that they will
   face persecution in their home country.
   The  Hmong  who  have  been  living  in  Thailand's northern Petchabun
   province  say  they  face  antagonism from the communist government of
   Laos,  dating  back  to  when  members  of their minority group fought
   alongside U.S. forces during the Vietnam war.
   The Laos government has denied the Hmong will face reprisals. The Thai
   government  says  most  of  the  Hmong living in Thailand are economic
   migrants rather than political refugees.
   Thai  Prime  Minister  Abhisit Vejjajiva said earlier the repatriation
   would  be  carried  out  in a transparent way in accordance with human
   rights practices.
   The  United States, the United Nations and several international human
   rights groups oppose the forced repatriation.
   The  Hmong  were  recruited by U.S. forces during the Vietnam War, and
   began their exodus in 1975 when Communist governments came to power in
   both Vietnam and Laos.
   Tens  of  thousands  of them eventually resettled in the United States
   where they remain today.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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