U.S. Congressional Briefing on the Laotian and Hmong Refugee Crisis in Thailand and Laos
A U.S. Congressional Briefing on the Laotian and Hmong Refugee and Human Rights Crisis in Thailand and Laos will be held today in the U.S. House of Representatives. U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) is slated to speak at the event at 2:00 P.M.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Washington, D.C., February 5, 2009 - The Center for Public Policy Analysis ( CPPA ) in cooperation with Members of the U.S. Congress and non-governmental organizations will cosponsor a U.S. Congressional Briefing on the Laotian and Hmong Refugee and Human Rights Crisis in Thailand and Laos on Thursday, February 5, 2009, from 2:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M. in 505 Cannon House Office Building, U.S. House of Representatives ( 1st and Independence Ave, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20515 ).
A U.S. Congressional Briefing on the Laotian and Hmong Refugee and Human Rights Crisis in Thailand and Laos will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2009, from 2:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M. in 505 Cannon House Office Building, U.S. House of Representatives ( 1st and Independence Ave, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20515 ).
U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy is slated to speak at the event at 2:00 P.M. Other U.S. Congressional offices and Members of the U.S. Congress will participate and speak.
The emergency plight of some 6,000-7,000 Lao Hmong political refugees and asylum seekers at Ban Huay Nam Khao, Petchabun Province, and Nong Khai, Thailand who are faced with dire humanitarian conditions and forced repatriation back to Laos will be discussed. Additionally, the egregious human rights situation in Laos will also be one of the key topics of discussion including issues of political and religious persecution directed against the Hmong and other minority peoples.
Speakers include:
U.S. Ambassador H. Eugene Douglas, Former U.S. Coordinator For Refugee Affairs; Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt, Laos and Hmong Scholar; Philip Smith, Center for Public Policy Analysis; B. Jenkins Middleton, Former Vice President, Export-Import Bank; Wangyee Vang, Lao Veterans of America Institute; Vaughn Vang, Lao Hmong Human Right Council; Members of the U.S. Congress and Congressional staff, Pamela Xiong and Lia Vang, Hmong Diaspora Leadership Council of Minnesota; Bao Lee and Porsia Vang, Hmong Students Club, University of Wisconsin; Schuyler Merritt, Southeast Asia Researcher; Soleil Chang and Pa Shoua Vang, Hmong Human Rights Organization, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Oudong Saysana, Lao Students Movement for Democracy; Bounthanh Rathigna, United League for Democracy in Laos, others.
Members of Congress, Congressional staff and the Hmong and Laotian community will also seek to honor journalist, author and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt, who will serve as a keynote speaker at the event. She has persistently and courageously written about, and reported, on the plight of the Hmong and Laotian people during the Vietnam War and its aftermath. Dr. Hamilton-Merritt continues to research and write about the plight of the Lao Hmong people and has frequently testified in the U.S. Congress. The 15th Anniversary of the publication of her book "Tragic Mountains: The Hmong, the Americans and the Secret Wars for Laos" ( Indiana University Press ), will be discussed and recognized in the context of Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt's ongoing humanitarian and human rights work with Lao Hmong refugees in Thailand, Laos and the United States.
The event is cosponsored by: Center for Public Policy Analysis; Members of the U.S. Congress, Indiana University Press, the Lao Veterans of America Institute, the Lao Hmong Human Rights Council; Hmong Joint Diaspora Leadership Council of Minnesota, Hmong Students Club, University of Wisconsin, Platteville; Hmong Human Rights Organization, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Laos Students Movement for Democracy; United League for Democracy in Laos.
###
Contact:
Maria Gomez Tele. ( 202 )543-1444 info@centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org
Center for Public Policy Analysis 2020 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite No.#212 Washington, D.C. 20006
This story was released on 2009-02-05. Please make sure to visit the official company or organization web site to learn more about the original release date. See our disclaimer for additional information.