U.S. Senate Briefing on Laos, Hmong Crisis: Tragic Mountains Commemorated
The event in the U.S. Capitol and Senate will also commemorate the 15th Annversary of the publication of 'Tragic Mountains: The Hmong, the Americans and the Secret Wars for Laos" (Indiana University Press) and its author Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Washington, D.C., February 6, 2009 - U.S. Senate Briefing on the Laotian and Hmong Refugee Crisis in Thailand and Laos will be today in the U.S. Capitol, U.S. Congress, Washington, D.C. The 15th Anniversary of the publication of "Tragic Mountains: The Hmong, the Americans and the Secret Wars for Laos" ( Indiana University Press ) will be honored and commemorated along with its author Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt.
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. Senate Briefing on the Laotian and Hmong Refugee and Human Rights Crisis in Thailand and Laos on Friday, February 6, 2009, from 10:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M. in the U.S. Capitol, ( 1st St. & Independence Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20510 ).
The event in the U.S. Capitol and Senate will also commemorate the 15th Annversary of the publication of 'Tragic Mountains: The Hmong, the Americans and the Secret Wars for Laos" ( Indiana University Press ) and its author Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt.
In the U.S. Congress, at the U.S. Senate and Congressional Briefing, Members of Congress and the Hmong and Laotian community will also seek to commemorate, recognize and 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 Indiana University Press.
"Additionally, U.S. Senate and House Members will discuss forthcoming U.S. Congressional missions, and newsmedia visits, to Lao Hmong refugees that are being persecuted in Ban Huay Nam Khao and Nong Khai, Thailand and in closed military zones in Laos where thousands of Laotian and Hmong civilians are under military attack or are being starved to death," said Philip Smith, Executive Director of the Center for Public Policy Analysis.
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 Laotian and Hmong and minority peoples.
Keynote speakers include: Members of the U.S. Congress, House and Senate; U.S. Congressional staff, Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt, Laos, Hmong Scholar; Vaughn Vang, Lao Hmong Human Right Council; Pamela Xiong and Lia Vang, Hmong Diaspora Leadership Council of Minnesota; Bao Lee and Porsia Vang, Hmong Students Club, University of Wisconsin.
Speakers include:
U.S. Senate and Congressional offices, Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt, Laos and Hmong Scholar; Philip Smith, Center for Public Policy Analysis; Wangyee Vang, Lao Veterans of America Institute; Vaughn Vang, Lao Hmong Human Right Council; Pamela Xiong and Lia Vang, Hmong Diaspora Leadership Council of Minnesota; Bao Lee and Porsia Vang, Hmong Students Club, University of Wisconsin.
Other speakers and panelists include: 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; Thongchanh Boulum, United League for Democracy in Laos, others.
The event is cosponsored by: Members of the U.S. Congress, Center for Public Policy Analysis, Hmong Diaspora Leadership Council of Minnesota, the Lao Veterans of America Institute, the Lao Hmong Human Rights Council, Hmong Students Club ( University of Wisconsin, Platteville ), Hmong Human Rights ( HHR-Students Organization, University of Wisconsin, Madison ), Laos Students Movement for Democracy, United League for Democracy in Laos, and others.
Laotian and Hmong community leaders, delegations and non-profit organizations from Wisconsin, Minnesota, California, Rhode Island, Virginia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Arizona, South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and other states are slated to speak and participate in the events
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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
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