Laotian government seems to
be fearful of Hmong insurgents. Lao Prime Minister Sisawat Keobounphanh
officially issues an attention to the international community saying that
Hmongs are a great danger to his country.
Since the bomb blast in Vientiane has weakened the Laotian government
credibility, the Laotian government threw all the blames on Hmongs. But when a crazy unidentified person who
claimed to be a Hmong and claimed responsible for the bomb attack in Laos, the
Laotian government quickly responded and said Laos is under control. Yet it is ridiculous and shameful because
bombing still continue.
Secret information from the
Lao Xang Xat Headquarters in Vientiane said the Laotian government already
planed to destroy Hmongs in Thailand whom they suspected to be insurgents'
supporters. The person who claimed
responsible for the bomb attack is a Laotian secret agent who, the Lao Xang Xat
said, is assigned as a special secret agent to Thailand. This is a Vientiane's
political trouble.
Twenty-five years has passed
but Sisawat Keobounphanh still has difficulty forgetting Hmongs' great
fighters. As a leader of a nation,
Sisawat Keobounphanh's Administration has an ill political element that leads Laos
backward. Government destroys its own country, kills its own citizens, and
tries to create a cold war for the country.
This administration must be responsible for the causes that made the
country go down and susceptible to foreign invasion.
Throwing all the blames on the
Hmong without evidence and proof is unacceptable and violates the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations. It is a national direct discrimination against Hmong ethnic
minority in the country and worldwide. This is equavalent to the Nazi of
Germany and Apathey of South Africa.
The Laotian government,
foreign diplomats, visitors/tourists all knows that Hmong insurgents' support
from overseas is very limited. Young
and educated Hmongs as well as Laotians, either inside or overseas do not
support any insurgent groups' war or terrorist activities in Laos. But we would
like to see peaceful political and economic reform in Laos. Laotian and Hmong visitors from overseas
have very intention to help their relatives and friends in Laos, to improve a
little of their living, but the ill government has a bad intention toward
visitors and its citizens whom the visitors visit and meet with. Free money pouring into Laos by visitors
becomes the Laotian government's biggest headache. They do not know how to receive and control such huge sum of
money. They said such money is evil and
it is foreign disease.
Again, labeling Hmongs with
no proof is a political propaganda against Hmongs. It is also a political division among ethnic minorities. Government creates war among the ethnic
minorities. Fighting against minorities
within the country is increasing and leading Lao to a divisive nation and
collapse. Remember the Hmong Pa Chay
fought for eighty-years and still fighting. If you get trouble with Hmong
without reason, discriminate against them, divide them; they are going to fight
back no matter how long. They will
never let you off the hook unless peace comes to the existence. All the causes in Laos are government made
only, not the people and certainly not by the Hmongs.
Let us turn to some facts
about Laos, which are considering as causes for the country. First, in 1998, after some close door or a
secret meeting of the Communist Party Members, the Politburo, the party was
split into two groups. The majority
group is pro-communist and the minority group is pro-democracy. These two groups are including the members
of the National Assembly, the members of the Ministers, and the Provincial
Committee Members. The groups have
different political impacts about ruling the country. They have a difficulty
understanding each other, for example, the President and the Prime Minister do
not get along with each other very well.
Later in 1999, government
leaks said that the pro-democracy group attempted a coup d’etat. The Prime Minister's office then secretly
requested Hanoi to send troops to Laos for help. Hanoi then secretly sent its troops to Laos. Since October 1999 two battalions of
Vietnamese troops are now stationing in Laotian soil. They are apparently appearing in the Capital of Vientiane, yet
Hanoi denied the charge but it is true.
Laotian citizens in Vientiane are very angry but cannot speak out. Incidentally fighting occurred in the Xieng
Khouang area, In the Capital, opportunists made their move by making bomb
attacks. Sisawat Keohounpanh put all the blames on Hmongs but the situation was
created by and within the government itself.
The Prime Minister now contuses and does not know who to trust and who
is his true comrade. This is the biggest
problem that the government faces now.
Hmong insurgents are only a
small part far away in the jungle. The
Hmong freedom fighters stopped their activities and movements of fighting
against the government for a long period since 1990-1997 until the government
systematically bombed them.
Second cause was the
Vientiane and Hanoi's secret agreement for a new borderline, which has been set
effective this year, the year 2000.
Hanoi pressured Vientiane to withdraw its citizens from the old
borderline to the new one, eight kilometers toward the West. Laotian citizens, especially the low land
Lao, got angry and accused that Hanoi invaded Laos. Pro-democracy leaders do not agree with the agreement. Hanoi then sent troops to the new borderline
and claimed as border security keeping force only. The troops then crossed the border into Laotian soil evidently in
1999. For example, Vietnamese troops
came to Lat Sao (or kilometer 20) and told the Laotian citizens to move to
Mouang Thakhet and Mouang Khamkeut. Lat
Sao is a new borderline for both Laos and Vietnam.
Third cause was that in
1998, Vientiane tried to replace Mr. Boun Chanh, an Army Commander and a
Governor of the "Special District Mouang Saysomboun" because
Vientiane said, "He is too soft and too friendly with local
people." This "Special
District is a Vientiane's special and secret business zone for logging and drug
trade." Vientiane's "Jungle
Belt" from Bokeo Province across Oudomsay, Sayaburi, Luang Phrabang, Vang
Vieng, Xieng Khouang, Moung Saysomboun, and Bolikhamsay to Vietnam is a
Vientiane's secret drug route. The
replacement was rumored then conflict occurred, Boun Chanh was forced to
retire. He was listed on Vientiane's
black list and closely watched by Vientiane and Hanoi's secret agents. Vientiane also accused him as a #1 traitor
in the country because he stole ammunitions and spare guns then sold to the
Hmong insurgents in the area and persuaded Hmong leaders nationwide to up-rise
against Vientiane government. Mr. Boun
Chanh is a Khmu. When the attacks
happened in Mouang Saysomboun area Vientiane pointed its finger at Boun Chanh
as a behind force. Now it is
considering that one of Mr. Boun Chanh's officers leads a group of soldiers
into the jungle to join the freedom fighters to fight back. Report said Vientiane pursuit the group and
lost lots of its men including two helicopters.
Fourth
cause is the International Donors' Project for Road Construction in Laos. In Xieng Khouang route #7 from Xieng Khouang
to the border of Laos-Vietnam is said to be qualified for fund from
Internatiaral Donors' Project for Road Construction to repair the road. Xieng Khouang Officials asked Vientiane to
share a part of the funds for Xieng Khouang local contractors. Vientiane denied and said the local contractors
have no skills, no equipment, and no materials. The contract was offered to Vietnamese contractors in
Vietnam. Argument took place then
Vientiane suspected Hmong leaders in Xieng Khouang afler the incident attacks
in Moung Khoun and Pa Xai Districts. The suspects are: Mr. Yang, a Krom Pa Chay
Army Commander, Mr. Somcbay Hang, Mr. Nao Tou Yang, Xieng Khouang Officials,
Mr. Yongyia Yang - a farmer Xieng Khouang Governor, Mr. Nao Yang Lo a former
Military Officer, and a younger brother of Mr. Lo Fong. Vientiane and Hanoi's
Secret Agents now highly and closely watch these people. A young officer name Sue Yang was temporary
replaced to oversee Xieng Khouang and Mr. Yer Lee was replaced as Moung
Saysomboun's Mayor.
In addition, more suspects
who considered as part of the Xieng Khouang group are listed on Vientiane's
black list, namely Mr. Lia Lo, a local businessman, and Mr. Pao Thao, an army
veteran the one Pathet Lao called a "bravery man" - who shot down
many American planes during the war, in Vientiane Province; Mr. Cheng Lee and
Mr. Chandy Yang in Oudomsay Province; the Governor of Sayaburi Province; and
Mr. Vue, a member of the National Assembly from the Special District Moung
Saysomhoun.
Hanoi's Game:
Hanoi quickly realizes that
Vientiane cannot hold the country together because Xieng Khouang seems to be
stayed away from Vientiane. Hanoi
immediately called Mr. Sivongya Yangyongyia, one of Vientiane's suspects to
Hanoi for official talk, Hanoi knows very well that if Hmongs in Xieng Khouang
up-rise against Vientiane both Vientiane and Hanoi must face a cold war not
only in Laos but also in Vietnam.
Lao Xang Xat also added that
Sisawat Keobouraphanh has no idea what to do next and how to deal with the
situation. "If he has a little
intelligent he can solve the situation peacefully. However, he seems to have a war disease brain that could not be
able to solve and to control the situation."
For this very reason,
children and young men are forced to serve in the military. The Laotian government forced and picked up
hundred of children and young men age 13 to 25 for military service, especially
Hmong and Khmu's kids in the rural areas.
Hundred of kids and young men were picked up in kilometer 52 in Vientiane
Province as witness claimed. Forcing
children under age to serve in the military is a violation of the Law of the
United Nations regarding to this matter. Therefore, the International Community
must enforce such Law by putting pressure on the Laotian Government to put a
stop to such practice, because Laos is violating the international law.