A Hmong Boy Behind a Barbed Fence
Dear reader,
I'll depart from the usual blogfare for the moment, to report on something that's close to my heart.
Two days ago, the Straits Times reported that the Thai government have started on long overdue plans to start screening the Hmong for a possible repatriation to Laos (see the report here). This is bad news, seeing that they are likely to be massacred in a form of ethnic cleansing should they return to face old enemies in Laos/Cambodia.
Starvation
These people are living in a deplorable state, in refugee conditions and having nearly no source of sustenance outside of foreign aid. If not for the intervention of little known Relief Logistics International in 2005 to 2006, the Hmong may have starved to death. Due to their working philosophy, RLI managed to activate funds and logistics to minister aid rapidly and sufficiently.
Dark Times Ahead
Since then, the continuing work of other international relief agencies from the UN and others are ensuring the survival of the Hmong. But that may not be the only concern for the 8,000 odd Hmong who may soon have to fight for their lives. All this because their people were resistance fighters to the communist regimes in Laos and Vietnam.
More Links on the Hmong People
Should you be moved to find out more about these dear people, take the opportunity to view some of the material linked on this post. A few organizations like Mount Alvernia Hospital and Salvation Army have rallied to provide some aid.
- A History and Account of the Hmong
- A Video Clip on the History of the Lao-Hmong War
- More Video Clips From a Feature Produced by Sommerfilms, "Hunted Like Animals"
- Relief Logistics International
- New Life Outreach's Mission Effort
Please email me at adriankoh@gmail.com if you would like to find out more on how to help the Hmong.
Technorati Tags: aid, donations, Hmong, lao, logistics, missions, relief, care
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