Lao-Americans and Foreign Journalists Decry Human Rights Abuses in Laos - 2005-02-17

Leaders of overseas Laotians and representatives of various ethnic minorities, including Hmong, Khmu, Mien, Lue and Thaidam, voiced their personal experiences of torment, fear and suffering from human rights violations by the government of the communist Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Independent eyewitnesses, news reporters and foreign journalists from Europe, Canada and Australia also gave testimonies on the issue during the conference on the Human Rights Abuses in Laos held on Feb, 2, 2005 at the Longworth House Office Building.

For almost 30 years, communist Lao PDR has continued to victimize and deny basic human rights to its people, especially the Hmong minority for their military support of the U.S. during the Vietnam War.

Dick Campbell of Sturgeon Bay, who is not Laotian but came because of his concern about human rights, said he thinks the best solution would be to allow the persecuted Hmong to leave the country and grant them refugee status to resettle with relatives in the United States.

Listen to our Overseas Lao report for details...