Lao Voices

A video clip I found on Youtube from Lao Star Channel in Lao with news article from Vientiane Times, the official newspaper in Laos.

12 Hmong migrants return home to Luang Prabang

Three families consisting of 12 Hmong illegal migrants yesterday flew by helicopter to their hometowns in Luang Prabang province, after leaving temporary accommodation in Pakxan district, Borikhamxay province.

They are part of a group of 67 migrants, from 19 families, who returned to Laos from Houaynamkhao village in Khaokhor district, Phetsaboun province, Thailand, earlier this month.

The 12 returnees were temporarily resettled in Borikhamxay province while officials clarified their origins and completed paperwork for their return. Their trip home yesterday was state-funded.

After the arrival, a signing ceremony was held in Luang Prabang between a member of the Lao-Thai General Border Committee, Mr Yong Chanthalangsy, and Head of the Provincial Security Headquarters, Colonel Bounkeo Souliya.

The three families immediately travelled back to their hometowns. Two of the families went to Xongcha village in Nambak district and the other to Phapong village in Pak-ou district.

Eight Hmong returnees from the same group returned to Vientiane province on Monday.

Those remaining will be returned to their homes on Thursday. One will go to Borikhamxay province, one to Xamneua district, Huaphan province, and 45 will go to Xieng Khuang province.

To help the returnees to adapt during the first month of their repatriation, the Lao government has provided initial funding of 350,000 kip to each person, while local authorities will provide further assistance.

The Lao government has returned these migrants to their homes, but those who sold their assets before departing Laos will be sent to live with their relatives if this is possible. Those who are homeless will be resettled by the government.

One of the returnees, Mr Lengweu, is a resident of Xongcha village. He said he was tricked into paying about 1.6 million kip (6,000 Thai baht) to a man who promised to take him to Houaynamkhao village, Thailand , with the hope of eventually travelling to the United States .

He now acknowledges he m ade the wrong decision by going to Thailand illegally, as he wasted three years there instead of working and improving his living conditions in Laos . He says he is lucky that he still has his farmland and house in Laos .

“At the detainee camp we were provided with insufficient food, which was barely enough to survive on. I am happy to be back here in our home country,” Mr Lengweu said.

He said he decided to come back after receiving information that returning Hmong migrants were welcomed in Laos .

By Vientiane Times
(Latest Update April 30, 2008)