Release Date: 2007-05-12
Original Link: http://presszoom.com/story_131183.html
Source: Center for Public Policy Analysis
A U.S. Congressional Forum on Laos and policy luncheon will be held in the Library of Congress to discuss Amnesty International’s March 2007 report regarding the ongoing killing and persecution of the Hmong and Laotian people. The event is co-hosted by the Lao Veterans of America (LVA), the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA), the United League for Democracy in Laos (ULDL) and a coalition of Lao and Hmong organizations (from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., on Wed., May 9 , 2007, in the Library of Congress,U.S. Congress, Washington, D.C.).
(PressZoom.com) - A U.S. Congressional Forum on Laos and policy luncheon will be held in the Library of Congress to discuss Amnesty International’s March 2007 report regarding the ongoing killing and persecution of the Hmong and Laotian people. The event is co-hosted by the Lao Veterans of America (LVA), the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA), the United League for Democracy in Laos (ULDL) and a coalition of Lao and Hmong organizations (from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., on Wed., May 9 , 2007, in the Library of Congress,U.S. Congress, Washington, D.C.).
The U.S. Congressional Forum on Laos and policy luncheon will highlight key issues including Amnesty International’s new report regarding human rights violations in Laos and the ongoing killing of ethnic Hmong and Laotian people. The event will also seek to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War in Laos and honor the Laotian and Hmong veterans, and their American advisors, who served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Participation will include Members of Congress and U.S. Congressional staff as well as ethnic Laotian and Hmong veterans and their refugee families as well as human rights organizations.
"We are here to testify and speak to the U.S. Congress about Amnesty International's March 2007 regarding the horrific persecution of innocent Laotian and Hmong civilians and opposition groups in Laos," stated Dr. Jane Hamilton Merritt, Laos and Hmong scholar.
Speakers include: T. Kumar, Amnesty International; U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA); U.S. Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA); U.S. Rep. Costa (D-CA); U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI); Office of U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA); Colonel Wangyee Vang, President, Lao Veterans of America, Inc (LVA); Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt, Laos and Hmong Scholar; Bounthanh Rathigna, President, United League for Democracy in Laos, Inc. (ULDL); ); Philip Smith, Executive Director, Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA); others.
"Amnesty International is concerned that the Lao government is using food as a weapon to persecute the Hmong and Lao people in the jungle who oppose the regime," stated T. Kumar of Amnesty International.
"Members of Congress need to be made aware and educated about the current reality in Laos concerning the killing of thousands of innocent Hmong and Lao civilians by the Pathet Lao communist regime, stated Col. Wangyee Vang, President of the Lao Veterans of America, Inc.
The event is cosponsored by the Lao Veterans of America, Inc., the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA); the United League for Democracy in Laos (ULDL), Lao Students Movement for Democracy (LSMD), Members of Congress and other organizations.
Contact Information:
Ms. Anna Jones or Mr. Philip Smith (202) 543-1444
Center for Public Policy Analysis
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Suite 318
Washington D.C. 20006