Hmong National Development Appeals for End to Illegal Logging, Military Attacks in Laos
�Hmong National Development, Inc. and the Lao and Hmong community in the United States and abroad are deeply concerned that much of the illegal logging that is causing severe environmental and human destruction and suffering in Laos is taking place, in the jungle and highland forest areas where the Hmong and Laotian minority people live," stated Christy Lee, Executive Director of Hmong National Development, Inc. (HND)a non-profit Washington, D.C. corporation.
(PressZoom) - Washington, D.C., August 28, 2008 - Hmong National Development, Inc. ( HND ) today expressed concerns about widespread environmental degradation and illegal logging by military-owned companies of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam ( SRV ) in Laos, in cooperation with Lao military officials, and the illicit activities connection with intensified military attacks against the Laotian and Hmong people in closed military zones in Laos. The illegal logging is also one of the key reasons Hmong communities and civilians living independently from the Lao government are being attacked and driven from the jungles of Laos
"Much of the illegal logging that is causing severe environmental and human destruction and suffering is taking place, in the jungle and highland forest areas where the Hmong people live, especially in Khammoune Province, Luang Prabang, Vientiane Province, Xieng Khouang Province and Saysamboune ( Xaisamboune ) Closed Military zone. Systemic corruption within the Lao People Democratic Republic ( LPDR ) military and communist party leadership also appears to have facilitated the exploitation," stated Christy Lee, Executive Director of Hmong National Development, Inc. ( HND ) in Washington, D.C.
Christy Lee continued: "Hmong women and children are dying and being killed so that wooden furniture can be made from the timber cut illegally by Lao and Vietnamese military-owned companies and corrupt officials. According to recent and continued reports, illegal logging, by Vietnamese military owned companies of the Peoples Army of Vietnam ( PAVN ), is taking place at the same time significant numbers of PAVN troops have been mobilized in Laos, in cooperation with the Lao Peoples Army ( LPA ) troops in Xieng Khouang Province, Saysamboune Closed Military Zone, Vang Veng, Vientiane Province in other key areas for the purpose of killing or capturing some 15,000 Hmong unarmed civilians in Laos."
"Tragically, the issue of systemic corruption within the ranks of the LPDR military and central committee of the Lao politbureau's military generals is helping to drive this trade and is costing the lives of thousands of innocent Hmong women and children who are being driven off their mountains and homelands by the Lao and Vietnamese military, and Vietnamese military owned companies, so that the timber and logs from the ancient rain forests and jungles can be transported to Vietnam and made into furniture or exported out of the Vietnamese port city of Vinh to foreign markets," stated Jade Her of Hmong National Development, Inc. in Washington, D.C.
According to Philip Smith, Executive Director of the CPPA in Washington, D.C.: "Vietnam, including PAVN military owned logging companies are currently engaged in large-scale illicit logging in Laos. Much of the logging is taking place in Xieng Khouang Province and other areas where some 15,000 Hmong civilians are under brutal attack by the Lao and Vietnamese military. The logs and timber, from ancient forests in the highlands of Laos, are being largely shipped for export from the Vietnamese seaport of Vinh, in Vietnam which is connected to Laos and the traditional Hmong homelands where thousands of Hmong people are now being hunted, killed and starved to death." http://www.presszoom.com/story_144108.html
The PAVN and the military of Vietnam are reported by international sources to own some 100 companies, including many that operate in Laos to exploit timber and mineral resources.
In a report and statement issued earlier this year by the Center for Public Policy Analysis, Vaughn Vang of the Lao Human Rights Council stated: "Hundreds of troops of Vietnam's PAVN and the Lao Peoples Army have mobilized in the last 72 hours and are in the process of hunting and killing innocent, unarmed Hmong civilians, including many women and children, in Phou Da Phao mountain area and in Xieng Khouang Province where much of the illegal logging is also taking place by Vietnamese military owned companies.
Vaughn Vang, in his report of earlier this year said: "Helicopter gunships are circling and attacking the Laotian and Hmong people hiding in the jungle and mountains; the Vietnamese troops are working to assist the brutal Lao military forces engaged in these war crimes and crimes against humanity, which includes surrounding and seeking to starve these people to death," Vaughn Vang said. "Currently, some 15,000 Hmong and Laotians are trapped in key areas of Laos, where this illegal logging has taken place, and we are very concerned that many thousands of civilians will be killed in the coming days and weeks."
A report earlier this year from two international environmental groups found that the Socialist Republic of Vietnam's illegal logging is threatening some of the last intact forests in South-East Asia. The new report from UK-based Environmental Investigation Agency and Indonesia's Telapak says that increasing raw timber prices have caused some countries to attempt to thwart illegal logging.
"Vietnam is now exploiting the forests of neighboring Laos to obtain valuable hardwoods for its outdoor furniture industry," they have written in their report.
According to news accounts, the authors reported meeting a Thai businessman who they say claimed to have paid bribes to secure a batch of timber in the LPDR.
"They gain virtually nothing from this trade; instead, the money goes to corrupt officials in Laos and businesses in Vietnam and Thailand," EIA's Julian Newman reportedly stated.
The LPDR regime in Laos has been ranked as one of the ten most corrupt in the world according to a report by the Berlin, Germany-based Transparency International.
Contact:
Laurie Vue Tele. ( 202 )629-0377
Hmong National Development, Inc. P.O. Box 96503 Washington, D.C. 20090-6503
This news item was released on 2008-12-04. Please make sure to visit the official company or organization web site to learn more about the original release date. See our disclaimer for more information.
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