Al Franken Addresses the Repatriation of Over 4,000 Hmong Back to Laos
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January 8, 2010
Filed under News
By Michael Olheiser
Last Thursday night at Como Park Senior High, Senator Al Franken along with other Minnesota elected officials addressed the situation of the 4,000 Hmong being forced back to the terrible living conditions in Laos. Senator Franken showed his concern for the many Hmong living in Minnesota by having a community forum where his constituents were openly able to give their remarks about the issue.
“We (Senators Franken and Klobuchar of Minnesota and Feingold and Kohl of Wisconsin) condemn the decision by the Royal Thai Government to forcibly repatriate over 4,000 Hmong back to Laos.” Unfortunately this was done over the objections of the U.S. Government and United Nations. Officials of Wisconsin and Minnesota have shown great concern over the issue.
Senator Franken and the U.S. Government have been encouraging Laos to ensure the safety of the refugees returning to Laos. However, it doesn’t seem convincing when a few Hmong citizens spoke out loud at the forum about their family who were forced back into hostile situations in Laos. Al Franken urged his constituents to report to his staff with information regarding these concerns so he and the State Department can better monitor the returnees to Laos.
Many, if not all of the Hmong citizens at the forum, felt comforted by the fact that this time their representatives came to them and they didn’t have to go to them about the problems. It is a huge issue for many families having to deal with the horror of their loved ones being in danger under the Laos Government. Al Franken is working on making sure the integration of the refugees is a safe and ethical process. At the forum, he emphasized the fact that not only do we want to know what happens to them now, but what also happens in the long run.
So if anyone has any stories, information, or concerns, you are encouraged by Senator Franken to call his office at 651-221-1083 and any general questions regarding just the forum to call 651-221-1016. Our hopes and prayers are with the Hmong refugees and the families enduring it.
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