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Thursday, March 18, 2010
Hmong rally for accused conspirators
by Jonathan Mendick, published on October 5, 2009 at 8:44PM
Storyline: News in Sacramento
"What do we want? Case dismissed! When do we want it? Now!"
Tria Vang, 25-year-old Hmong activist and part of the Hmong American Ad Hoc Committee, led a spirited crowd of nearly 1,000 through cheers as well as a march around the Matsui Courthouse building.
Organized by the Ad Hoc Committee, Hmong Americans and their supporters protested an indictment against 12 Hmong men accused of conspiring to overthrow the Laos government. It mirrored a similar rally in May of this year for Hmong leader and former general, Vang Pao, 79, who was recently dismissed of the same charges on Sept. 18.
Only one day earlier, Sept. 17, brothers Jerry Yang, 58, and Thomas Yang, 47, were added as conspirators with the 10 others indicted nearly two and a half years ago. According to The Sacramento Bee, there will be very little movement in the case until March; U.S. District Court Judge Frank Damrell Jr. wants to allow the defendants time to review the government's evidence against them.
Vang, who also emceed the Pao protest in March, said more people showed up than he expected.
"(The protest) turned out good, considering it was very sudden," Vang said. "We only talked about it since last Friday. We hope they throw out the case. There's not sufficient evidence to charge the (defendants)."
Some of the speakers included Vaming Xiong, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, committee member Thomas Lee and lawyer James Brosnahan all spoke to the crowd.
"We've been betrayed by this case," Lee said. "There are 12 innocent defendants entrapped; they have no capability to overthrow a government."
Lee added that the previous Vang Pao rally brought good publicity to the case. "It does send a clear message not only here but throughout the world that (U.S.) foreign policy is not fair. We feel that the U.S. is using us as bait to work with the Lao government.
"We don't want to fight the government, but they want to arrest us," he said.
"There is no conspiracy here," Brosnahan said.
"The charges are stupid," said William Thomas, a veteran from Sacramento. Thomas was passing by when he was drawn into the rally by American flags, he said.
Thomas said he supports the Hmong and opposes the indictment. "Give them the benefit of the doubt and drop their charges, too," he said. "The case is a waste of money."
A status conference, or meeting between attorneys, is scheduled for Mar. 15, 2010.
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The arrest of Mr. Pao and other is very sad and heart breaking. I can understand that Mr. Pao and his support want to reclaim his glory day---that he was hero in helping the U.S. during the Vietman war. However, I respectfully disagree with him, and believe he is wrong--if in last 15-years, he has been supported and given a misleading hope to those Hmongs/insurgents to put their life in last 30-years to carry on the pointlss fighting in the jungle. It’s heart breaking to see the hardship to their life and horrible living condition---as we have seen in you-tube-video.
The changing in Laos politic appears to be more very personal to you than to me (I’m only interested to see Laos has educated citizens and has an economy that able to compete in the world economy), I hope you’ll take a diff. step in change than a war/fighting; so Lao progress can began; and please help and incur the Hmong in the jungle to seek a normalcy life. Respectfully submitted.
Mr. Pao Vang was borned in China, in 1931; from this fact he is naturalized Hmong/Lao citizen; I assumed he lives in the U.S. longer than Laos. If base on the U.S. Law, he would be disqualified to run Laos? Even though, I respect your past history with him, but I would not go as far as you to claim that he is Lao’s hero and was only person responsible to get us get into the U.S. nor was he not taken advantage of Laos during time he was in power there ---this is basing on the fact and record. For more addition record/fact regard VP can be found from the CIA webpage or title search as: CIA Air Operations in Laos, 1955-1974; Supporting the "Secret War" by William M. Leary; or link followings:
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/winter99-00/art7.html
http://www.laoveterans.com/custom2.html.
The record/fact about AirAmerican and record of Laos history also in there.
I do not agree with a lot of the current Lao government nor could I able to live in Lao after I have been living in free country for most of my life, but I do not want Lao people to be destroy its own country or the country destroy by its own people. I believe the best cure for the problem is to have educated Lao citizens and have Laos has a strong economy. So to Mr. Pao, his supporters, and Lao govenment, I hope they will change directions for the good of Laos.
In sum, supporting a guerrilla fighting war have not and will not bring much progress to Laos; AirAmerica, I hope you have a forgiveness heart and capable to accept a lost of 30 years ago. Would you agree and accept that in your life time, Laos would not get to be free as the U.S. or have a same politic system here or become they way you want it, but this does not mean is off limit to the next Laotian generation. You appear wanting what is good for Lao/Hmoung people and/or want to go back, I hope you can go back and live there, and participate in the progress of Lao; that Lao leaders are attempting to do. Respectfull submit.
the US govt during Vietnam War. VP and his soildier save thousnad of US pilots and troops. Without VP and his troop help US will lost more troops. No matter Hmong and other Lao in the right side I believe Hmong and Lao on the Right can run the Country of Laos better. Bring Capitalist and Democratic into Laos will be more better to Lao people. Why, because, it will bring more business, free speech, free of religion, better education, free assemby, press so all Lao people can enjoy their live. So if your poorest current communist can run the Country of Laos, I believe that Hmong and any one can also run the country of Laos. I'm tire of Communist Rule in this planet...sick of tire of communist....dictatorship rules...