Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: Repatriation of Hmomg Refugees from Thailand to Laos Completed

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Repatriation of Hmomg Refugees from Thailand to Laos Completed

The repatriation of over 4,000 Hmomg ethnic refugees from a camp in Thailand to Laos was completed Tuesday morning, said Lieutenant General Niphat Thonglek, director-general of the Border Affairs Department under Thailand's Supreme Command.
The repatriation was completed at 6.30 a.m., local time as all of the Hmong refugees are now at a shelter in Bolikhamsai Province in Laos, Lieutenant General Niphat said, Thai News Agency reported.
The repatriation was smooth and there was no violence during the repatriation process, Lieutenant General Niphat explained.
The repatriation was done on a humanity basis, Lieutenant General Niphat said.
The government early Monday morning began deporting the over-4, 000 ethnic Hmong from the refugee camp in a Thai northern province of Phetchabun across the border to Laos.
The move to clear the Huay Nam Khao refugee camp in Phetchabun began at 5:30 a.m. local time (2230 GMT Sunday), carried out by about 5,000 soldiers, officials and assisting civilian volunteers.
After the repatriation, the empty camp is to be formally closed soon.

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.