drpao-oz@dex.hmoob.net wrote:

Let us not forget the former U.S. Ambassador to Laos' historic remarks.

Public Town Meeting
Richmond, California
Ambassador Douglas A. Hartwick

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you, sabay dee and "nyo zhong."

Introduction

* You represent the more than 500,000 people from Laos of many
different ethnic groups -- Lao, Hmong, Khmu, Yao, Mien, Tai Daeng, and
others -- who make up the diverse Laotian-American community today.

* Our Embassy in Vientiane sees a steady stream of Laotian-Americans
returning to Laos to visit families, to sightsee and tour, to get
married, and even to do business and invest.

* I believe that you are the real bridge between the two countries --
no matter how our countries differ politically, there is no denying the
fact that Laos and the US are permanently, inextricably linked.

* for almost all of you, or your parents, the journey from Laos to
America has not been an easy one. You came to the US because you fled
the aftermath of a painful and costly war, of persecution and terror
after the Pathet Lao government took power there in 1975.

* Many of you suffered terribly, enduring years of hardship and
bitterness living under communist rule, sometimes fighting against
them, and facing further pain and uncertainty in refugee camps in
Thailand.

* I am sure each of you has personal experiences that are beyond the
understanding of most Americans because of the terrible things you
lived through and witnessed. For those very personal reasons, many of
you have deep suspicions and dislike of the current government in Laos.

* I must say that I understand and sympathize deeply with these
sentiments.

* I am no apologist for the Lao government.

* It is a government that, since it came to power, has treated many of
its own people harshly, trampled on its citizens'individual human
rights, denied many basic freedoms we Americans cherish.

* Its economy continues to fall behind those of its ASEAN neighbors and
its young people -- Laos's future -- are poorly equipped to compete
economically in Asia and around the world.

* Many of you remember vividly that after the Pathet Lao came to
power in 1975, still actively assisted by Vietnam, they waged an
intensive effort against Hmong and other insurgents who were associated
with the previous royal government, leading to the tragic
deaths of thousands.

* Many of us are concerned today that remnants of those same
insurgents still in the forests continue to face violent retribution.

My first appeal: come together

* Given, then, how much so many of you share in common, I would like
to make an appeal to you as your ambassador, the American ambassador in
Laos:

* Please, despite possible differences or viewpoints that may divide
you, come together, work together, and work with me and my staff to
foster bilateral relations with Laos that will produce lasting benefits
for all Americans and the people of Laos.

* For too long, Americans of Laotian descent have let their
differences about how to approach the future of U.S.-Lao relations
become major dividing lines for your unique and very special community.

* As Ambassador, I need your help -- all of you -- to make sure that I
am able to steer this relationship forward to advance America's
interests, your interests, in the 21st century.

* I will want to try some new things, to do old things better, and
chart a new direction altogether in other areas.

* But whatever I do, I need your combined help. I need to proceed with
the confidence that even when differences exist, that we are working
together, that you are supporting one another to help our move
relationship with Laos forward.

* We need to make it benefit America and to help the people who live
there enjoy as productive, safe, and desirable as we can.

Assessing the Past Year

* Looking at the past year, 2002,,, The record is mixed and uneven,
but there are areas where I believe past concerns and frustrations are
giving way to better cooperation between our two countries.

* There is no doubt that we have made steady progress these past
several years. This cooperation today is directly serving U.S.
interests and I appreciate it, as do the families of those still
missing in action.

* The U.S. is entering the third year of modest economic assistance to

aid the Lao people, and particularly, Lao ethnic minorities.

* This assistance is administered through NGOs, not the Lao
government, and I monitor the progress on a regular basis.

* a top priority of my embassy: human rights concerns. Since I
arrived as Ambassador in 2001, we have focused our efforts with great
determination to do more to encourage the Lao government to improve
its record in the area of human rights.

* In the area of religious freedom, our embassy has been in the
forefront of efforts to promote greater respect for religious freedom
on the part of Lao government officials toward those who choose to
practice religions other than Buddhism.

* Over the past two years, we have seen our work begin to bear
fruit. Reports of persecution of Christians and other religious
minorities have decreased.

* The Lao Prime Minister issued a decree this past summer that is
designed to give protections to religious practice. Although that law
has many flaws, local Lao religious leaders agree that, on the whole,
it should help protect religious freedom.

* treatment of Laos' minorities. This past year, we set out to deepen
our understanding what was going on in Xaisomboun Special Zone and
Xieng Khuang with respect to continued insurgency, remnants for the
terrible war so many years ago. I led a first ever delegation visit by
an American ambassador to the Zone.

* Irrefutable proof of the living conditions of minorities there will
require more visits, but my sense is that there is progress there,
that things are improving.

* As for active insurgent groups under attack from local authorities,
our sense is that there may well be remnants in remote mountains and
forests and these are small in numbers.

* Their situation is vulnerable and their continued presence a
provocation for security forces intent on maintaining security in the
provinces.

* The United States is concerned about the treatment of these persons,

as well as the security problems that result for innocent
villages when even small armed conflicts ensure. There is a compelling
need to address the problem of the people in the forests in a humane
and peaceful manner.

* I plan to explore in 2003 different ways how we might play a role to

resolve these problems, and reduce the suffering of all innocents that
are being affected.

* On the democracy front, I regrettably cannot point to much change.

* The national elections held last year did offer some modest choice
among candidates of which the Lao voters took advance, but the
elections were highly controlled by the only legal political party and
new parties were not allowed.

* Demonstrations are viewed by the government as threats to public
order and are not permitted. Political prisoners continue to be
incarcerated, and Lao prisons are harsh and in need of improvement to
better, more humane standards. As you can see, we still have much work
to do to encourage the Lao government to take positive steps to
address these ongoing concerns.

Looking to 2003: Outlining American priorities

* Human rights improvements will remain a top concerns.

* In 2003 we will continue to use every opportunity to encourage the
government in Laos that it is in its own interest to provide greater
respect for human and civil rights if it wishes to attract the good
will of the international community and in particular, the American
People.

* We intend to continue our dialogue with the Lao authorities on
religious freedom, and to lend our efforts to continue the progress we
have seen in 2002. Many Americans remained rightly concerned about
reports of religious persecution in Laos.

* A significant gap remains between what the Lao leadership tells me
is their policy of religious tolerance and the reality on the ground
in certain provinces.

* In 2003 I plan to work closely with Lao authorities, including
inviting prominent Americans to Laos to help the Lao reduce and even
eliminate tolerance problems that continue to worry us all.

* our overall goal this year will be to promote positive human rights
momentum in Laos, and in particular, with respect to Lao minorities.

* IN 2003, I will continue to work hard to find remaining Americans
still unaccounted for since the days of the Indochina War.

* In 2003, I would like to see greater progress in Laos in tackling
its narcotics problems.

New Tools

* the best way for us to promote change in Laos is not by bullying or
lecturing Laos, and certainly not by ignoring it. The Lao government
values its relationship with the US, but we have no big stick with
which to force change on the Lao government.

* Being more involved, rather than less, is the key. Moreover, I
strongly believe that Laos can, and is, changing. The change is slow,
but it is happening.

* one of the most important tools for promoting change there is
supporting President Bush's intention to establish a Normalized Trade
Relationship with Laos.

* This year should offer us that opportunity. It will help us, not
hurt us, promote other changes that we desire, including living
conditions for the poorest people in Laos.

* A normalized Trade relationship, NTR for short, is nothing
extraordinary -- almost every country in the world has NTR with the
US. What NRT does is allows goods from Laos to enter the US at a much
lower tariff rate based upon international agreements, than today.
Lowering tariffs allows Lao goods to be competitively priced in the US
market and vice verse, and thus provides a major stimulus to trade.

* Today, the level of trade between the US and Laos is on a fraction
of the city of Richmond's budget, for example, precisely because Lao
goods -silk scarves, handicraft, common baskets -- are so expensive in
the US market. With no NTR, American businessmen and women, many of
them Lao, face an uphill battle to get fair treatment from indifferent
Lao authorities, not familiar with American business practices. NTR
can change this.

* NTR will promote people-based, private sector economic development
in Laos. Lao people will be able to do business with the US, exposing
them to American ideas of economic and political freedom.

* In order to capitalize on US markets, the Lao government, too,
will be obliged to adopt or accept US ways of doing business, higher
international standards, not participate in corruption, and improve
its use of the rule of law. This in turn will pressure the government
to make changes to its system. Ultimately, I believe, the result of
NTR will be greater economic and by extension greater political
freedoms in Laos and stronger rule of law.

* This is a long-term process, certainly, but it is by degrees that
Laos will change. As the Lao market becomes more active, NTR will
benefit US business, and in particular, Lao-American businessmen and
women, creating an environment in which to open offices in Laos and
sell US products, thereby helping our economy.

* it will help the people of Laos directly, both by giving them a new
source of prosperity and the ability to make new connections to the US.

* Some of you may have gone back to visit relatives in Laos in recent
years. Many of you send money back every year to help these same
relatives.

* If you have visited, then you have seen how desperately poor the
people in the provinces are, especially minority groups in the more
remote areas.

* They are some of the poorest people in the world.

* The Government of Laos will have a hard time improving quickly the
economic condition of these people. The Government of Laos doesn't
have the resources, nor does it have the will to do it.

* through NTR, you can help. We here in the United States have the
largest economy in the world. The people of Laos today have little
they can make and sell, but, as I have said, there are some
encouraging developments in handicrafts and silk.

* With NTR, they could sell their silk here and have a huge market
for their goods. The same is true of thousands of small-scale
craftspeople throughout Laos.

* If the Lao people cannot sell their products to this economy, they
are denied an critical opportunity to achieve a higher standard of
living. As they earn, they will be able to buy products from the
United States.

* all of you are concerned about how Laos develops, and how Laos
is governed.

* If Laos receives NTR, the Lao Government will be obliged to make
changes that they do not dream of now, changes that you will find
encouraging, but which are unimaginable now.

* As it has in the United States and so many other countries,
economics will decide the quality of the future life of the Lao
people, and the best way the US can help the people of Laos make a
better future for themselves and their children is through NTR.

* Another "tool" I wish to make use of to promote change in Laos is
through you, the Lao-and Hmong-American community.

* the Lao, Hmong and other people living in the US can and should be
able to play a role in Laos' development. I often speak with Lao
officials about the importance of overseas Lao, particularly the half
a million ethnic Lao and Hmong living in the US, who could be helping
Laos with their knowledge, skills and capital if they were encouraged.

* The Lao government frequently tells me that it has an open door
policy toward the overseas Lao, that they are welcome.

* That is not enough. I think much more can be done on both sides to
make this bridge stronger.

* As Ambassador, I want to encourage more visits by Lao-Americans in
2003 to return and see first-hand how Laos is changing, and if
possible to contribute to that change.

* We need to set up a regular dialogue with the Lao government to
point out problems Laotian Americans have when they visit or return,
and reduce these problems.

* We need to create opportunities for Americans to work in Laos, if
they wish, to demonstrate American skills and creativity to the Lao
people. I hope to work with many of you this year to make this happen.

Finally,

* it is important that the US augment its development assistance in a
targeted manner to Laos in 2003, not to its government, but to its
people.

* Assistance for rural development, for mother and child care, for
AIDS prevention and treatment, for education are all things we are
doing already and can do more. Our aid can help in other ways, as
well.

* Today Laos is a country that is turning gradually toward the
rule of law. We can give the Lao advice and assistance to create laws
that will help protect the Lao people's rights, not leaving
interpretation to fickle authorities.

In sum,

* it is absolutely in American interests to see Laos develop,
change and prosper.

* It is also in our interest to promote the changes we know are in
American as well as Lao interests, and to have some influence over the
way these changes will take place.

* We want to see the Lao look to the US as a friend, to see our
models of development and economic development as a way to a better
life.

My Second Appeal: Follow American Law

* First, I wish to clarify what many in the Laotian-American community

confuse: the official relationship between Laos and the United States.

* Simply put, the United States recognizes the government of Laos to
be the sole and legitimate government.

* Sole and legitimate.

* I did not say a good government, I did not say a gentle government,
I did not say a democratic government. But Laos has been accepted
within the community of nations and the USG respects that fact.

* Laos is a member of the UN and other international organizations.
Since 1997, it has been a member of ASEAN, the community of Southeast
Asian nations working together for peace and prosperity in the region.

* the United States does not support efforts by any private citizens
to overthrow or bring down the Lao government.

* If anyone comes to you and suggests that the USG does support such
an effort and asked for your support or your money, you tell them it is

wrong and you heard it from me.

* It is against U.S. law to try to overthrow a foreign government
with which we have relations, no matter how much you dislike it.

In conclusion,

* I would like to reemphasize that our goal in Laos in 2003 is to work
with the Lao government and the Lao people to improve our relations
consistent American interests.

* This can not be done if we ignore Laos, or treat it as an outcast
state, a pariah. By engaging in Laos, doing more to help the Lao
people and promote peaceful economic and political development with the

US, we will be much better positioned to influence Laos' future.

* I'm sure you share with me the desire to see Laos become a
prosperous, stable, and democratic country, friendly with its
neighbors, actively participating in international affairs and engaged
in trade and commerce with the world.

* This is in America's interests.