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12 Hmong migrants return home to Luang Prabang

Three families consisting of 12 Hmong illegal migrants yesterday flew
by helicopter to their hometowns in Luang Prabang province, after
leaving temporary accommodation in Pakxan district, Borikhamxay
province.

They are part of a group of 67 migrants, from 19 families, who
returned to Laos from Houaynamkhao village in Khaokhor district,
Phetsaboun province, Thailand , earlier this month.

The 12 returnees were temporarily resettled in Borikhamxay province
while officials clarified their origins and completed paperwork for
their return. Their trip home yesterday was state-funded.

After the arrival, a signing ceremony was held in Luang Prabang
between a member of the Lao-Thai General Border Committee, Mr Yong
Chanthalangsy, and Head of the Provincial Security Headquarters,
Colonel Bounkeo Souliya.

The three families immediately travelled back to their hometowns. Two
of the families went to Xongcha village in Nambak district and the
other to Phapong village in Pak-ou district.

Eight Hmong returnees from the same group returned to Vientiane
province on Monday.

Those remaining will be returned to their homes on Thursday. One will
go to Borikhamxay province, one to Xamneua district, Huaphan province,
and 45 will go to Xieng Khuang province.

To help the returnees to adapt during the first month of their
repatriation, the Lao government has provided initial funding of
350,000 kip to each person, while local authorities will provide
further assistance.

The Lao government has returned these migrants to their homes, but
those who sold their assets before departing Laos will be sent to live
with their relatives if this is possible. Those who are homeless will
be resettled by the government.

One of the returnees, Mr Lengweu, is a resident of Xongcha village. He
said he was tricked into paying about 1.6 million kip (6,000 Thai
baht) to a man who promised to take him to Houaynamkhao village,
Thailand , with the hope of eventually travelling to the United
States .

He now acknowledges he m ade the wrong decision by going to Thailand
illegally, as he wasted three years there instead of working and
improving his living conditions in Laos . He says he is lucky that he
still has his farmland and house in Laos .

“At the detainee camp we were provided with insufficient food, which
was barely enough to survive on. I am happy to be back here in our
home country,” Mr Lengweu said.

He said he decided to come back after receiving information that
returning Hmong migrants were welcomed in Laos .

By Vientiane Times
(Latest Update April 30, 2008)