Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1hmong062908.html
UNITED NATIONS, June 28 -- In Thailand last week, over 800 ethnic Hmong were forcibly returned to Laos. While outgoing UN Human Rights Commission Louise Arbour issued a statement of concern, Hmong sources tell Inner City Press that the UN's Department of Political Affairs, while polite, has declined to participate in meetings by Hmong leaders seeking to avert these forced returns, and that the UN Development Program has declined to meet with Hmong, saying it is outside of the mandate, which involves engaging only with governments, whether in North Korea, Myanmar, Zimbabwe or Laos.
Sources in the region name, among those returned last week, Mr. Neng Moua, who tried to negotiate with Lao officials before being forcibly returned on June 21. On June 24, 147 more Hmong were returned, and some 5755 remaining in the camp.
At the UN's noon briefing on June 27, spokesperson Michele Montas announced
"has written to the Government of Thailand to express concern over the repatriation of 837 Lao Hmong last Sunday, following a protest by thousands of refugees who broke out of a camp run by the Thai Army. UNHCR says the lack of transparency surrounding the repatriation raises doubt about whether the returns were voluntary. The agency is particularly concerned that a group of eight leaders and their families appear to have been deported against their will without any determination of whether they needed international protection. UNHCR is also concerned that families may have been separated in the process. UNHCR says it stands ready to help both the Lao and Thai Governments."
Inner City Press asked
Can you find out whether the Hmong representatives have sought to meet with the Department of Political Affairs and been rebuffed? That is what I have heard. That the Hmong on this very problem have asked DPA, and that DPA said we only meet with Governments. If that is not true, I would love to know it. But can you…?
Spokesperson: Of course, we can find out. But I don’t know…
Inner City Press: Here in New York.
Spokesperson: Here in New York. I will ask for you, but I am not aware of this issue at all.
[The reporter was later informed that DPA staff had in fact met with Hmong representatives on many occasions.]
What the Spokesperson's Office sent was more detailed than the denial inserted into the transcript in brackets --
"Regarding your question about whether Hmong representatives tried to meet with staff at the Department for Political Affairs but were rebuffed, I can confirm that information is not correct. I've spoken with DPA staff who have met with Hmong representatives many times over the past several years. In particular, Geir Pedersen, who was at the time the head of the Asia and Pacific Division of DPA, visited the Lao People's Democratic Republic in December 2004, and at that time brought up the situation of the Hmong with the authorities there. Since then, DPA has continued to monitor the situation of the Hmong and has supported the work of the UN country teams in the Lao PDR and Thailand, which are dealing with the situation. DPA staff also continue periodically to meet with Hmong representatives."
But a well-placed source, asked by Inner City Press about the above, states that
"UNDP in NYC did not want not meet Hmong 'leader' delegation ever, to hear the Hmong proposal, or engage with discussing it. The focal point of UNDP said they can't meet and talk directly with Hmong on this initiative - it wouldn't be their 'Mandate'. During the PFII week in April 2008, the Hmong simply went to Anne-Marie Ibanez's office in the Department of Political Affairs without an appointment, to reach her, to encourage her to come to a very important meeting, in which states and UN agencies were hoped to come and participate. After we left, again, no response to the follow up e-mail to remind her to please be there at the joint meeting, nor did she attend the meeting."
Then over 800 Hmong were forcibly returned to Laos. UNHCR put out a statement, but where is UNDP? Where is Ban Ki-moon's Department of Political Affairs?As to WHY Thailand might be doing this, see "Controversial EDF Dam in Laos [to send Electricity to Thailand] Is UNDP's Anti-Corruption Example, Panel Claims" at www.innercitypress.com/undp1laosedfdam062508.html
