PRESS RELEASE February 25, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ethnic Cleansing War and Genocide in Laos Witnesses and victims in Laos have reported that the Communist Lao government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR) and the Communist Vietnamese government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam have continuously conducted the ethnic cleansing war and genocide against people in Laos, especially Hmong ethnic people in Xieng Khouang Province, Borikhamxay Province, Van Vieng areas, Vientiane Province, Xaisomboun Region, and in other remote areas in Laos, from 1975 to 2004. Witnesses and victims in Laos reported that the Communist Lao and Vietnamese soldiers killed over 1,000 Hmong people in Laos between July 2003 and February 2004, and captured more than 500 Hmong people, including men, women and children. The Communist soldiers raped many women. The Communist soldiers tortured, hit and killed many people who surrendered to the Communist soldiers. Victims and witnesses in Laos reported that the Communist Lao government of the LPDR and the Vietnamese government have killed more than 300,000 people in Laos from 1975 to 2004. In 2004, the "Killing Fields," ethnic cleansing war, and genocide against Hmong people are still going on. On November 26, 2003, General Vang Pao announced a "Peace Doctrine," or "Vang Pao Doctrine" to bring a true peace, stability, and national reconciliation to Laos, but the Communist Lao government of the LPDR ignored this Peace Doctrine because the LPDR needs war. General Vang Pao proposed peace. The Communist Lao government of the LPDR continues to conduct the war against Hmong people in Xieng Khouang, Borikhamxay, Vientiane, and Houaphan Provinces, in the Xaisomboun Region, and in other remote areas in Laos. The Lao Human Rights Council in the United States calls upon the Communist Lao government of the LPDR and Vietnamese government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: to stop the ethnic cleansing war and genocide against Hmong and Lao people immediately. to respond to the Vang Pao Peace Doctrine. to start the peace immediately. Released by: Dr. Vang Pobzeb Executive Director Lao Human Rights Council, Inc. in the United States   Home Page | Photographs | Hmong History | About the Council | Document List | Govt. Links | Dec. 23, 2003 Press Release