Al Franken unhappy with access in visit to refugee phonekham village in Laos

[TijLaugHmoob]

Franken unhappy with access in visit to refugee village in Laos
The senator said he wasn't able to see living conditions of Hmong. The Minnesota senator took a helicopter tour but urged greater access to the living conditions of Hmong refugees

By JEREMY HERB, Star Tribune

Last update: July 6, 2010 - 9:18 PM

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Al Franken said he was unsatisfied with the access he received during his trip to Laos this week to observe the living conditions of 4,500 Hmong refugees who were forced from Thailand to Laos last December.

Franken took a helicopter tour of the houses being built in the village for the refugees, and he spoke to a group of about 150 Hmong. But the Minnesota Democrat said Lao officials prevented him from seeing the full scope of the living conditions at the Phonekham village.

"I was unhappy with the amount of access I had today and insisted that the [U.S.] ambassador have more access to the place so that he can see exactly what is going on in future visits," Franken said in a conference call from Vietnam.

About 46,000 Hmong immigrants live in Minnesota, the nation's highest per capita Hmong population. Some had relatives among the 4,500 Hmong who were repatriated from Thailand to Laos late last year. Since then Hmong Americans and human rights groups have expressed concern that Hmong refugees could be mistreated. They called for greater access and transparency from the Laotian government.

"It's unfortunate he was not given access because I think he could have been a really good ambassador," state Sen. Mee Moua said of Franken.

If Franken could have been a messenger back to Minnesota, Moua said, "for peace of mind for Minnesotans, that would be a really big deal."

Franken joined Sens. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on a trip to Vietnam, in part so he could go to Laos Tuesday. Franken was the only senator to travel to Laos.

The Hmong people, who helped the CIA during the Vietnam War, have a history of distrust with the Laotian government. After the war, they fled to Thailand to escape persecution from the Communist government, and most resettled in Laos or other countries, including the United States.
Ok Ok here the sources:
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/97906649.html

[Gutts]

Mee Moua and Cy Thao should've gone along with them.  That would be true representation .

[Reporter]

Mee Moua and Cy Thao should've gone along with them.  That would be true representation .

They have chosen wisely not to go. A Hmong can't turn this situation around anymore now. It must be a caring Caucasian like Sen. Franken!

[F-16]

They have chosen wisely not to go. A Hmong can't turn this situation around anymore now. It must be a caring Caucasian like Sen. Franken!

Were Mee and Cy offered to go by Al or Obama administration?

[Reporter]

Were Mee and Cy offered to go by Al or Obama administration?

No. Al's trip was secretive. Obama is sending Hillary Clinton instead.

[F-16]

I wonder what was behind it.  Better not be a wasted of my tax dollars at work.  Did you guys hear an article that Al may have won his seat due to 341 fraud votes by prison inmates?

[vangkm007]

Ya'll better vote for Fraken again!

[primetime]

They have chosen wisely not to go. A Hmong can't turn this situation around anymore now. It must be a caring Caucasian like Sen. Franken!

AMEN to that.

46k hmong population for MN seems low though.

[Reporter]

Any update on this?