Press Release	For Immediate Release: Thursday, December 18, 2003 Contact KaYing Yang at (202) 667-4690

SEARAC Applauds the U.S. Government for Offering Resettlment to Hmong Refugees in Thailand

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of State announced today it will open a refugee resettlement program for Hmong refugees who currently live at the Wat Thamkrabok temple in Thailand. The Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) joins the Hmong community to applaud the U.S. Government's implementation of a humane and lasting solution which hopefully will put an end to the longstanding crisis experienced by many Hmong refugees from Laos, living in limbo for years in Thailand.

According to the Department of State, in January 2004, they will provide information on the registration process to Wat residents. Registration for resettlement will begin in February 2004 and will be offered at no cost to anyone who registered with the Royal Thai Government as of August 2003.

"We are grateful to the U.S. for their continued commitment to provide a new home for those who have suffered persecution," says KaYing Yang, Executive Director of SEARAC. "Many Hmong Americans will be relieved and excited to hear that they will be reunited with their loved ones." She adds, "There are still many concerns that need to be addressed. However, at this time, we thank the Thai Government for providing refuge to thousands of refugees over the last two decades and we urge them to work with the U.S. to provide full citizenship or other local settlement options to help integrate families who may not choose resettlement outside of Thailand."

Following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, hundreds of thousands of Hmong fled Laos to seek safety in Thailand due to their support of the United States. Later, thousands left the refugee camps for fear of repatriation to Laos. Many found relative sanctuary in Wat Thamkrabok, a Buddhist temple in central Thailand. According to recent reports more than 15,000 Hmong refugees from Laos live at the temple grounds.

Historically, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program has offered resettlement as a means of protecting refugees from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam and for special groups - such as the Hmong, the Montagnard of Vietnam, and recently the Stateless Vietnamese in the Philippines - who continue to fear persecution for their pro-American stance. The U.S. decision to offer resettlement during a time when refugee admission is at an all time low demonstrate that the United States is still a beacon of hope for refugees around the world. All refugees living in the United States must press the U.S. Government to open doors to more refugees so that we can meet the Presidential Determination on refugee admissions for FY04 which is at 70,000.

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SEARAC is a the oldest and only national advocacy organization whose mission is to advance the interests of Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese Americans through leadership development, capacity building, and community empowerment. Visit our website at www.searac.org for more information about this issue and other advocacy efforts.

See Also:

• Press Release from Hmong National Development: Hmong Refugees In Thailand Will Be Offered Resettlement in the U.S.