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Plight of Hmong Refugees in Thailand
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John Henry
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May 25, 2008 19:02 PDT
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Greetings from Thailand:
My friend Missionary Tom Gaudet sent out the below message last
Saturday. Please pray for the Hmong refugees from Laos. If
sent back to Laos they could face persecution and even death.
Bro. Gaudet and Missionary Jeff Lange found these Hmong Tribesmen along
the road several years ago. Through their efforts many of them were
won to Christ, trained and a church started which now has about 300
members. Please pray for them.
You might also consider writing to the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) concerning the plight of these Hmong refugee in the
camp in Phetchabun Provence
(
http://www.unhcr.org/contact.html).
Yours for Asian Souls,
John Henry
Gaudet Message Follows:
... [T]here was a fire in the refugee camp yesterday. Many of the
details are sketchy at this point, but here is what we know. The fire or
series of fires burned some 850 of the 1,300 shelters inside the camp.
The fence surrounding the camp was either opened or broken down, and the
refugees began to flee.
Throughout the day today we continued to get updates via cell phone from
within the camp. Many hundreds of people are gathered in and around the
three church buildings just across the road from the camp. A number are
still inside the camp in their homes which were not affected by the fire.
Bro. Lange tried to get in the camp earlier today and was turned away
from the gate. During the day Doctors Without Borders, the one large
relief agency working directly with the refugees negotiated with the
military for a peaceful settlement to this situation. The Hmong clan
leaders were called in and talked also with the military. It seemed
progress was being made.
However, protests continued and then around 7pm what was thought to be
tear gas was fired into the crowd. Not really understanding what was
happening, many of the refugees fled into the jungle. Some were able to
call on cell phones on the run to tell about this. Within an hour or so,
with the military broadcasting not to be afraid, most of them had
returned to the area where the churches are.
This all started because the refugees are trying to get attention to
their requests for the UNHCR to get involved with their plight. The
Secretary General of the UN is in the area dealing with Burma and the
crisis there. They want the UNHCR to monitor them if they are sent back
to Laos. The Thai and Lao governments have agreed to handle the matter
without a third party being involved in it. The Hmong are fearful of what
might happen to them without the UNHCR involved. To date, the government
has insisted that the UN not have access to the refugees.
At any rate, they are pretty traumatized and afraid. In phone calls, Bro.
Lange has encouraged the believers not to get involved with these
protests, rather to stand strong in the Lord and use every opportunity to
point people to the Saviour.
Please pray for the situation and for the believers in particular. We
have been able to ensure them that many are praying and they have
expressed deep gratitude. Jeff remains nearby in a hotel awaiting word
from the military and from Doctors Without Borders staff who are trying
to secure permission for us to be able to help them. They do not have the
staff to handle the extra work of relief which this situation has
generated. We have some limited amount of funds remaining from RLI and
have offered to use them for immediate relief needs for the refugees.
Pray that this might be resolved without bloodshed and in a way which
will help the refugees.
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