Who are the Hmong People?

Wow. Not to disrespect anyone, but I have to say: some of these comments are just unbelievable. Education is key, my Hmong people.

But back to the point I want to make: anon280089, a black gentleman, commented in here about how he noticed that we Hmong are just like his black people -- that we're not unified. I agree to an extent. I think for both blacks and Hmong, pride of our people or who we are is there, but some of us are either just too ignorant about it or we're just thugs, preaching "pride" just to gain new members (gang members). You don't have any pride in your people when you're in a gang, fighting other Hmong. You don't have any pride when you're out there committing crimes, whatever it may be. If that's who you are, face it .... you're just an idiot. You have no idea who you are; you have no respect for yourself; you do not see the bigger picture; you really do not have any pride in your people. If you truly respect yourself and truly have pride in your people, I highly doubt you would go out there saying and doing these things, blemishing your people's reputation.

And no disrespect to anon280089, the black gentleman I spoke of, but I think he would agree with me. Black pop culture is a disease. Somehow, some people from minority groups like the Hmong embrace black pop culture. Maybe it's "cool" to be or act that way; maybe they like the selfish "don't give a bleep" attitude. Maybe they want to look tough, sound tough, act tough like the disrespectful blacks they see on TV. False sense of security. False "high" self-esteem.

As for me, I'm with the Cha clan. My family and I came to the States when I was 12. I won't go into anything GVP or about the war. I'll just say that I, for one, can say that I am proud of who I am. I am proud to be Hmong because we are unique. I think of the people, the clan, before I put myself in situations where I could violate my values and blemish my people's reputation. I try my best to do positive things so that when I am asked about my background and heritage, I can tell them and feel good about it.

By the way, what happened during the Vietnam war wasn't us against the Laotians or Vietnamese. There were the same cultures on both sides. The side that fell was the Laotian royalty; it wasn't just us and the Americans. You don't think that Laotian loyalists had to flee their own country? Of course they did. You don't think that Vietnamese had to flee their own country? Of course they did! Quit being some whiny finger-pointing children and learn to uplift yourselves. How do you expect us to progress when most Hmong people can't pass a college level aptitude test? When you yourself have made it that far, then you can help someone else.

Lordy, people are people. Just because we are all Hmong doesn't mean we are going to magically love each other. If you don't know much about your history then you are just ignorant because you didn't bother to learn it. I don't clamor for other Hmong people just because they are Hmong. I expect any Hmong person to be able to compete in the modern world. Men look at me and don't even shake my hand because I'm a woman and I don't belong in their place, ha.

Anyway, this article is pretty well written. Good job. Honestly, the people who stayed behind in Laos should have left when the war went sour. They had too much faith that someone would come back and take Laos for them. It wasn't our country to begin with. Yes, terrible things happen, but how do you expect the U.S. to go back into another Vietnam war to rescue them? That is unrealistic. And yes, we were recognized for helping. That is why we live here, now. Would we have the rights to live here if we were not recognized for our assistance? No. And yes, my family came from China. My family has a written record of our lineage that dates back to my great-great-great-great-great grandfather who originated from what is now China.

People say that I'm "white-washed" because I'm a modern woman. Guess what? I probably read, write, and speak better Hmong than most people (English, too haha). I can sew, I can cook -- heck I can garden and slaughter a chicken if I had to. I'm just not insecure, quiet and dumb like a woman is supposed to be. Perhaps because my father was an educated man, I have had a non-typical upbringing for a Hmong person. It's no fairytale culture. It's filled with a history of poverty, genocide, superstition and war.

All right, let this be the last post. I come from the Lor clan. You should be glad that you're all in America. The USA has opportunities for you to do almost anything and you should be grateful.

You really want to live the old style with no technology, no iPhone, no sports cars? You really want to be a farmer back in Laos living in poverty? American life is nothing compared to the poor life in Laos, so quit your whining. The past doesn't get you anywhere, so move on and live life for the future.

I’m Hmong. I’ve always wondered what it was like 2,000 years ago. I want to know what the Hmong have invented. But I guess I found my answer: the Hmong have lost so much history. I felt so sad after hearing this. I have been wondering what in the world are Hmong?

Even though I’m Hmong, I don't really know much about my background story. I'm Hmong Xiong and my language is green. But because of the secret war, I was raised as a Hmong Thao girl and speak the Hmong white language. My step grandfather lost all his family members during the war and remarried my grandmother.

I don't really know much about the secret war but it very interesting. It’s sad how our Hmong people were treated like dogs. But I also wonder why Hmong men don't love Hmong women and why 30 or 50 year old guys go to Thailand and marry 13 or 15-year-old girls. What is it with the men and girls? The girls want the money, while the men want the stuff. I just say I don’t like it, and it makes me hate the Hmong people. It makes me hate Hmong people more because men are forcing girls to marry. But still I love the Hmong no matter what.

The past is the past. No matter how much pain my Hmong people have endured, we Hmong can't really do much. Like research said, Hmong means to free and free people, also known as freedom. All we Hmong really want is to have peace and freedom. We fought all the way through here and our culture and traditions are still alive.

Stop trying to kill one another. We already have enough of us killed by the Vietnam War and we are supposed to look up to that and love one another. The struggle is hard for those who are still back in Laos, but we all in America should pray and wish peace for our Hmong.

You know, I'm Hmong, but why don't we come together? See, since we helped the United States, why don't they help us? We have been tortured enough.

I live in the US so I have no problems, but I'm Hmong so I have to care for my people. It is true we fight, but the United States forgot about some of us who still run and live in the jungle. We should be helped.

We used to be a strong people. Now look at us. Until we have a stronger leader and one to carry out the plan, nothing will happen, so I believe the US doesn't even remember us anymore and we helped, so please send help to the Hmong who still live in Laos to Thailand.

For those who said Vang Pao wasn't a good leader, let's face it: it's easier said than done. I'll bet most of you who disagree don't even have the courage to do what he did.

He is not to be blamed for Hmong getting killed in the jungles of Laos or how he couldn't save all of them. The reason why this happened is because the Hmong can't come together at all. Each war we were ever in we never learned to come together. There are always two sides to a coin. Ever since the war in China to the war in Laos, there was always a split. Now we're split among different countries and continents, and the Hmong in different countries thinks they're better then those in other countries. Stupid Hmong kids are joining gang and killing each other -- divided again. Religion now split us again between those who go to church and those who don't. It saddens me how we can never come together and are always split apart. When will this cycle ever end?

How can we hope to have a land to call our own when we can never be one? If the Hmong were to have a country, we would be at civil war all the time. I hope one day we can just all come together no matter where you are from or what religion you take after, and we'll learn to become one, helping and loving one another.

@ post 23: Unfortunately you did not do good enough research. First off, only those who have ties with helping the Americans are persecuted. Second, the majority of Laotian Hmong either did not fight, or fought alongside the communists. So why would the Laotian government persecute those who had no tie, or those who fought with them?

Just because you read a few things, and asked Hmong people who possibly fought with the Laotian communists, doesn't mean that persecution against those who helped the Americans doesn't exist.

I am Hmong myself and hope for the best for my people! Since I myself know very little about the past about the Hmong people, I am pleased that there are people out there who know and support the Hmong!

The Hmong did not originate from China. We populated southwest of China for many years and learned how to grow the opium poppy for trade, rice for food and corn for animals. We are nomads. We were left alone in China until the Qing Dynasty, which caused some Hmong to migrate to Southeast Asia past the Yangtze river. That is the reason why we have such stories of crossing rivers.

We then when to the mountains of Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and other areas near the mainland. From there were stayed peacefully until French involvement in Laos looking for entrance to China and that is how we came to be known.

You only heard what what you wanted to hear, you young Hmong American. Listen Hmong? Hmong are the Asians no one knows about.

We are behind the times and and education. We should teach our children and children's children to be well educated in America so they can have an better future. Don't worry about the past of the Hmong in Laos or other countries. They believed and lived way because they followed different leaders and that's why they are still there suffering.

I do feel terrible for the children who were born after the Vietnam war and didn't know what is going on. They run and hide every day and every night in the jungles of Laos. We as Hmong Americans should raise our voices and help the poor young Hmong in Laos. Help them and you will help yourself. Don't be selfish and do nothing to help. Help and teach, raise your voice tomorrow and let it be heard around the world. We will be one piece and one piece will be us.

I am a black American who was born and raised in California. I was raised in Fresno where there are a lot of Hmongs. I knew there were a few Hmong gangs (even whites have theirs) but I didn't realize until reading this blog and all the different comments that Hmong people fight each other and are not unified. Reading this really surprised me because I really like the Hmong people and didn't realize that you feel the same way about your people as a lot of blacks feel about our people here in America.

There is no unity with us either, and it seems like as a people, we've lost our way somehow. Then I look at whites and see how they have always maintained unity, therefore progressing in all areas of modern life. Whites love themselves and may think a little too highly of themselves, so they love each other.

I think Hmong people are safe for now.

I love Hmong! So do you! Lets' just love one another and do the best we can now and better ourselves for the future.

Let God be the one to judge everything, for only he knows who the Hmong truly are. Only his salvation will save you.

General Vang Pao was in charge of the Hmong army fighting off communist in Laos. From your statement about "what if he rejected the americans" and whatnot, that is, in fact, very uninformed because the French and Americans made him a general and trained him, as well as educated him to be able to train a Hmong army.

There was no refusal or agreement going on. If general Van Pao did not lead the army, the americans would have found someone else who would, and if they, the Hmong, had actually stuck up for themselves and said "No, we aren't going to be part of this," they wouldn't have been hunted by the Pathet-Lao and the North Vietnamese Communists, and they also wouldn't have had to deal with the abandonment of the United States after the peace treaty.

So all in all, General Van Pao was one of the reasons our Hmong people are getting slaughtered in Laos.

@Post 66: I kind of disagree with you. General Vang Pao did what he had to do. He did save many of us and had left many behind. Look at us now. We wouldn't be in the U.S. today if it weren't for him.

He got arrested because he bought guns from the government to supply our people who were still getting kill in Laos. The government lied to him that they would supply guns so they could make a army base somewhere in Thailand or whatever. I see what GVP did to us and I respect what he did.

What if GVP never accepted help from the Americans to fight the war? Where do you think you'd be right now? My dad once told me that the King told GVP that we, the Hmong people, should go to America, get educated, then come back and take the country back and love another. How can we do that when all we do is kill one another by gang-banging? We took GVP for granted. That's why we will never have a land of our own or love one another. R.I.P. General Vang Pao.

@post #67: Obviously, you're only going by what your parents went and experienced. The hmong people who are actually still getting tortured are the original ones who still live in the jungles. These are areas that are not for tourists to discover. My dad has been to these areas. He travels around these areas as a businessman. He hides his identity when he gets to certain areas because the Viets are still taunting our hmong people. Your parents don't live there anymore. Of course they would only visit areas that they are familiar with.

Remember, our hmong people had to relocate themselves to other parts of the land. Not all of the land has the same traces of "what is remembered." There are parents who go and see their relatives in Laos/Thailand, etc. now and they show no remorse for the true hmong who still live in our true jungle., talking about what your daddy brought from killers who have killed your kind

How proud are you to say that you're hmong? Are you saying that we only sit on our computer and read what we want to read? The war is over but it's who you are after. You're Hmong American? O.K. In all honesty you can represent yourself as Hmong American?

Me, as a Hmong, I only represent myself as Hmong. I live in America yes but American? My culture is and will remain Hmong only. My family did not fight for us to be called hmong americans. They did not die for their future generations to be know as Hmong Americans. We are only and always will be known as Hmong.

All you guys have such sorrow for our hmong people, but all I see is a bunch of words and no actions. Americans are smart because they stand strong for a right / fault and they use resources to reach out: for example, the election of the president, or Oprah building a school in Africa.

I believe that if truly all hmong people would really love one another like how we feel about our war history, we can overcome and be known for our ancestors who fought and died. Basically, "if" we all come together as one voice we can finally help our loved ones.

Post no. 23 hit the nail on the spot. I challenge all of you who disagree with poster no. 23 to take a trip to Laos and see for yourself what things really are like. Sitting there in front of your computers, reading all these articles on genocide written by other people sitting in front of their computers do not make those articles true.

Ask any Hmong American who recently went to Laos and they will tell you they had a good time and will go again. My father used to go to Laos every year, first, to visit my relatives who stayed behind, then, later, to prey on the young girls there. In fact, my father bought a plot of land near Vientian for my relatives so they can farm rice and make a living.

I am Hmong American and I have to agree with Post no. 47. Vang Pao was not a great leader, but rather a coward. A true leader should have never left a single soul behind to be tormented and killed. Instead, he fled to the United States when things went sour. I don't know what he was after -- fame, greed whatever it was, it was one bad decision after another that led to this very problem today. One thing he may have done right is saving a few Hmong people.

I am most grateful to be here in the United States. Don't get me wrong, but perhaps somehow, if we had a true hero and a leader who cared for his people, all Hmong people would be in a better situation today.

The Americans are also at fault, but the reality is they see us as nothing more than pathetic scavengers.

The whole genocide thing going on in Laos, I'm not sure of but I wouldn't be surprise. Post no. 23 is uninformed and writes as if he has done a thorough research on Hmong genocide. I wouldn't be too confident in the information he is getting. Who the hell would come out and tell you that they are wiping out a race? Now just think about it and tell me. All around the world, crap is happening that no one knows about. For the love of, God more than half the of Americans don't even know who Hmong people are!

It's time to face it, Hmong people: we are alone and the problems are out of our reach to ever make it right. Let God judge those who committed their share of evil.

We are changing, for the best or the worst.

Life is cheap so whatever you do, look into the future. With our great General Vang Pao, we Hmong people would not have the oppertunity like we have today in America. Our Hmong people have achieved so many great things since coming to the U.S. Everyone has a chance to get a good eaducation and now today we have over 500 doctors in the U.S. Hmong people are great.

I am European and have lived in Laos among Laotian people for five years. The vast majority of Lao accept the government (although it was based on socialist principles, Laos now has a capitalist market economy; it is certainly not oppressive and ordinary working people are happy to go about their daily lives unhindered).

Like most countries, people who obey the law rarely have problems, including most remaining Hmong or those that have returned from the West and who have integrated into normal Lao society.

The blame for the ongoing problem lies with a few stubborn and aging leaders hiding in makeshift villages in the hills who still won't accept the government's authority after 35 years. Do they really believe American Hmong or NGOs or the UN are one day going to 'save' them and give them their own land?

Hmong people is the same Miao in China. Miao is one ethnic group of Chinese people. Both Han and Miao have the same ancient family blood relation. We are all the sons of Dragon. We are brothers.

General Vang Pao died. I appreciated what he tried to do for Hmong people during the Vietnam war, but he failed.

Even if the USA won that war, I doubt America would have made good on their promise. Promises that these CIA men didn't have the authority to make. General Pao should have known that. We, Hmong people were hated before, but especially now. Even if supposedly the Lao people hated us, Laos was our home for a long time. The country fed us, housed us, and we blindly chose to betray it by following General Vang Pao's orders to work with the U.S.; now Laos still have millions of bombs in its soil, most still capable of exploding. I have relatives and friends that have visited Laos and said Hmong people do co exist peacefully with the Lao.

I think everything we hear in the states is a big misunderstanding. I do think Laos is hunting Hmong people in the jungles, but because they think these Hmong are rebels and want to overthrow the government. Maybe they do, maybe they don't and they are just afraid of prosecution due to the betrayal during the war.

The big question is why are the Hmong hated so much? I have an idea. I personally think that it's because we are so stubborn and want to be left alone. So while we were in southern China, we didn't pay taxes; refusing to pay taxes anywhere we lived.

We didn't understand why we couldn't just be left alone. That's not how the real world works, but Hmong people are stubborn. When you don't have your own country, you must respect the country you live in, their rules and laws. That's why I think we're hated so much.

#23, you are selfish. You don't understand the pain of these people. There is genocide happening this very moment. People don't see this because it happens in the jungle. Tourists don't go deep into the jungle just for fun. These hmong people run and hide and are hunted.

I hope that your heart becomes compassionate. You are being a part of the problem and not the solution. I hope that your bitter heart will see the true color and soul of these people. No one deserves to be treated like this.

Hmong people have been dying for 35 years. Yet no one cares. That is why we are speaking out. Don't be the one to shoot lies out of your mouth and stop this justice. This is equivalent to the Holocaust and the genocide of the Jews. Just as many people have died or gone missing in Laos. If you don't believe us. Fine. But don't go around telling others lies. There is cold hard evidence in that country with a government that isn't so cooperative. You watch yourself Mr. "RealFacts" because you're spitting words that will corrupt more than bring peace.

I am american (Danish,english) and LDS (mormon). My brother fought in Vietnam and the hmong people were there. thank you.

My father taught and showed me to have the utmost respect and kindness for our hmong friends. Ignorance is our enemy. learn and know our hmong friends.

I am Hmong too, and I know that it's sad to hear about how horrible things used to be and still is today. But let's face it: we know that they are suffering, and we can't do a thing except pity them! You guys call yourself Hmong people?! Do something about it to change our history. nothing is going to change if you're just going to stand there and do nothing.

number 23... i don't know who the hell you are, but you need to get your facts straight! Our hmong people are getting tortured every day! There is genocide over there and maybe you're just too blind to notice this.

i don't know what race you are but if this happened to you and your ethnic group, you'd be pretty pissed off at what other people were saying! just be glad that this ain't happening to you! And tourists don't see this because it's happening in the jungle and at refugees, not in the gosh dang city!

If it were, I'd bet those dumb laotion and vietnamese people wouldn't even do anything because they are freaking racist!

Lastly, you need to get your facts straight before you start saying crap about us hmong people.

That is a shame what our country will do to other humans beings. they just really don't care about anything and it shows that they don't care about any human beings. They can't even take care of their own people.

Why did they mess with hmong for they have rights too. what our country needs to do is mind its on business and leave other countries alone. i thought there was no more slavery but i guess i was wrong.

I am Hmong, and sadly I don't know much about my culture. I only know the basics. I think it's sad because when people ask where we oringinated from, I don't have an answer. So I guess I'm doing the best I can by looking and researching about my heritage.

The weirdest thing also. My parents are big Hmong traditional type of parents. I guess I'm the black sheep that drifted away.

I am hmong too. But i think that some hmong people do deserve to get tortured and killed because, as far as i know, some hmong guys do still rape hmong girls. Because i still feel that, for some reason, hmong people haven't loved each other enough yet.

Talking about the hmong people back in 1974 or 75 helping the americans, I don't really appreciate that because I have a cousin who works as a nurse and helped those americans soldiers at war but she got raped by the americans soldier instead. So i don't really appreciate how the hmong people have helped americans with war before.

Even though up to these days, americans only pretend to be nice to our hmong people. As a matter of fact, Gen. Vang Pao is not really a good general to be our hmong leader. I don't know what you people think about my comments, but that's what i had in my mind.

As I always sit and wonder about our hmong people, what have we done to be suffering this much? What have we done to other people in the very first place to make them hate and want to torture and kill us?

Every time when i ask this to myself it makes me cry. I guess god will just let our hmong people suffer like this and cry till our tears turn to bloom forever. But I never lose hope yet for our hmong people, because i also still believe that we still have many hmong girls and boys who are highly educated out there in the world somewhere.

Even though i am just a 13 year old girl. I always still have hope in our hmong people.

Whoever wrote on #23 is not hmong person. I'll let you know who is suffering from this. I'm hmong coming from the war. I'm only three years old and my parents drugged me so we got away. I almost died.

You think everything is not true. You just do your research. I was there when the war started and ended. You don't know anything about this. i hope you ask your parents about some of this.

The way i read your story, you stated to everyone that it is a lie. Everyone who writes about what the hmong people suffered is true. I know for a fact that they raped girls 12 to 13 years old and mutilated them. You think this is not hurting hmong people. I hope you have kids. You look at your daughter and tell me how you feel when a soldier rapes you daughter and you can do nothing.

I will let you know how I feel about this. If not for my parents I would be dead by now. I will always tell my children how life is now better than before the war. My brother died because of this war. My parent gave him too much drugs to keep us quiet. Because of my brother we will never forget about this war. This war makes me sick to my stomach.

I'm 44 years old. I will never forget what they did to hmong people. You think now they will hear the hmong people cry out for help. No and never. The government lies too much. The CIA lied to the hmong people too. The government people now helps us. "No". We're just like animals to them. When they need help they will be nice to Hmong people. Lies, lies. For 35 years the Hmong people suffered for a long, long time. No one will never hear about it.

I will let you know how I feel. The Americans lied to us. The French lied to us. All the governments lied to hmong people. I will never trust anyone else but me. Please think twice before you post about what you said. Hmong people still suffer. Love your own people.

I am Hmong woman but don't know much about my own culture. I want to go to Laos and help hmong women who are being forced as sex slaves, or sold by their parents for prostitution. I am Hmong and I am a woman who will not tolerate this kind of evil. God protect and heal all broken hearts. Amen.

I have a hmong boyfriend and we have people who have problems with us because of our race. I'm vietnamese and he's hmong. sigh.

I'm Hmong and I'm proud! My people went through so much, but no one is willing to take a stand. But when it came to the African Americans, their story was told out to the World. When the Indians got their land taken away, it was also told. But why can't anyone tell *our* story? The Secret War?

"Go Hmong! We will never give up!" I'm Xiong and I am prond to be Hmong.

I have a friend who is hmong. I have been in his house and have always been humbled by their mannerisms and respect shown towards one another. I have seen many old pictures of his grandfather in military uniform on the walls of his living room and now realize that he was fighting in Laos.

His parents must have come here in order to give him and his brother and sister a better life. His brother is an A student technician like his father and his sister is an A medical student. But he sits around all day and plays wow! I wonder if he knows or has forgotten the hardships of his ancestors and the plight of his people.

It's so sad how hmong people are getting treated in Laos. Seeing video clips and reading articles through research proves that hmong people are suffering and dying. That's really sad. Every person would want a future and to dream and being in peace, not stuck in nightmares and tortured.

Since the Secret War ended, many hmong people fled to the United States to seek for a better life, and to have a brighter future. The Hmong people should take that chance so that they can live an easier life and to be educated so that they can know how to defend their rights and to defend those who can't defend themselves for their rights. We want to be people who are important too, not people who look down upon us. I believe that Hmong people are true and good people and that they will continue to prove it. I hope people see the truth.

it is really sad to hear these horrible things that is happening to your kind. it makes us feel unwelcome anywhere we go.

I am Hmong and i was born knowing this stuff about the hmong genocides and i am still proud to be hmong even though i see that our race is being hated by a lot of other asian ethnics.

But the one thing that i don't get is why is the hmong kids nowadays don't see that their parents and grand parents brought them here to the US and why aren't they taking advantage of it.

wow what is really going on? devastating! Why do we have to suffer so much.

It's a waste of time to move people back into these countries due to the risk of revolt due to the increase of population. The Hmong people were originally a very nomadic/hill society and are equipped to deal with they land they are living in as of present.

Laos is communist. So why would it not do something like this to us Hmong? I am Hmong, indeed. @RealFacts, if what you say is true, I can go on and believe it, but Laos is communist to this day. Why are the Hmong refugees in Thailand so afraid to go back to Laos? Have you talked to those Hmong people? Have you ever asked them what it was like living in Laos? Many of them fled to the jungles and Thailand. Why would the Hmong want to start war? There are Hmong people today who have never forgot what it was like during the war. Who would want to go back to that?

You have no proof of what you say. Just your opinion. Things are never as they seem.

i'm hmomng too, and hearing and reading all of this makes my heart ache for those who are still suffering. we help out with the war but we don't even have history of it in school.

The Lao PDR government is continuing to circle our people at the Xaysomboune Special Zone, Phou Bia Mountain where most of the Hmong is taking refuge. They use starvation tactics to kill our people. They poisoned our people nine times in 2009, they used rural and roads development that accompanied by soldiers hunt and kill our people. The conflict is ongoing at the Phou Bia Mountain Xaysomboune Special Zone, where all of the fighting is taking place. no one can deny that.

I'm hmong myself, and hearing about how hmong people still get killed is just screwed up.

I am Hmong too, and I don't know what the situation over there is now. It's true that the Hmong aren't the only ones suffering since they weren't the only ones helping the Americans. It is undoubtedly true that the communists killed the Hmong after the war ended, but I haven't heard much about this nowadays.

i have a hmong friend and i just discovered that she is a hmong.

It's horrible that to this day Hmong people living in Laos are being killed still. I am very lucky to be living in the United States. But to hear people are suffering over there is killing me. It saddens me. I am very proud that I am Hmong and proud of my culture. All this controversy, why isn't anyone doing or dealing with this? If someone is, why hasn't there been any change? This hurts me so much.

I'm Hmong and I'm proud of that. I just want tell the person who wrote the first comments above, you are not very educated about the truth about the Hmong people's situation about the Lao Government and the Hmong People after 1975.

I have the original documents with the Lao Government's original official stamp saying they planned to wipe out the Hmong people by 2020 and this is no joke. I have it in my hand.

It is so true no one will refute it after they read it. I'm telling you that we have so much evidence, such as videos, news, victims and actual borderless reporters who went into the jungle of Laos and found out themselves and made their own videos.

Also every nation on Earth knows and believes about it and you do not.Go and do thorough research yourself within the Hmong people not Lao, because they never tell you the truth.

Hmong people were not the only ones that suffered during the secret CIA war in Laos! Just because they are more vocal doesn't mean all of their claims are in fact true.

You have to wonder why other ethnic groups are more willing to start fresh, learn to move on (but not forget of course), and cooperate with one another, except for some misguided Hmongs.

There is no genocide in Laos? How do I know? Several years ago, after doing countless interviews with Hmong veterans, and obtaining closed legal information on the British reporter who documented Hmong Chao Fa rebels in the Jungles of Laos, there is proof that the Lao government is not practicing genocide on the Hmong ethnic group!

Despite the fact that Hmong overseas cannot agree with the current government in Laos at the moment, the government is still a Sovereign government and since some Hmong rebels hiding in the jungle randomly attack tourists and Lao citizens, the government has to do what they can to protect unarmed citizens of that country.

If Hmong people in Laos are facing a "genocide," it wouldn't take long for the rest of the world to really find out and foreign tourists would not be constantly pouring into the nation of Laos!

Go to Laos yourself and find out. Even in Northern Lao towns, such as Luang Phrabang (voted no. 1 by the New York Times two years in a row for best city to visit in the world), you will see for yourself that the Hmong and Lao are able to co-exist with one another just fine!

Fact is, Lao, Hmong, Mien, Khamu, Akha, etc., and all other ethnic groups have been able to co-exist with eachother for a long time now. If the current Lao people or the Lao government was that terrible like some misguided Hmongs claim, then why would the Lao government feature the Hmong ethnic on their currency along with other ethnic groups?

As for Lao people being depicted as bad people, many people in the world and tourists in the country have never encountered this problem. In fact, for many foreigners, they are extremely surprised how honest the Lao people are to them (sometimes chasing them down the street to give them back their right change money).

Many have even commented that unlike Vietnam or Thailand where many people take every opportunity that they can to take advantage of you, the people of Laos don't do that.

In conclusion, if you have been working on investigating the politics behind these claims from both sides as I have, you will know for yourself that these claims of "genocide" have no basis to back them up.

The war has been over for 30-plus years! Many of the Hmong who claim to be "political targets" or are simply spreading the nasty rumor of genocide are doing this simply because they want to go to America for economic gains, plain and simple. You tell me, isn't it suspicious to witness some of the Hmong refugees in Thailand claim to be Fighters for the CIA, when they themselves are just barely 20 years old now?

Don't believe me? Research some of these interviews conducted. You can find them posted all over the Internet if you make the effort to research.

Despite what many overseas Hmongs claim about "helping", it all boils down to past resentment and not genocide! Originally, the real back door deal with the CIA was that if the Hmong won, they would get a piece of Northern Laos to govern and form a Hmong state. Why did they truly believe this to be a real possibility? It's because Laos was the least populated country in all of Southeast Asia with just 4 million people at the time! While both Thailand and Vietnam had a population of over 60 million.

Also, after just barely 200 years of living in Laos after their migration from China, the Hmong ethnic was able to grow in size to become the second most dominant ethnic group in the landlocked nation, right behind the Lao ethnic group themselves (keep in mind the Lao ethnic have been in Southeast Asia since 698 AD).

For the Hmong to even outnumber original ancient natives, such as the Khamu, you can understand for yourself why the "incentive" to "really help" the CIA seemed like too good of an offer.

Even as of this moment, the Lao government is open to "dual citizenship" and have allowed former Lao roayl families to return, and former political refugees to return home (on the condition that they don't start any political coup or war)! Even one of the former Lao prince's homes in Luang Phrabang was shown on American TV after he moved back to Laos (Check out Anthony Bourdain's show on the Travel Channel that featured Laos).

Some overseas Hmongs (especially those who supported General Vang Pow who, by the way, attempted to commit a terrorist act by smuggling massive amounts of weapons to support the rebels further), need to learn the real truth and not randomly select facts that they only want to hear just because it serves their causes.

In fact, I feel very sorry for some of the misguided Hmongs who donated countless amount of money to Vang Pao, only to be lied to and shielded from all of the real facts!

Instead of helping the Hmongs you claim to fight for, you're only hurting them! Citizens of Laos have been through too much pain in the last 200 years; they don't need another war! They need to move forward with the rest of the world in peace and stability!

I am also Hmong and knowing that many of our ancestors are still suffering makes my heart cry out for them. The new generation right now don't know much about who they are and where they're from.

I strongly would like them to do more research and try to understand that the background and nationality of us Hmong are really special. We have suffered for a long time and it's time we all put an end to this, but we need all the help that we can.

Many in the younger generation now, they don't care much about who they are or where they are from. But they should know that there's more than just the language or the clothing.

I hope that one day, the young generation well understand more about who they really are. We are full blood Hmong and not another race (Unless you're mixed). But we all should be proud of who we are.

I am also Hmong. My family felt Laos in 1976 in the middle of the night. We could only travel by night and in the day time we hid. I don't remember much; I was only four years old. However, my parents told me that I walked and was not carried all the way to Thailand.

It’s very sad I've lost a few family members that was ambush and killed or wounded by the Vietcong.

My family came to the United States in 78 and we flew on United Airline to Hawaii. My cousin was studying in Hawaii at UH and he was the one that sponsored us.

Please, any young Hmong who don't know about history, ask. I know I'm the seventh generation born in Laos that was from China. Now, I'm the first generation that grew up here and my children are the first generation born here.

Remember it doesn’t matter what nationality you married or are with -- just don't forget to teach your next generation your language or it will be forgotten.

Hmong people are strong and we never forget where our roots are. I know I’m from China and I’m Hmong.

I'm from the UAE and I'm doing research about the Hmong culture. Please can any Hmong help me?

i am hmong. and will always be hmong. But why do these damn bastards have to do this to us? Why are the hmong people suffering from these people?

many things happen but nothing is getting through. many of our people die every minute. People look at all the pictures and stories on this subject, Hmong people. Kids are getting poisoned, killed, and some are just waiting for their time to go. These people don't deserve to end up like this. Is there someone out there in the upper government position that can help what the American did in the war that ended in 1975 and left what they promised to do if they lost the war? Looks like everything is forgotten and everything is for themselves. This war is a punishment for the hmong do to what? Helping the Americans with a drug war? -- Nomwin

Many would wonder how come the hmong people suffer so much and the main question is what did the hmong people do to the chinese in particular that cause them to make the hmong suffer? well as a hmong you have to understand that asian people are overly obsessive of fame and ruling. it is the greed of ownership and selfishness that cause the hmong to be in vain.

It's so sad that Hmong people are still being abused by the Laos and Thai government. What I want to know is what did the Hmong people do to the Chinese, Laotian and Thai people that they hate us so much? God has already given the Hmong a chance to be educated and to be free so we can fight for those who can't fight and defend themselves. Young Hmong people stay in school and study hard. The more educated Hmong people are, the more we can learn to work together, getting along and educate other ethnicities about the Hmong. So they don't have to look down upon us. It is not about being better than other ethnicities, but being true and good human beings of accepting and forgiving those who hurt the Hmong due to ignorance and fear.

I am one of the original Hmong whose father have helped the CIA to stop the Ho Chi Min Trail from 1965 to 1975. My family suffered so and almost got persecuted by the communist pathet laos. Good thing my father escaped and went to Thailand and came to United States safe. otherwise I wouldn't be here today. I think the Laos government should stop presecuting the Hmong because God will curse those presecuted the hmong. God loves the Hmong. Someday he will bless the Hmong and they will be free as the world...

I was a soldier during Viet Nam, and after the war, 73-74. I saw many Hmong as soldiers. I took care of wounded Hmong. I put many in body bags. I was a sad soldier after the war.

I saw many Hmong, just today at our Farmer's Market in "Bentonville, Arkansas." I talked with them. Many of the men were soldiers then. My blood mixed with theirs many years ago. They continue to be my people.........HN Rogers, AR

=) I am not Hmong, but I am Cambodian and I enjoy studying all types of history. Indeed, I strongly feel that persecution and cruelty should end and instead, the teaching of love and an open mind should be inculcated into everyone's mind. I wish my power of persuasion work in an instant, it's unfortunate.

I think the Hmong people arrived in America, Guiana, and France by plane. For more information on the Hmong people you can check out this book: (it's in French) "Quitter son pays" by Mari-Christine Helgerson. It describes a fictional family's travel including obstacles. I'm sure you could find it in English. We're reading it for school now. It's so sad and I just found out that the abuse is still going on. Can't believe it! I wish it would stop! Why are people so cruel?!

i am hmong myself too, and i feel that our race of hmong people is looked at no differently on how we ought to do something for the others that are left over in Thailand and laos. it saddens me a lot when i do projects of the hmong and do research and find more than i expected of the hmong. i love hmong people. they mean a lot to me. :]

Well, I think that everyone including the Hmong People should do something to help these people back in Laos and Thailand because as every minute goes by there are more and more Hmong People that are getting killed by either the Thai or Laos government.

I hope that one day My Hmong People Would have our own country like the rest of the people in the world.

im making a project about hmongs. i think its terrible what happened to them.

I'am Hmong and I'm 10 years old. I am doing a research about hmong for school and came upon this history of my people. I was sad reading this because many of the Hmong are still in Laos and Thailand getting killed, tortured, and poisoned. I went to the Hmong New Year at Cal Expo (November) and saw many things I didn't expect to see. Innocent kids get torture and kill like animals. I wish that I can do something to help. All I wish for is that everyone will love each other and not killing one another. I really want the president to make a speech about loving and no more killing and or war.

i think more websites should state how the hmong people got to the US. You hear about Europeans getting here through Ellis island and what not. did the hmong just get here by plane? the hmong people are quite a mystery. I'm hmong and i ask my parents but they don't remember. if they can't pass on any information to us then our history ends when they die.

I'm hmong myself, and it's devastating to hear that our people, the hmong, are still having to suffer to this very day. Over 18 years and it's still going on, after I left Laos, when I was little. *sighs. Can't believe this.