According to the report from and Lao National Steering Committee on Human Rights has joined the 123rd session of UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva during the 11-12 July 2018 to consider Laos' report on which Laos has been part of since 2009.
UN Human Rights Committee chair by Mr. Yuval Shany from the was reported to by Lao delegation on this matter, in order to make sure that Lao People Democratic Republic (Lao-PDR) enacts legal framework and acts upon into its constitutions to guarantee these rights under UN treaties bodies guidelines and protocols.
Lao delegation has reported that for the last 43 years, Lao PDR has been trying to make sure that every Lao person enjoy peace and security and be the master of their social political and self determination rights.
"The Lao PDR has adopted more than 120 laws and other legal document and ratified 7 human rights treaties and 2 optional protocls of the 9 core human rights treaties of the United Nations," according to KPL Laos News Agency's report.
Lao government is trying every means to gradually improve the livelihood of its people. It is very committed to ensure that legal framework are in place to guarantee the freedom and the rights of Lao people in line with the political doctrine of the current Lao government, however it is facing challenging tasks due Lao PDR was colonized from western countries during Indochina war and Vietnam War (The Secret War).
However, that is not the case according to , it is opposite from what Lao delegation reports to the UN Human Rights CCPR.
Bounkeut Sengsomsak, Minister from Prime Minister Office which represented Lao delegation ducked UN questions about Lao civil and political rights about land grabs and Sombat Somphone disappearance and questioning the legitimacy of Mr. Somphone's wife.
“They’re trying to do anything they can to move away from the issue of accountability for what has happened to Sombath, from answering the hard questions like ‘Where is he? Has he been killed? Where is his body?’”said Human Rights Watch, Asia Division Deputy Director, Phil Robertson.
Besides, one researcher who spoken with anonymity with RFA said that it is hard to understand the condition to which Lao villagers who were imprisoned actually do wrong doing and consent with Lao government land grab for project development or simply the government's coercion, whereas Mr. Bounkeut asserted that it is just a small number of people trying to stir up the protest or trying to block government development programs.
Meanwhile The and the has also done a media release stating, one of the US Representative, Tom Garrett's and statement to condemn Lao's human rights abuse, human rights in Lao PDR must be respected and actions taken by the Lao People's Democratic Republic against the Hmong ChaoFa Indigenous people must be ceased.
“America has a duty to stand alongside our allies across the globe both during and following any military engagement. The Hmong people demonstrated bravery and loyalty to the United States and we cannot simply allow them to fall victim to retribution for their unwavering support to our great nation. It is my hope that H.Res.992 sheds light on a tragic situation and Congress can work towards this resolution of support for the Hmong people,” is part of the statement by US Representative Tom Garrett.
This resolution has been presented to the US House Committee for Foreign Affairs detailing past events of disappearing and lost of lives of Hmong diaspora, Hmong refugees who repatriated to Laos and the military action against Hmong living in jungle of Laos as well as details information presenting to the UN Human Rights body to set up a rapporteur to investigate this matter in Laos and demilitarizing against Hmong community in northern Laos.
Earlier (Jul 5, 2018) UNPO and the CWHP along with journalists, reporters, filmmakers and authors who has witnessed human rights issues in Laos have also issued to key policy maker of European Union particularly EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, EU Human Rights body and EU Parliament to urge the EU to ensure that during human rights dialogue with Lao delegation, Lao PDR should take immediate action to guarantee and respects human rights issues and protect every individual Lao citizen including Hmong human dignity.#
For more information about Laos human rights issues please check the following links:
- News about Laos’ Human Rights Report being considered by UN Treaty-body in English
- News about Laos’ Human Rights Report being considered by UN Treaty-body in Lao by Lao KPL News Agency
- UNPO and CWHP welcome US resolution about Hmong situation in Northern Laos
- Joint letter to EU key policy makers urging Laos to immediately take action and respect Human Rights in Laos
- Representative Tom Garrett's H.Res 992 statement
- Represetative Tom Garrett's resolution
- Uinted Nations Human Rights Commission Treaty Body's core human rights and protocols
- Listen to more news about Lao delegation report its human rights issues to UN Human Rights Committee by Radio Free Asia here
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