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A reader has written about allegations (and here) that a large number of students and other protesters were arrested in Laos before the SEA Games. The Lao government has denied that such arrests ever occurred. The reader writes:
The government seems to be implying that anti-Lao government elements overseas have made up the story to try to discredit the government prior to the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane. I was in Laos during the SEA Games and could not find any evidence that these arrests occurred. However, some Lao in the US believe that the Lao government has covered things up, and that there is ample evidence to suggest that the arrests really did take place. In any case, it would be good to get a bit of a discussion going about whether these arrests took place or not. Maybe there are some out there with more information than me?
What’s really going on about the forced repatriation of 4000 Hmong refugees by the Thai government from Petchabun to Laos by the end of the year?
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Where is the ‘ample evidence’? Unless there is any evidence then the only thing to discuss is the desperation of an obviously failing anti-government movement which increasingly looks like a Cold War relic. Even Vang Pao has begun to talk of reconciliation and returning to Laos, although his own people think he is either scheming something or has gone mad.
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The only gossip and problems I’ve heard from Lao authorities lately via the grapevine is that they’ve stepped up fining people trying to smuggle fruits and meats from Laos to the states (about $300 in fines for smuggling buffalo skin!!).
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