Demonstration against Lao regime Launched on Laos' New Year; Lao, Hmong veterans, victims, rally in Twin Cities against ethnic cleansing and Reps. Betty McCollum, Phil Crane's Laos NTR bill

Mass Demonstration Launched Against Lao Regime on Laos' New Year; Lao, Hmong veterans and victims, rally in the Twin Cities against Laos, Vietnam's joint ethnic cleansing and military offensive as well as to denounce Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)and Rep. Phil Crane's (R-IL) newly introduced legislation seeking to grant Normalized Trade Relations(NTR)status to the current Pathet Lao regime. Twin Cities Lao and Hmong community, and veterans, urge Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN)to oppose Laos NTR Legislation in the House Ways and Means' Trade Subcommittee in light of the recent increased attacks and killing of Hmong and Laotian civilians and rebels by the Pathet Lao regime and Vietnam.

(PRWEB) April 15, 2004 -- The Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA), the Lao Veterans of America, Inc. (LVA), the Hmong Emergency Crisis Task Force (HECTF), The Hmong Student Voices of Sorrow (HSVS) and a coalition of Laotian and Hmong organizations will hold a mass demonstration in front of the St. Paul office of U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., on April 15, 2004, sidewalk area in front of U.S. Rep. Betty McCollums office, 165 Western Ave.,, St. Paul,, MN). Note: Some 500-700 Hmong and Laotian Demonstrators are anticipated.

DEMONSTRATION TOPICS:

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Hmong and Laotians will rally against the official public denial, and cover-up, by elements of the Bush Administration, especially outgoing US Ambassador Douglas Hartwick, in cooperation with Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Rep. Phil Crane (R-IL), regarding the current ethnic cleansing and mass starvation campaign in Laos, where Amnesty International has reported that food is being used as a weapon of war against Hmong and Laotian civilians and rebels.

Hmong and Laotians will rally against new legislation introduced by Rep. Phil Crane (R-IL) and Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) seeking to grant Normalized Trade Relations (NTR) status to the Communist regime in Laos.

SPEAKERS: Philip Smith, Executive Director, Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA), Washington, D.C.; Stephen Vang, Hmong Studies Lecturer, University of Wisconsin, Stout.
Cher Toua Yang, Lao Veterans of America, Inc., Minnesota Chapter; Zong Khang Yang, Director, Hmong Emergency Crisis Task Force (HECTF); Amee Xiong, Hmong Student Voices of Sorrow (HSVS), and others.

SPONSORS: The demonstration and rally is cosponsored by the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA), the Lao Veterans of America, Inc., the Hmong Emergency Crisis Task Force (HECTF), Hmong Student Voices of Sorrow (HSVS), the the United Lao Hmong Congress for Democracy (ULHCD) and a coalition of Laotian and Hmong organizations.