For Immediate Release: January 15, 2008
Contact: Karen Clifton
Phone: (559) 445-5532

Sacramento, CA – The steps of California’s State Capitol were crowed today with close to a 1,000 Hmong community members, leaders and supports in hopes of sending a message to the legislature – Help end human rights violations against the Hmong now.

Assemblymembers Dave Jones (D-Sacramento) and Juan Arambula (D-Fresno) rallied the crowd to support dual Assembly Joint Resolutions that help protect the Hmong Community.

AJR 36, authored by Assemblymember Dave Jones, urges the Federal Government to take action in the reported human rights violations of the Hmong in Laos and Thailand. According to Jones, AJR 36 calls on Laos to fulfills its obligation to human rights and encourages Laos to allow the United Nations to provide humanitarian aid.  Particularly with regard to food and access to medical care to the Hmong who have taken refugee in the jungle.  The resolution calls for the United States Department of State to be accountable for addressing the human rights violations in Laos.

“These families live under disastrous circumstances in the country’s jungles, facing frequent military attacks, starvation and disease,” said Assemblymember Jones.  “As the state that holds the largest Hmong population outside of Southeast Asia, we have a responsibility to address an issue that deeply concerns many of our fellow Californians.”

AJR 37, authored by Assemblymember Juan Arambula, commends the President and the Federal Government for protecting the rights of Hmong refugees to pursue full citizenship in this country.  According to Arambula, the President recently signed H.R. 2764 to amend the Patriot Act and the REAL I.D. Act. so that the law would not declare the Hmong and several other groups as “terrorists” on the basis of past actions.  In the case of the Hmong, assisting U.S. solider during the Vietnam War.  The law allows them to obtain a green card and enter the U.S. “even if they once took up arms.”

“There was a real problem with the way these laws were written, that unjustly labeled many refugees as ‘terrorists’ or ‘terrorist groups.’  This included the Hmong people who fought along side the U.S. during the Vietnam War,” said Assemblymember Arambula.  “I commend the President and the members of congress for recognizing this inaccuracy and help protect those who have given so much for our freedom.”

Both resolutions have received overwhelming support from the Hmong community.