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Grave Desecrations

December 10, 2008 Consultation with the United Nations Expert on the Desecration of Hmong Graves

United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, Professor James Anaya, visited Minnesota on December 9, 2008 and December 10, 2008, to hear testimony concerning the desecration of Hmong graves at Wat Tham Krabok in Saraburi, Thailand. Professor Anaya visited at the invitation of the Human Rights Program at the University of Minnesota. The December 10 hearing took place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Coffman Memorial Union Theater on the east bank campus of the University.

The event’s success was due to the hard work and commitment from numerous elected officials, community activists, and students working closely with the Human Rights Program. Testimony from family members, Hmong shamans, and community representatives involved in investigating the case and advocating for a satisfactory resolution with the leadership of the monastery and the Thai Government was presented to the Special Rapporteur. University of Minnesota law students, Katie Devlaminck and Kevin Morrison, summarized the legal arguments on behalf of the Hmong people, based on violations of their rights to non-discrimination and to practice their cultural and religious beliefs.

The United Nations expert was clearly moved by the testimony which he called “disturbing” while quickly adding that it was at “the same time encouraging to see the courage and the determination by the people to have their rights respected and the violation of their rights vindicated.” Anaya pledged to the community that “I will take measures that will help restore some level of dignity and some level of trust and perhaps some level of understanding, mutual understanding, between the Hmong people and the rest of the Thai society…this is a matter of concern that you can rest assure that I will address.”

Below are remarks, statements, and testimonies given at the event:

Photos

U.N. Consultation

Ms. PaChia Yang and witnesses, Mr. Lee Thao and Mr.Kao Xiong, testifies at U.N. Consultation on the desecration of Hmong graves. Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota.

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