IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 332
Condemning the communist regime in Laos for its many human rights abuses,
including its role in the abduction of United States citizens Houa Ly
and Michael Vang.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 14, 1999
Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin (for himself, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. GILMAN, Mr.
VENTO, Mr. KIND, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr.
HUNTER, and Mr. CUNNINGHAM) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in
addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
RESOLUTION
Condemning the communist regime in Laos for its many
human rights abuses, including its role in the abduction
of United States citizens Houa Ly and Michael Vang.
Whereas under the current regime, Laos is a one-party com-
munist state which maintains a monopoly on power as
well as close relations with the world’s other remaining
communist nations;
Whereas the current communist regime in Laos continues to
deploy its security forces against many of its own citizens
and to deny them simple human liberties and rights, in-
cluding freedom of speech, assembly, religion, and other
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basic rights, as documented by the United States Govern-
ment, Amnesty International, and other organizations;
Whereas Lao and Hmong Christians, as well as American
missionaries, have been repeatedly arrested and impris-
oned by government authorities in Laos for practicing
their faith;
Whereas the current regime in Laos continues to deny Am-
nesty International and all other independent human
rights organizations access to Laos;
Whereas the King and Queen of Laos, as well as many other
members of the Lao Royal Family, disappeared while in
the custody of the current regime in Laos;
Whereas despite repeated pleas for the return of the King
and Queen of Laos, as well as other members of the Lao
Royal Family, the regime remains unwilling to release
them or their remains;
Whereas Vue Mai, a Hmong refugee leader with Hmong-
American family in Fresno, California, disappeared in
Laos in September 1993 after being repatriated from
Thailand;
Whereas two United States citizens, Mr. Houa Ly, a resident
of Appleton, Wisconsin, and Mr. Michael Vang, a resi-
dent of Fresno, California, were traveling along the bor-
der between Laos and Thailand on April 19, 1999;
Whereas according to American eyewitnesses, United States
congressional research missions, non-governmental orga-
nizations and other sources, Messrs. Ly and Vang were
seized by Lao Government authorities;
Whereas the Lao Government continues to deny knowledge of
the whereabouts of Messrs. Ly and Vang or the role of
government security forces in abducting them;
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Whereas the regime has recently denounced the Voice of
America (VOA) for VOA reporting about the disappear-
ances of Messrs. Ly and Vang;
Whereas the Department of State has been asked repeatedly
by members of Congress to vigorously investigate and re-
solve this case since it was first reported in early May
1999;
Whereas congressional missions, including one conducted by
the Chairman of the Committee on International Rela-
tions of the House of Representatives, traveled to South-
east Asia during July and August to further investigate
this incident and raise the issue at the highest levels of
government in the region;
Whereas the chief response to this incident by the Depart-
ment of State and United States Ambassador to Laos
Wendy Chamberlain has been to undertake an investiga-
tion in cooperation with the regime in Laos—a regime in-
volved with the disappearance of Messrs. Ly and Vang;
Whereas the families of Messrs. Ly and Vang have been able
to learn very little from the United States Government
regarding the whereabouts or current circumstances of
their loved ones; and
Whereas the Congress will not tolerate any unjustified arrest,
abduction, imprisonment, disappearance, or other act of
aggression against United States citizens by a foreign
government: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) decries the abduction of Houa Ly and Mi-
chael Vang, recognizing it as an incident worthy of
congressional attention;
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(2) condemns the current regime in Laos for its
role in the disappearance of Messrs. Ly and Vang;
(3) emphasizes to the Department of State con-
gressional dissatisfaction with the flawed investiga-
tion of this case undertaken by Ambassador Wendy
Chamberlain and the United States Embassy in
Laos;
(4) stresses to the Department of State the ur-
gent need to initiate a new independent investigation
free from coordination with the government of Laos;
(5) calls upon the regime in Laos and the De-
partment of State to expeditiously release any and
all information regarding the whereabouts or current
circumstances of Messrs. Ly and Vang to their fami-
lies and to Congress;
(6) urges the Lao Government to return
Messrs. Ly and Vang, or their remains, to United
States authorities and their families in America at
once;
(7) warns the Lao Government of the serious
consequences, including sanctions, of any unjustified
arrest, abduction, imprisonment, disappearance, or
other act of aggression against United States citi-
zens; and
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(8) urges the Subcommittee on Trade of the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives, as well as its counterpart in the
Senate, to suspend any further review, consideration,
or action regarding normal trade relations status for
Laos until Messrs. Ly and Vang are fully accounted
for and this case is satisfactorily resolved.
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