[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 25971-25973] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]LAOTIAN-AMERICANS FROM PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND PARTICIPATION IN U.S. CONGRESSIONAL FORUM ON LAOS ______ speech of HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY of rhode island in the house of representatives Wednesday, November 1, 2000 Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents form Rhode Island recently participated in a U.S. Congressional Forum on Laos held on October 19. Laotian and Hmong leaders from around the United States and the globe gathered to present testimony to policymakers and Members of Congress. They joined in a special ceremony in Congress to honor former Congressman Bruce Vento, who recently passed away, for his leadership role on behalf of the freedom-loving for the people of Laos. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent a significant Laotian and Hmong- American population in Rhode Island. I share their deep concern about their relatives and countrymen still in Laos--and the need for human rights and democracy. My uncle, President Kennedy, also believed strongly in freedom for the people of Laos, and committed the United States to that goal. I am honored to continue that fight in the United States Congress today, and firmly believe that forums like this are an excellent way to work toward that goal. I also appreciate their efforts to honor my colleague, former congressman Bruce Vento, for his work on behalf of freedom and human rights for Laotian people. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Thongsavanh Phongsavan, of the Lao Representatives Abroad Council, based in Providence, Rhode Island, for his important work in the Laotian community. I am grateful that Laotian students from Rhode Island played a leadership role in the event, including Mr. Thongkhoune Pathana, Ms. Viengsavanh Changhavong, Ms. Sothida Bounthapanya, and Ms. Ammala Douangsavan. Many Hmong-Americans also attended from Providence including Mr. Xay Ge Kue, Mr. Xia Xue Kue, Mr. Toua Kue, and Mr. Nhia Sue Yang. I also want to thank Mr. Philip Smith, Executive Director for the Center for Public Policy Analysis, for helping to convene this important forum. The National Democratic Institute (NDI) and many other important organizations were able to speak and participate with regard to the ongoing need to promote human rights and democracy. Mr. Speaker, I would commend my colleagues in Congress the following testimony of Mr. Thongsavanh Phongsavan from the Lao Representatives Abroad Council: Thank you Mr. Philip Smith, Honorable Congressman, Honorable Senator, Your Excellency, and Distinguished Guests: On behalf of the Laotian Representatives Abroad Council I am deeply encouraged by the promise that this historic U.S. Congressional Forum VI hold for the future. With the wisdom of our Laotian Leaders, this new era of co-operation will inspire peace and prosperity for many generations to follow. This new age will also give rise to opportunities for our peoples unimaginable only a short while ago. In the eyes of industrialized nations, no longer will we be viewed as a group of ethnicities closed and divided, but as a model of the tremendous progress that freedom, democracy and free enterprises can achieve in the Laos. Now more than ever, we need to work together to secure this vision of hope. At this point there can be no turning back; only the swift and purposeful push towards a more productive future. Indeed, the Twenty-First Century is our oasis in the desert. It is a place where Laotian people and ideas will come together for the betterment of all of Humanity, Respect and justice to all. Laotian Representatives Abroad Council and Lao Progressive and their emissaries have been hard at work to help bring these new developments into focus. Working not only with the Laotian people, but with peoples of all ethnicities, it has achieved tremendous economic opportunity through the expansion of business development, job opportunity, education, social orientation, and political consultations. For more than 30 generations, the people of Laos and their leaders have stood proud despite the winds of social burden. The history of our nation runs deep and wide. And from the beginning, its many political, social and economic struggles have been overcome in the name of freedom, democracy and prosperity. With French colonization late in the last century and the sociopolitical breakdowns that followed, Laos 65 ethnic groups were divided by pressure from within and without--as other, developing nations, aspired to progress. Men, women and children bound by a common vision of hope fought for independence. But isolated by differences of language and culture within their own borders, their collective strength was diminished. The ensuring years provided few signs of relief. Relations among the struggling classes and the French remained tenuous at best. And despite the growing numbers of young Laotian being educated in French universities by the 1920's higher education was yet restricted to all but Laos' social elite. Lack of education and poor agriculture imbued further hardships for both the people and the land. The colonist, indifferent to the idea of investing in the masses through improved social opportunity, employed unskilled labor in mining operations; the harsh conditions of which caused many workers to perish. Times grew much worse for the rural and uneducated people. And without a means of unifying their philosophies, de Gaulle and other leaders could place little hope on maintaining Laos' status quo as a French colony. Lao History in its later chapters is plagued by struggles of even greater intensity. Prolonged war ensued between the Pathet Lao and the Royal government. And this turmoil was further compounded by the fact that government control in Vientiane passed back and forth between General Phoumi Nonsavan's pro-Western alliance, and Laos' Neutralists, which were led by Prince Souvanna Phouma. The stunning success of the LPF and its allies in winning thirteen of the twenty-one seats contested in the May 4, 1958, elections to the National Assembly changed the political atmosphere in Vientiane. This success had less to do with the LPF's adroitness than with the ineptness of the old-line nationalists, more intent on advancing their personal interests than on meeting the challenge from the LPF. The two largest parties, the Laos Progressive Party and the Independent Party, could not agree on a list of common candidates in spite of repeated prodding by the United States embassy and so split their votes among dozens of candidates. The LPF and the Peace (Santiphab) Party carefully worked out a strategy of mutual support, which succeed in winning nearly two-thirds of the seats with barely one-third of the votes cast. Souphanouvong garnered the most votes and became chairman of the National Assembly. The Laos Progressive Party and the Independent Party tardily merged to become the Rally of the Laos People (Lao Rouam Lao). In the wake of the election fiasco, Washington concentrated on finding alternatives to Souovanna Phouma's strategy of winning over the Pathet Lao and on building up the Royal Lao Army as the only cohesive nationalist force capable of dealing with the communists' united front tactics. On June 10, 1958, a new political grouping called the Committee for the Defense of the National Interests (CDNI) made its appearance. Formed mainly of a younger generation not tied to the big families and as yet untainted by corruption, it announced a program for revitalizing the economy, forming an anticommunist front that excluded the Pathet Lao, suppressing corruption, and creating a national mystique. Washington which was paying the entire salary cost of the Royal Lao Army, was enthusiastic about the ``young turks'' of the CDNI. This enthusiasm was not altogether [[Page 25972]] shared by United States ambassador Horace H. Smith, who asked what right a group untested by any election had to set its sights on cabinet appointments. Whereas Souvanna Phouma tried and failed to form a government, creating a drawn-out cabinet crisis, Phoui Sunanikone eventually succeeded and included four CDNI members and Phoumi Nosavan in a subcabinet post. In 1961, a 14-nation conference held in Geneva sought to defuse the conflict by establishing a neutralist coalition government under Souvanna Phouma. However, the warring factions soon clashed again. And in the increasing chaos that followed, Laos' upheaval would be viewed as merely an appendage to the Vietnam War. The final coalition government was established in April, 1974. This entity was led by Souvanna Phouma, and included his half-brother, the Pathet Lao Leader Souphanouvong. After south Vietnam's and Cambodia's fall to Communist rule in 1975, the Pathet Lao assumed full control in Laos. In December of that year, Souvanna Phouma's government was terminated and the Royal Monarchy abolished. As many as 30,000 former government and police officials were sent to political reeducation centers. And against this great body of humanity, many serious abuses of human rights were witnessed. After 1975 an estimated 400,000 refugees, including most of Laos' educated and wealthy elite, fled the country. Laos signed a peace accord with Vietnam in 1977, and a border delineation treaty with that country in 1986. Vietnam then agreed to provide Laos with aid to develop its agriculture, forestry, industries, and transportation facilities; and to allow duty-free access to port facilities in Da Nang. Laos' alliance with Vietnam and the former Soviet bloc was bolstered after Vietnam's invasion of Kampuchea in 1979. As the Twenty-First Century is at our hand, important changes in the Lao infrastructure are again imminent. Just as the stone age wheel precede the ox cart and wagon, each advancement we make today is an investment toward the future. Among the important changes we must not prepare for is the enactment of socio-economic reforms. Surely with a strong foundation on which to build, Both high level and intermediate talks among our leaders and those of the industrialized nations will aid in this transition. Participation in such dialogue will also improve relations with our neighbors; promoting understanding, while forging a new alliance among those who embrace this long awaited opportunity. The teaching of English as a Second Language is also a vital necessity. This advantage will not only help us fulfill the promise of unifying the people of our region, but aid in the development and expansion of commercial interests throughout the world. To achieve this result without compromising our respective traditions or values, improved teaching in all areas of study shall play a decisive role, with present advancements in education, technology and industry--Televisions, Computers and internet access in the classroom are among the chosen tools for building a better future. Laos is also blessed with an abundance of undeveloped natural resources. Gold, Oak timber, Raw minerals, Gemstones and Hydroelectric Power are among the most substantial of its treasures. Along with the installment of valid reforms, development in farming, construction and hybrid technologies will easily bring this country's economy over the top within the next five to ten years. Educators, students and interested members of the business and private sectors may also take an active role in this development. Individually or as part of an established group, they themselves have the power to initiate political, economic and social reforms through positive involvement in their own land. Specific ways in which these steps can be followed include: 1. Reading and learning about the history of Southeast Asia and it's struggles. 2. Becoming involved through further sociopolitical study and debate. 3. Acquiring specific knowledge and technology in fields relation to agriculture, medicine, electronics and engineering. 4. To aid in this transition by lending your direct support to our nation and its people. Writing or speaking with U.S. Congressmen, Senators and even the President will also help to set the wheels of progress into motion. Promoting the involvement of other nations and leaders will add credibility and support to these efforts, while establishing a dialog of wise words and encouragement that will achieve enormous benefits for this worldly cause. Improved teaching is but one avenue to be fully explored and attended. Equally important considerations are met as we reach each new crossroad in the quest for a greater unity. Improved agriculture, communications private ownership and the recognition of minorities are just some of the prevailing elements of an economically stable system. In the context of greater struggles, political reforms and the redefinition of Civil freedoms will promote a wider approval of this cause. Today we stand united, as the dawning of a new and enlightened age has arrived. Only with our combined efforts could such a proud and prosperous moment come to bear. And with the health and well-being of our children in our hands, together we will strive to uphold the values that will lead our people into a brighter future. The establishment of universal reform leading to free, multi-political party elections will provide our cultures the competitive edge that is needed. This adoption of democratic systems will give our leaders not only a confident voice, but allow a greater sense of identity for our people to embrace. Last but most important is the question of our youth. As our children come of age in the prosperous civilization that is our future, what will be the quality of their existence? With overpopulation, pollution and the twin civilians of hunger and disease. The conservation of forests, wildlife, clean air and water must not take second place to our more immediate desires--for once these diminishing resources are gone, there will be no means of replenishing them. This threatens the very core of our existence on this fragile planet, as without adequate methods to assure the protection of our natural environment, we may one day be without the life sustaining elements that we so humbly share. The next few years 2002 will provide the test from which these hopes will be won or defeated, without the cooperation and commitment of great nations and leaders, this enormous challenge will most certainly be lost. To seize this opportunity and achieve and effective head start as the dawning of this millennium year. We must now join hands with a single vision--and with the The ultimate realization of these goals will require the continued support of everyone who shares this vision of social and economic prosperity. It will require the active participation of people of different ideas and ideologies to bring about such Freedom and Change. Achieving these solutions may not always be easy, but the alternatives are far less forgiving. The imprisonment, torture and eventual execution of H.R.H., King Sisavang Vathana, is but one lasting reminder of this tragic legacy. The drive toward social reconstruction is our greatest challenge. The coming age will be the turning point from which our success or failure will be determined. In building this bridge in the 21st Century, we must be willing to follow but one voice. We must be able to look to one person who will lead us on this course, and who will speak for all who have succeeded in conquering odds that had once seemed insurmountable. Working as a team, we will succeed together the needed resources to make this bold vision a reality. To achieve this cooperation, better means of communication among our leaders, allies and supporters must now be sought and clear. Developing these vital links will be the first step in building a greater unity. For once a true sense of solidarity is established with our neighbors throughout this land, more ambitious roles for the Loatian people and their neighbors will begin to take shape. However, without bold intervention by the end of this year, the future of Laos as an independent nation is far less certain. With conflicting ideologies on both sides of its borders, and with its young and old griped by the differences of age, language and culture, the Leadership's reluctance to join hands and resist oppression now threatens this best chance for Democracy and Freedom of our people. Indeed, the key to a free and Democractic Laos may be found in the partnership of citizens young and old. While traditions live long and new ideaologies are often favored over those of the past, people on both sides of the issue must come to the bargaining tables for the sake of their national sovereignty. Accomplishing this may not be an easy task, but prevailing over any struggle has never been simple. The best solution to this multi-sided issue lies with willingess of each division to set aside it differences, and to consider this new and determined plan. Laotian Representatives Abroad Council and The Lao Progessive Party will play an active role in these joint endeavors. Together, with the strong and powerful will of both our friends and former adversaries, Southeast Asia's mission to achieve free and lasting reforms will be down in history as the greatest success of the 21st Century. The establishment of new opportunity through peaceful diplomacy will be the rising sun of our future. Working in partnership toward this common vision, we are certain that a greater understanding can and will be achieved. The point that one must realize is that these changes will not be made for the benefit of the elite few, but for the common good of our future generations. Improved education, health and employment are all central to these efforts. So too is the introduction of multi-party elections, a unifying language and free trade. A truly free society is one based on a prosperous economy and enterprise. Our wish is to create opportunity from which our nation, her neighbors and all hard working people will universally benefit. Laotian Represetnatives Abroad Council and The Lao Progressive Party had demonstrated that this model of socioeconomic reform is an attainable goal. [[Page 25973]] Through it's efforts here in America, it has worked to foster Humanity and Progress; sparing many of thousands from great hardship through the promotion of these principals. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, will be to use your wisdom and experience in finding ways to develop peaceful cooperation around Asia and the World, whether you are a representative of Laos or a sensible neighbor, we must now joint hands or accept the failures of our action. We must also educate our young to the old and new systems before their sense of national identity is lost. The adoption of these fundamental principals during this time of reconciliation will not only assure your country's acceptance into the United Nations, but awaken the free world to southeast Asia's immense capability and strength. Thank you very much for allowing me this opportunity to speak with you today. I wish to express my deepest gratitude for your show of faith. It is with great confidence in you, my friends that I accept this great challenge and reaffirm my delegation's commitment of support. ____________________