A Requiem for Vang Pao

The Economist:

ON FEBRUARY 4th, thousands of people are expected to gather to pay their respects to the great wartime leader of the Hmong in Laos, Vang Pao. A Hmong funeral ordinarily lasts four days. Owing to his stature, Vang Pao's will last six days. His son says the affair will be "fit for a king". It should perhaps be fit for the aspirations of many of his countrymen as well. For as goes "VP" or "the general", as his followers called him, so too goes the Hmongs' hope for a comprehensive peace in Laos.

Exactly a year ago Vang Pao launched what proved to be his last campaign as the champion of persecuted Hmong communities in the central highlands of Laos. He surprised many of his followers when he announced plans to return from his American exile to the Thai-Laotian border, to broker a peace deal with his old enemy. Laos' foreign minister was unwelcoming. "If he comes to Laos soon," he said, Vang Pao "must submit to the death sentence". The trip was cancelled, and now the dreamer himself has died.

The Madison School District planned to name a new elementary school after Vang Pao. However, the District changed its mind when Pao was indicted by the US Government for violating the "Neutrality Act". The charges were later dropped....

Posted by Jim Zellmer at January 15, 2011 4:16 AM
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