U.S. Senator Al Franken (DFL-MN), center, updates press in his St. Paul office Sunday, on the status of the Hmong returnees in Laos. State Sen. Mee Moua (DFL-67), is at left, and State Rep. Cy Thao (DFL-65A) at right. (AAP staff photo by Tom LaVenture)

By TOM LAVENTURE

AAP staff writer

ST. PAUL (August 1, 2010) – U.S. Senator Al Franken (DFL-MN) last Sunday invited press to his Drake Bank Building office to continue updating the progress on the approximately 4,500 forcibly repatriated Hmong in Laos. It was a timely meeting now that President Barack Obama has nominated Karen Brevard Stewart as the next United States Ambassador to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

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U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) in the Bolikhamxay province village of PhoneKham in central Laos. (Contributed photos)

By TOM LAVENTURE

AAP staff writer

Hanoi, Vietnam (July 6, 2010) – U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) held a phone conference Tuesday with Minnesota media to update his investigation into the issues of the forcefully repatriated Hmong in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Hmong repatriation issues have resonated locally with relatives and concerned caommunity in Minnesota since December 2009, when approximately 4,500 Hmong were forcefully repatriated from Thailand. Despite assurances of the Lao government, relatives in the U.S. complain of an inability to contact or obtain official news about their loved ones.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 30, 2010) – U.S. Sen. Al Franken (DFL-MN) will travel to Vietnam next week with Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.)

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The National Hmong Grave Desecration Committee, an organization local and global Hmong civic leaders and entrepreneurs – working together on a solution to the grave desecration at Wat Tham Krabok, Thailand, will hold its 4th Annual Conference and Fundraising Reception next weekend in St. Paul. The meetings takes place at the same time as annual Hmong Sports Tournament on the July 4th weekend at Como Park – where the NHGDC will meet for three days, June 30, and July 1-2, 2010 at Lao Family Community, 320 E. University Avenue, St. Paul.

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Richfield, Minn. (June 12, 2010) – The Cambodian community of Minnesota last Saturday welcomed the legendary Sam Rainsy to the Richfield Community Center. The former Cambodia Parliamentarian and President of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party has been out of the country since early 2009 on reportedly politically motivated charges.

“I received a very warm welcome and I am very happy to be here,” said Ramsey, who last came to the state in 2005.

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From left, U.S. Ambassador to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Ravic R. Huso, speaks to press prior to his public address at Metropolitan State University with U.S. Senator Al Franken (DFL-MN); State Sen. Mee Moua (DFL-67); and State Rep. Cy Thao (DFL-65A) (AAP staff photo by Tom LaVenture)

By TOM LAVENTURE

AAP staff writer

ST. PAUL (June 1, 2010) – U.S. Ambassador to Laos, Ravic Huso was in St. Paul last week to discuss ongoing issues affecting the more than 4,500 Hmong who were forcibly repatriated from Thailand to Laos in December 2009. Huso updated several hundred in attendance at Metropolitan State University Auditorium on the progress of Laos on many fronts as well as the Hmong repatriation issues that have relatives and community concerned in Minnesota.

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Washington, D.C. (June 2, 2010) – Speaker Nancy Pelosi commemorated the 21st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing on June 4, 1989. “Twenty one years ago this week, thousands of Chinese students, workers, and citizens assembled in Tiananmen Square to bravely speak out. They called for the elimination of corruption. They called for an acceleration of democratic reform, freedom of speech and assembly. They called for a dialogue with China’s leaders on how to make progress.

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In the free world, the sworn and solemn oath taken by medical doctors is “to do no harm.”

Conversely in China, doctors often collaborate with authorities to help destroy the health and sanity of people who do not “toe the Party line.” By use of insidious and purposeful administering of mind-alternating drugs, China allows doctors to do intentional harm to the minds of those viewed to be in opposition to its requirements

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Washington, D.C. (May 3, 2010) – Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao (LA-02) on Monday announced that he has rejected the Vietnamese government’s request for help arranging a meeting with the Vietnamese-American community.

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The Falun Dafa Twin Cities Club presents the traveling Truth-Compassion-Tolerance International Art Exhibition will be held at University of Minnesota Coffman Memorial Union on May 5, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and May 6,  2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m with a tentative Q and A via the Internet with Prof. Zhang, featured Artist and Main Coordinator, and a celebration, speech and discussion from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the Great Hall, University of Minnesota Coffman Memorial Union.

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