On Neutrality and Justice
The New York Sun posted an editorial today that raises the question of ‘neutrality and justice.’ Quoting from Federal Judge John Noonan in the famous case of Harpal Cheema, who was jailed for six years on suspicion of fundraising for the Khalistan Commando Force:
“Contrary to the government’s assertion, it is by no means self-evident that a person engaged in extra-territorial or resistance activities — even militant activities — is necessarily a threat to the security of the United States. One country’s terrorist can often be another country’s freedom-fighter.”
The New York Sun editorial calls for giving amnesty to two freedom fighters that fought/are fighting against communist regimes. General Vang Pao, is a hero to most Hmong-Americans, and maybe even known to our readers in Sacramento, Fresno, and other locales with high Hmong concentrations. General Pao is facing weapon charges for attempting to aid Hmong militants against the Laotian regime. The other, Cambodian-American Yasith Chhun, attempted something similar against the Cambodian government.
As the summer Olympics game approaches and we are repeatedly reading of continued Tibetan freedom protesters against the Chinese government. What should be the role of Tibetans in America? Should America (or fill in whatever country you are from) provide a space for dissenters to come together? For Irish-Americans, Jewish-Americans, South African-Americans, the American soil has always allowed this ground. Some chose organizations that were not violent, but many did not. What should be the limitations? Is it violence? However, even here it becomes murkier. In Harpal’s case, he didn’t engage in any violence, but he did fundraise for certain groups. What is our barometer of justice? Should the American judicial system be wed to the existing nation-state set-up in the world? Or is the metric the relationship between the opposed state and the United States?
96 Responses to “On Neutrality and Justice”
Does anyone here believe in KARMA? Well GVP will have his day in court. All of the bad deeds he has done in the past has finally caught up with him. One would have to be of the rank of at least a Major or Colonel in order to see some real MULA. Sorry to say that front line soldiers are a dime a dozen, a mere pawn, a prion. I actually attended quite a few fundraising freedom fighting rallies where GVP was the guest of honor. What a JOKE! How are you going to overthrow any existing governments anywhere with a mere budget of $10 million dollars?
Hi Lao Guy:
You are maybe a true Lao Guy…and true LPDR…every one or enthic in a country has voice to their government. Let me tell you a bit about Lao History…Lao get Independent from France…Laos have many leaders
and parties that uneducate capeble to build the democratic system. Those leaders are Souvanaphouma, Boua ouam, Souphanouvong, Gen Phoumi,
Gen Taoma, Gen Kong Le, and other Lao leaders fail to form a coalition government beacause Vietnam is Lao’s brother like you mention. Laos will be poorest forever [deleted]…I believe that the Thai will be more true Brother to Laos than Vietnam, but you Lao guy are not follow Thai footprint. In Laos now LPDR control over 30 years stiil list poorest country no jobs for it citizens, 80 to 90% people in Laos are farmers.
No is No Free Lunch but in USA there are more way to find lunch but in Laos it is hard for the people in Laos find lunch it depend on internation fund and support. Lao guy you are need more education…in order to help your country.
[Democracy, there are better ways to make a point then name-calling. PS: just in case you are going to call someone a ‘dummy’, try to spell it correctly. Atleast I’ll think you are smarter as I delete it….. – Admin Singh]
hey lao guy, this is for certain. you have betrayed laos as you claimed yourself to be a 'traitor' in the msgs above. U.S. should keep close eye on you in case you betray this nation.
I totally agree with you Democracy. for all these years, where's prosperity in Laos? all digested by their ruler. You are right, that's why it's one of the poorest nations in the world. centuries to go before their government can catch up with 1900's usa.
hey lao guy, this is for certain. you have betrayed laos as you claimed yourself to be a ‘traitor’ in the msgs above. U.S. should keep close eye on you in case you betray this nation.
I totally agree with you Democracy. for all these years, where’s prosperity in Laos? all digested by their ruler. You are right, that’s why it’s one of the poorest nations in the world. centuries to go before their government can catch up with 1900’s usa.
ADMIN WARNING: While we love debate, we hate name-calling. Disagree, but disagree in an agreeable manner. We are all here to learn from one another. You may convince some and not others. However, remain agreeable….That's all for now
ADMIN WARNING: While we love debate, we hate name-calling. Disagree, but disagree in an agreeable manner. We are all here to learn from one another. You may convince some and not others. However, remain agreeable….That’s all for now
As an educated person, I do check and re-check my sources before I voice my opinion. I donot know where anyone is getting their information from but Laos according to Wikipedia, ranks 140 out of 180 countries in terms of economic strength. I hardly see where Laos is the poorest nation.
As an educated person, I do check and re-check my sources before I voice my opinion. I donot know where anyone is getting their information from but Laos according to Wikipedia, ranks 140 out of 180 countries in terms of economic strength. I hardly see where Laos is the poorest nation.
Because of people like Lao Guy make us all look bad.
Because of people like Lao Guy make us all look bad.
I feel that I offend many people on this and other forum. My point about Laos however is resolute. After our elders fled the country, in the eyes of commies, we are all traitors and foreigners. Money as you know is the root of all evil. Many Laotians, Hmong, Vietnamese, Cambodians, etc., feel that they can be prosperous in their respected countries. Look, if you are already in America, the number one economy on this planet, and cannot succeed, then something is wrong with you. I am not trying to make anyone look bad.
If you don't support their view, it doesn't mean you can told [deleted by Admin … no curse words allowed] about their. Maybe your view is wrong and their's right have you ever realze that too. We all love to see our country in a peace in justtice ways too, but we can get there if there's people like you pulling other's legs. Cut the [deleted by Admin … refrain from using cuss words] and join the facts. I am a Lao too and I strongly believe what the Hmong doing is just for the country not for themselve.
I feel that I offend many people on this and other forum. My point about Laos however is resolute. After our elders fled the country, in the eyes of commies, we are all traitors and foreigners. Money as you know is the root of all evil. Many Laotians, Hmong, Vietnamese, Cambodians, etc., feel that they can be prosperous in their respected countries. Look, if you are already in America, the number one economy on this planet, and cannot succeed, then something is wrong with you. I am not trying to make anyone look bad.
If you don’t support their view, it doesn’t mean you can told [deleted by Admin … no curse words allowed] about their. Maybe your view is wrong and their’s right have you ever realze that too. We all love to see our country in a peace in justtice ways too, but we can get there if there’s people like you pulling other’s legs. Cut the [deleted by Admin … refrain from using cuss words] and join the facts. I am a Lao too and I strongly believe what the Hmong doing is just for the country not for themselve.
Like I said everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. You know the saying "a fool and his money are soon parted". Well if anyone wants to invest his/her money anywhere, it's his/her own business. I mean if a child wants to put his hand on an open flame, we all know that would be painful, but the child does not know.
Like I said everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. You know the saying “a fool and his money are soon parted”. Well if anyone wants to invest his/her money anywhere, it’s his/her own business. I mean if a child wants to put his hand on an open flame, we all know that would be painful, but the child does not know.
Lao Guy, for a second, don’t you even thought of your country men. How they are doing and where they are. Please have some moral in you.
Lao Guy, for a second, don’t you even thought of your country men. How they are doing and where they are. Please have some moral in you.
Vang Pao should be pardoned or better yet- not charged at all.
In my opion as a native born American- it is very hypocritical to press charges against him in this matter.
We seem to forget far to soon who our friends are and were.
A better way whould have been to tell the old fighter " Sir we can't allow this on American soil please do not do this again or we will be forced to take action" in private and then dropped the matter quietly and totally if he decided to agree.
I want to tell all of the Lao people here that I am sorry that my/our government has taken this action against General Vang Pao.
And I hope the American legal authorities will come to their senses and stop it.
Vang Pao should be pardoned or better yet- not charged at all.
In my opion as a native born American- it is very hypocritical to press charges against him in this matter.
We seem to forget far to soon who our friends are and were.
A better way whould have been to tell the old fighter ” Sir we can’t allow this on American soil please do not do this again or we will be forced to take action” in private and then dropped the matter quietly and totally if he decided to agree.
I want to tell all of the Lao people here that I am sorry that my/our government has taken this action against General Vang Pao.
And I hope the American legal authorities will come to their senses and stop it.
I think GVP is to old to fight another war. Yang Dao, can not be trust by Hmong or Lao, and a communist system is not what we wanted. To help get Laos back on track it is time to start a new wave of generation fighter. The battle field has change so as we. A new plan has been drawn.
King, to answer your question, NO. I donot have any sympathy towards the commies. They are doing just fine with or without anyones help. Like I always have said, the commies are getting richer and richer by the plane loads of tourists, especially the Southeast Asian immigrants from their respected countries. A more worthy cause would be to criticize India, China, or even the south of our border, Mexico. I would guarantee you that the countries mentioned have more POOR people in one of its cities than the entire country of Laos.
To all readers of this forum, check out the new article on Dr. Yang Dao on Yahoo News. I have been saying for sometime now that all information about Hmong in Laos, came from a propaganda by GVP and his clan. This is how they have suppressed their own people for so long. Dr. Yang Dao has finally confirmed my suspicion. According to Dr. Yang Dao, he does not believe that the LPDR has any agenda to kill off the Hmong in the jungles of Laos. He even stated that he met with some of the highest ranking officials, including the Vice President of the National Assembly who is Hmong.
So my friends, are you going to believe, Dr. Yang Dao who has actually gone to Laos, or are you going to believe GVP, who has never gone back to Laos. It is to my knowledge that LPDR extended many invitations to GVP to go back and see for himself the conditions of Hmong, but GVP declined.
King, to answer your question, NO. I donot have any sympathy towards the commies. They are doing just fine with or without anyones help. Like I always have said, the commies are getting richer and richer by the plane loads of tourists, especially the Southeast Asian immigrants from their respected countries. A more worthy cause would be to criticize India, China, or even the south of our border, Mexico. I would guarantee you that the countries mentioned have more POOR people in one of its cities than the entire country of Laos.
To all readers of this forum, check out the new article on Dr. Yang Dao on Yahoo News. I have been saying for sometime now that all information about Hmong in Laos, came from a propaganda by GVP and his clan. This is how they have suppressed their own people for so long. Dr. Yang Dao has finally confirmed my suspicion. According to Dr. Yang Dao, he does not believe that the LPDR has any agenda to kill off the Hmong in the jungles of Laos. He even stated that he met with some of the highest ranking officials, including the Vice President of the National Assembly who is Hmong.
So my friends, are you going to believe, Dr. Yang Dao who has actually gone to Laos, or are you going to believe GVP, who has never gone back to Laos. It is to my knowledge that LPDR extended many invitations to GVP to go back and see for himself the conditions of Hmong, but GVP declined.
King, what are you talking about?
Patrack Henry once stood on top off a group young american rebels and said, "Give me Liberality or get death." I said, "Give freedom and peace or give a gun." Lao and Hmong your freedom is not free until you free it.
I think GVP is to old to fight another war. Yang Dao, can not be trust by Hmong or Lao, and a communist system is not what we wanted. To help get Laos back on track it is time to start a new wave of generation fighter. The battle field has change so as we. A new plan has been drawn.
King, what are you talking about?
Patrack Henry once stood on top off a group young american rebels and said, “Give me Liberality or get death.” I said, “Give freedom and peace or give a gun.” Lao and Hmong your freedom is not free until you free it.
Dude, citizens of Southeast Asian countries cannot own guns. Only the government can. Good luck on this nonsense.
Dude, citizens of Southeast Asian countries cannot own guns. Only the government can. Good luck on this nonsense.
Reema,
Thank you for the clarification. However, when I used the term "legitimate" in quotations, I am not using it in an absolute/legal sense, but more in terms of social rhetoric. I highly doubt that once a group is deemed legitimate by the U.S., it will always remain legitimate in U.S. eyes, particularly if it no longer serves U.S. interests. Legitimacy is nuanced and colored with conditions to meet U.S. political and economic interests. Therefore, today a group is viewed as “freedom fighters” tomorrow they can become “terrorists” once their activities start impeding on U.S. interests. Being “legitimate” does not mean we are cool with everything you do. We are “cool” as long as you do things that will eventually help us achieve our interests. Once the group is no longer helping the U.S., the U.S. will find a way to “delegitimize” the group on the public scene.
Reema,
Thank you for the clarification. However, when I used the term “legitimate” in quotations, I am not using it in an absolute/legal sense, but more in terms of social rhetoric. I highly doubt that once a group is deemed legitimate by the U.S., it will always remain legitimate in U.S. eyes, particularly if it no longer serves U.S. interests. Legitimacy is nuanced and colored with conditions to meet U.S. political and economic interests. Therefore, today a group is viewed as “freedom fighters” tomorrow they can become “terrorists” once their activities start impeding on U.S. interests. Being “legitimate” does not mean we are cool with everything you do. We are “cool” as long as you do things that will eventually help us achieve our interests. Once the group is no longer helping the U.S., the U.S. will find a way to “delegitimize” the group on the public scene.
True Lao, response to lao guy, I am so sorry for your mom/dad and the King of Laos that there is a lack of human brain like you was born on Earth. Don't you know now you do not have a King, because why? It because General Vang Pao left the country. Do your math, how long from '60 to '75 General Vang Pao and the Hmong protacted the King and the country of Laos not to let the Communist Pathet Lao and North Vietnam run over and destroy like today. I am sure, if you smart enough, you would not sleep well, because you've been hunted. Now Laos just a popet to Vietnam
True Lao, response to lao guy, I am so sorry for your mom/dad and the King of Laos that there is a lack of human brain like you was born on Earth. Don't you know now you do not have a King, because why? It because General Vang Pao left the country. Do your math, how long from '60 to '75 General Vang Pao and the Hmong protacted the King and the country of Laos not to let the Communist Pathet Lao and North Vietnam run over and destroy like today. I am sure, if you smart enough, you would not sleep well, because you've been hunted. Now Laos just a popet to Vietnam