2007 Laotian coup d'état conspiracy allegation
The alleged 2007 Laotian coup d'état plan was a
History
On June 4, 2007, the U.S. Department of Justice announced they had arrested ten individuals in connection with the alleged plot as part of a joint investigation by the
On June 14, Dang Vang was also arrested in connection to the alleged plot.[3] In an affidavit by Graham Barlowe, a group supervisor of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, it is alleged that at the time of Vang's arrest, he admitted preparing the operations plan.[4]
After initially denying bail, the U.S. federal judge ultimately reversed the bail decision, granting Vang Pao and the other defendants bail, even while labeling all of them flight risks, given their access to significant financial resources and private airplanes.[citation needed]
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives lead agent has also stated in a court affidavit that "probable cause exists to believe" that former Wisconsin State Senator Gary George was part of the conspiracy.[5]
On April 23, 2008, it was reported that U.S. Magistrate Judge Dale A. Drozd would hear arguments in November for motions seeking information U.S. intelligence agencies might have on the alleged coup plotters, including whether the government has intercepted electronic communication between Hmong in the United States and Laos.[6]
The defendants' lawyers argued that the case against all of their clients was spurious at best. "The case cannot proceed [because] the process has been so corrupted by the government's misconduct that there can never be any confidence in the validity of the charge," said Mark Reichel, one of the defense attorneys involved in the case. "[W]hile the [prosecution] tries to portray the 'conspiracy' as a dangerous and sophisticated military plan, it cannot refute the extensive evidence demonstrating otherwise – from the agent's informing the so-called conspirators that they would need an operational plan; to his providing a map of the region when they couldn't procure a useful one; to his explanation of what GPS was (including that it requires batteries); to the so-called conspirators' inability to finance the operation."[7]
Mr. Philip Smith (Phillip Smith or Phil Smith), General
Smith, the CPPA,
Philip Smith told the Los Angeles Times, the New York Sun and others that the U.S. Government would be putting itself on trial for betraying the Hmong people, if it proceeded in prosecuting Vang Pao and the other Hmong leaders.[12]
Dropping of charges
On September 18, 2009, the federal government dropped all charges against Vang Pao, saying that "continued prosecution of this defendant is no longer warranted," and announcing in a press release that the federal government was permitted to consider "the probable sentence or other consequences if the person is convicted.”[13]
On January 10, 2011, the federal government dropped all charges against the remaining defendants. "Based on the totality of the circumstances in the case, the government believes, as a discretionary matter, that continued prosecution of defendants is no longer warranted," according to court documents.[14]
Reaction
Vang Pao's arrest and a preliminary decision by a U.S. federal judge to deny bail to Vang Pao and the other defendants sparked huge Hmong protest rallies in California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and other states.[15]
As of early 2008, pressure built on California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and U.S. President George W. Bush to issue pardons in the case, given the defendants' historical alliance with U.S. interests in Southeast Asia.[16]
See also
- Lao Human Rights Council
- United League for Democracy in Laos
- The Center for Public Policy Analysis
- Air America
- Lao Veterans of America
- Vang Pobzeb
- Wat Tham Krabok
- Hmong people
- Amnesty International
- Human rights
- Genocide
- Refugee
- Conspiracy (political)
References
- ^ a b ""Operation Flawed Eagle" Thwarts Plot to Overthrow the Government of Laos" (PDF) (Press release). U.S. Department of Justice. June 4, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 16, 2008. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
- Sacramento Bee. Archived from the originalon October 13, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
- ^ Bulwa, Demian (June 14, 2007). "Feds make another arrest in alleged plot to topple Laotian government". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
- ^ Walsh, Denny (June 16, 2007). "11th arrest in Laos case". Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on June 27, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
- ^ Bulwa, Demian (June 5, 2007). "Ex-Wisconsin lawmaker implicated in Laos coup plot, federal agent says". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
- ^ Walsh, Denny (April 23, 2008). "Laos plot case back in federal court". Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on April 26, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
- ^ Rand, Nelson (May 8, 2009). "CIA's Lao ally faces 'outrageous' charge". Asia Times Online. Archived from the original on May 11, 2009. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Hmong Supporters Criticize Indictments - AP Online". March 29, 2015. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
- ^ "CPPA- Center for Public Policy Analysis". September 23, 2017. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
- ^ "HMONG CHARGES BLAMED INDICTMENTS SAID TO BE BACKFIRING.(FRONT) - The Capital Times". March 29, 2015. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
- ^ "U.S. and Lao officials will meet about missing St. Paul men; Today's meeting in the Lao capital of Vientiane will give U.S. State Department officials a chance to find out if the three men were detained by Lao authorities.(NEWS) - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)". December 26, 2013. Archived from the original on December 26, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
- ^ Bailey, Eric and Tran, My-Thuan, Los Angeles Times, (19 September 2009), "Federal charges dropped against Hmong leader Vang Pao" http://articles.latimes.com/2009/sep/19/local/me-vang-pao19/2
- ^ McKinley, Jesse (September 18, 2009). "U.S. Drops Case Against Exiled Hmong Leader". New York Times. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
- ^ Saad, Nardine (January 10, 2011). "Charges dropped against 12 Hmong men accused in plot to overthrow Laotian government". LA Times. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
- ^ Araiza, Andres (June 8, 2007). "Hmong Protest Demands Immediate Release of Gen Vang Pao". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
- ^ Magagnini, Stephen and Walsh, Denny. Hmong Rally for 'The General' The Sacramento Bee, June 19, 2007, archived December 13, 2007 from the original
External links
- "Gen. Vang Pao’s Last War", The New York Times Magazine, May 11, 2008.
- "U.S. Agents Thwart Planned Laos Coup Plot", The Christian Science Monitor, June 6, 2007.