Former Laotian Gen. Vang Pao, as seen in this May 2004 photo, was among those charged in the alleged plot.
CNN) -- Ten people, including a former general in the Laotian army, were arrested and charged in the United States with an alleged plot to overthrow the Laotian government.
More than 200 federal and local enforcement agents were involved in the raid, which involved six Californian cities, early Monday. Prosecutors described the alleged plan as "audacious" and said it was aimed at obtaining guns, missiles, rockets and explosives.
The suspects include Vang Pao, 77, who emigrated to the United States in 1975 after serving as a general in Laos, and Harrison Jack, 60, a West-Point educated former U.S. military officer, according to the prosecutor's office.
If convicted, the 10 suspects face possible life prison sentences.
"The United States cannot provide a safe harbor to those plotting to overthrow a government with whom we are at peace," said U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott in a statement. "These defendants flagrantly violated numerous federal laws, including the Neutrality Act, in planning to topple the government of Laos."
Most of the alleged conspirators were Hmong, an ethnic minority group in Laos that helped U.S. operatives fight communist insurgents during the Vietnam War. Vang led CIA-backed Hmong forces as a general in the Royal Army of Laos, while Jack was involved in covert operations during the Vietnam War, according to The Associated Press.
After Laos fell to the communists in 1975, Hmong people began emigrating to the United States, and more than 500,000 now live in the country, according to the State Department.
The six cities where the arrest and search warrants were executed were: Los Angeles, Sacramento, Fresno, Chico, Stockton and Woodland.
One suspect, Lo Cha Thao, discussed an operation to send special operations mercenaries into the Laotian capital, Vientiane, to blow up government buildings, according to prosecutors.
The work of an undercover agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms foiled the plot, leading suspects to believe he could supply them with the weapons they wanted, prosecutors said. Those included the powerful C-4 explosive, AK-47 automatic rifles and missiles, rockets and mines.
Laos, like neighboring Vietnam, remains a communist country, but the government has liberalized the economy in recent years, allowing more private enterprise. The United States normalized trade relations with Laos in 2005.
Greedy old men...did anyone see the 90 page paper. Vang Pao talks about blowing up Lao Gov. building like the World Trade style. I'm glad they got arrested, because in one of their conversation recorded they joke on how they will issue they own prime minister and such. I guess they wanted to create Pathet Hmong Chao Fah...no good no good think of all the innocent bloods spilling if this went on...no 2009 SEA or no Tour De Laos. As much as how much i'm not happy w/ the current gov. but i don't want to see anyone die.
joined the anti-Japanese resistance led by Touby Lyfoung at a very young age in 1945 Vang Pao fought as a corporal, sergeant and then as an officer under the French Union Army flag against the Communist Viet Minh until 1954 when the Geneva Conference granted independence to Vietnam, •General Vang Pao was born in Laos. Vang Pao Cambodia and Laos
•
•Vang Pao was named a Brigade General in the Royal Lao Army in 1964. With CIA assistance, General Vang Pao led a fierce resistance to the North Vietnamese and the North Vietnamese Communists from 1961-1973. General Vang Pao left Laos in 1975. General Vang Pao is the founder of Lao Family Community, a Hmong social service
•
•The photo shows General Vang Pao in Laos in the 1960s. Photo by Paul White.
The US undercover have done a very good job, to get rid of all the terrorism. Laos is small country they just live their life as everyone all around the world, they dont bother anyone, but somehow poeple hate them, why? Even they communist, but look how many country were communist are there? Buddha bless laos poeple!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If them Hmong dont like their own birth place then they are already here in america, why still bother the rest of stuffs behind? and they were complaining laos goverment, persecute them and now I see why?
Damn !! The Americans !!! Damn you the Yankees !! ...When it's time to get rid of you, they'll abandon you, just like they did during Vietnam war. They'll do the same in Iraq, watch...
Gen.Vang Pao fought for them, saved a lot of American lives during the war. Shame on you American government !!!
Gen.Vang Pao is a courageous man.
Communist Government of Laos,is the real criminal !!! You killed the Royal families and a lot of former officials of old regime, there'll be one day, a judgement day that the majority of Lao people will punish you.
Damn !! The Americans !!! Damn you the Yankees !! ...When it's time to get rid of you, they'll abandon you, just like they did during Vietnam war. They'll do the same in Iraq, watch...
Gen.Vang Pao fought for them, saved a lot of American lives during the war. Shame on you American government !!!
Gen.Vang Pao is a courageous man.
Communist Government of Laos,is the real criminal !!! You killed the Royal families and a lot of former officials of old regime, there'll be one day, a judgement day that the majority of Lao people will punish you.
Buddha, please save Laos.
The Royal family had a choice to leave or stay. they stayed.
None of you see it from the Lao point of view. No one is old enough to live under French opression. The Communists saw a ideology that seemed to work in their minds and fought for it. They saw a government where they can finally rule, not the French.
However, the King was backed by the French and wanted to rule. Living all of your live with foreigners in charge, what would you want? Freedom from them. They felt as patriots. The Communists that is. You never tried to walk in their shoes, so don't think your point of view is the right one. I don't think it is either, but I consider it.
-------------------------------- They felt as patriots. The Communists that is. You never tried to walk in their shoes, so don't think your point of view is the right one. I don't think it is either, but I consider it. --------------------------------
The communist Pathet Lao were no more independent than the French-backed king. They were part of the Vietnamese-led indochina communist movement. Vietnamese culture and society have NOTHING in common with Lao society and culture, except for the common French occupation. No one is any more patriotic here. Its seems that the king, the pathet lao and vang pao each loved different ideas of Laos. The communists just had better friends. Just everyone driven by outsiders. Laos would not exist without foreign influences, it would be a part of isaarn Thailand now if the French hadn't come along and taken it from the Siamese. The Lao government is driven by Vietnam (and probably China in the future), Vang Pao is driven by the US, and now the US has punished him for doing exactly what they trained him to do forty years ago. Mainly because the US sees Laos as a key strategic area in relations with China, not because they give a **** about the Lao government. The challenge for the new generation is to gain independence, both to prevent crazed militants like Vang Pao from causing death and destruction and to prevent East Asian countries from ruling Laos and its little puppet government. The revolution has not even begun.
I am worried that there are many more people in America with the money and the desire to overthrow the Lao government. I don't care if they change the government, but I do care if they think killing lots of people is the way to do it. This is not 1970, the war is over, these people live in a time-capsule in America, dreaming of a country that ended decades ago. They are dangerous and need psychological help.
Most Laotian people in the U.S.A just focus on making it a better lives for them & families member...only old hmong men talks about take over Laos. I don't know Vang Pao personally, but i'm sure he isn't that great of a HERO. He corrupt his own people.
I do respect the king for staying behind...it's only right to stay w/ ur people till the end. I went to many Lao gathering, most of them personally can careless about Vang Pao. So I hope he and whoever plan this nonsense has some jail time. Making Lao better isn't by WAR, but education! I don't hate anyone race or ethnic, but having some other ethnic running Laos isn't good. So I hope it isn't the Viet helping run Laos.
The problem is this racist **** that goes completely unquestioned in Laos. Sure, Vang Pao was a silly old man who was actually just still doing what he was trained to do by America. Yes, its good he was stopped because there is no justification for the death and destruction he planned. But this does not mean that all Hmong people are bad. Hmong are still being discriminated against by lowland Lao. Calling all Hmong 'meo' and saying they are all bad is just going to ensure that one day there will be attacks in Laos. No one is asking 'why' they would do this. It is because they lost everything in the war and they continue to be looked down upon by Lao people. There is no place for hmong in Lao society, except in little model show villages like KM 52. Until the supposedly more educated and civilised Lao people in Vientiane wake up and begin to address the inequalities between themselves and ethnic minorites, there will always be risk of war. Vientiane is a showroom for fools that does not reflect the true state of development in Laos.
vang pao has done so bad thing in his life ,he has gone in wrong way ,throught he has a chance to be like normal people ,but he still choose the way he was. it right that he has paid for this . lao people.
People may dislike Vang Pao as much as they want... they can say as much crap as they want... But I believe that one of these days the truth will come out... and each of you who said bad things about him will get it... Let me see one of you guys be in his shoes... I bet not even one second you will die already... Even if he is Hmong or not... Is it wrong that he love his people? Is it wrong that he cares for them? He is a great guy... Many of you don't know any history of the Hmongs... So get your facts straight and do more research... I bet no one really knows who the Hmongs are... Hmong Pride... keep up the good work VAng Pao... I believe in you... I believe that one day you will show these people that you are true...
People may dislike Vang Pao as much as they want... they can say as much crap as they want... But I believe that one of these days the truth will come out... and each of you who said bad things about him will get it... Let me see one of you guys be in his shoes... I bet not even one second you will die already... Even if he is Hmong or not... Is it wrong that he love his people? Is it wrong that he cares for them? He is a great guy... Many of you don't know any history of the Hmongs... So get your facts straight and do more research... I bet no one really knows who the Hmongs are... Hmong Pride... keep up the good work VAng Pao... I believe in you... I believe that one day you will show these people that you are true...
People may dislike Vang Pao as much as they want... they can say as much crap as they want... But I believe that one of these days the truth will come out... and each of you who said bad things about him will get it... Let me see one of you guys be in his shoes... I bet not even one second you will die already... Even if he is Hmong or not... Is it wrong that he love his people? Is it wrong that he cares for them? He is a great guy... Many of you don't know any history of the Hmongs... So get your facts straight and do more research... I bet no one really knows who the Hmongs are... Hmong Pride... keep up the good work VAng Pao... I believe in you... I believe that one day you will show these people that you are true...
Yes, we did a lot of researches that’s why we know he is a bad man. Unlike you who have never read any books about VP apart from the lies he gave you (blind person).
i dont care about Vang Pao good or bad in the past. but he going to kill people! thats included my friends, my relative, my uncle they are working for living!
VangPao, help CIA in the past. that mean VangPao got License to Kill ?
Anyone believe or think Vang Pao is a good person think again. A despotic warlord in Alfred McCoy's respected book THE POLITICS OF HEROIN IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. This article was published in ASIA TIMES on the 14/06/2005.
There were not many people died, tortured, robbed, fleeded Laos or sent in reeducation camp during French occupation in Laos. But there are many, many people died, tortured, robbed, fleeded Laos and sent to reeducation camp during Pathetlao occupation so who's better than who. We are probably be better of under French protection than Lao govern Lao. If we are still under French protection we won't be one of poorest country in the world, I am pretty sure. Lao have killed Lao more than anyone else. Laos have been under many countries occupation for centuries. And Lao haven't suffered as much as the occupation of PathetLao. Please look at the reality. Don't blame others countries. You can only blame Lao for Lao problems. Laos is one of the poorest country in the world now, because Lao. Lao never know what is a nation, Lao never be able to stand for Lao. Laos always in the situation of begging for centuries and centuries and we be for many centuries to come. Lao always hurt Lao, Lao always smart than Lao. Lao never be able to hurt others. Lao have never being smarter than others. Lao always kiss others ass. Even some Lao in America, France, Canada and Autralia are kissing the Pathetlao ass. And the Pathetlao and Lao in Laos are kissing Vietnam ass. So I believe that Lao are ass kissers right? Sorry I forget that I am Lao too. So we Lao are ass kissers right? I just hope that the others take shwoer every day OK
Are you Laotian? Well, I think you prefer to be under the ash of someone rather than to stand on your own. When your parents control every movement in your life, how would you think? Is is fine? For me it is crucial to be independent even I have to live from hand to mouth. I work hard everyday for my bright future. Hopefully, one day I will be prosperous as others. How many countries in this world did not fight for freedom, for independence? Laos is poor today because of the betrayers of some Laotians who supported French and American. Let's think what would happen if all Laotian have had fought for independence by not supporting the French and Bush ash? We would have had our independence before 1900s or before 1975. We would have enjoyed the prosperity now.
The fault was you supported the ash and now you want to be under the ash,,,,,, foolish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
United States did a great job arresting these people. Now, Laos should be more peaceful. No more bombing.
Not 100%. We, Lao People, have to pay close attention to Hmong leaders in U.S. or elsewhere now. If they can't do this time, they will do again next time. If they can't do this generation, they will do again next generation. If they can't do this life, they will do again next life. Hmong in US are smart a**h*le. They are very educated. They are gaining popularity in US Gov. American people are turning eyes on them. So it's our job to protect our Motherland, thinking of our Country Fathers how they fought to save this land for us. United We Stand, Divided We Fall.
