University of Minnesota’a ROTC Commissions Dominic Thao as Second Lieutenant

On December 16, 2011 in the Mississippi Ballroom of Coffman Student Union in Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota held their graduation ceremony for ten commissionees receiving the honor of Second Lieutenant. Dominic Chafue Thao, 33, of St. Paul, MN, currently an active duty member of the United States National Guard, and was the sole Hmong person to be honored that night, receiving a degree in Business Administration.

Flooding: The Impact on Thailand and Its Tourism

As the flood crisis that had inundated over 60 of Thailand’s 74 provinces gradually gives way to drier weather, the damage to historical sites and Thailand’s tourism industry continues to concern the Thai economy despite the fact that the conditions tourists will face are not nearly as bad as those suffered by Thai citizens in flooded districts.  The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reports that 97% of the kingdom’s tourist attractions and destinations are not affected by the flood.”

Stabbed In The Heart: The Potential Dangers of International Marriages
By Elizabeth Thao

It was love at first sight for Selena Lee, a native of St. Paul, MN, when she met her future husband, Koree Khang, of Lav 52, Laos. But it all turned sour once she got her husband to this side of the world. “I was married [to Koree] for ten years. At the beginning, everything was great. He was sweet and very adamant about marrying me and having a life in the U.S. with me,” said Selena of her marriage. “It took two years for him to get to come live with me in the U.S. Marrying me made it easy for him to become a citizen and get all the benefits.” What are some of the benefits? “The chance to have a higher level of education, the privilege of American citizenship, and of course, the opportunity to get money,” Selena stated.

Hmong Killings in Vietnam

By Pa Lee

As many as 72 Hmong Christian and animist believers, most of whom are Catholics and Protestants, have been killed by the Vietnamese People’s Army as of May 17, 2011. According to Philip Smith, Executive Director of the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA) in Washington D.C., multiple sources in Vietnam have confirmed that nine more Vietnamese-Hmong Catholics have been killed by security forces. The nine Vietnamese-Hmong were a part of a demonstration for religious freedom, land reform, and an end to illegal logging owned by the Vietnam People’s Army.