The Lao Hmong Students Organization, the Lao Veterans of America, UnitedLeague for Democracy in Laos, the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA) anda coalition of non-profit organizations, and NGOs hailed the importance of thefilm's debut in the U.S. The organizations recognized NERAKHOON's creative,historical and social contribution. They express hopes regarding the film'spositive impact on the Lao Diaspora community and those still suffering underoppression and corruption in the authoritarian Lao Peoples Democratic Republic(LPDR) and in squalid refugee camps in Nong Khai and Huay Nam Khao, Thailand.

"The suffering, freedom-loving people of Laos have been betrayed andforgotten and need the understanding and attention of the United States andinternational community," stated Khamphet Moukdarat, a former Royal Lao Armyofficer who served with U.S. forces. He was imprisoned in a reeducation campin Laos for over a decade.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Doctors Without Borders (MSF),and UNHCR have issued appeals regarding the human rights and refugee crisis inThailand and Laos.

"NERAKHOON is helping to shed overdue light, understanding and compassionon the betrayal of the Lao people, both past and present," said Philip Smith,Executive Director of the CPPA in Washington, D.C. "Many anticipate that thisfilm will also help to bring dignity, honor and hope to thousands of sufferingLao and Hmong veterans, refugees and dissidents in Thailand and Laos that arecurrently facing forced repatriation, military attacks, and horrific humanrights violations."

Earlier this year in the U.S. Congress, legislation was introducedregarding the crisis facing the Lao people. Congressman Patrick Kennedy(D-RI), Frank Wolf (R-VA), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Congresswoman TammyBaldwin (D-WI) introduced the bill, H. Res. 1273.

"The special history of the Hmong and Lao veterans of the U.S. Secret Warin Laos is important to understand; and it is important to honor those whoserved so honorably during this conflict," said Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt,Hmong and Lao scholar and author of Tragic Mountains: The Hmong, the Americansand the Secret Wars for Laos (Indiana University Press) at Lao veteransceremonies in Arlington National Cemetery in May, 2007.http://www.tragicmountains.org

SOURCE Center for Public Policy Analysis