-------- CIA Secret War Vets Not Recognized by PAULINE JELINEK Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- It has been a quarter century since they fought in the CIA's secret war and a decade since they were told they might get U.S. citizenship in return. On Thursday, Hmong and Laotian veterans of the Vietnam War came to Capitol Hill to plead again. They again found a delay in recognition of their service. ''We will ask again and again -- and again and again and again,'' said Reagan Ngamvilay, a 10-year veteran who sought refuge in America in 1979 and now lives in Mobile, Ala. More than 1,500 Hmong tribesmen and other Laotians in camouflaged field uniforms quietly filed past the Vietnam Veterans Memorial early Thursday, saluting as they walked. Beneath the granite wall carrying names of 58,000 U.S. dead, the veterans' leaders laid a wreath of white daisies to honor the 35,000 Laotians they say died in the war. Followed by several hundred women and children in traditional Hmong costume, they walked to Capitol Hill to press for passage of legislation first proposed in 1990 to ease citizenship requirements for them. But by the time they got there, the legislation had been set aside -- at least until next week. There was disagreement on details of the bill and the Senate Judiciary Committee did not have enough members present to take a vote. Since 1990, lawmakers have talked about waiving or easing language requirements because some Hmong, who are an ethnic group in Laos, have had great trouble learning English for the citizenship test. The House has passed a version, but the Senate has stalled on the question of who should verify the Laotians' service because government officials said they kept no records on members of the force they did not even officially acknowledge for years. Some legislators worry that many who did not serve would be able to take advantage of the eased language requirements. Also, there is disagreement on how many would be eligible; some estimate there are 60,000 Laotian veterans living in America, others say the number is actually 2,000. The CIA relied on the Hmong in the 1960s and 1970s as proxy fighters against Laotian communists and their North Vietnamese allies. They gathered intelligence, rescued downed Americans, and guarded radar sites on Hmong village mountains to guide American strike planes. They also battled the Viet Cong. Thursday's ceremonies marked the fifth time Laotian vets have traveled to Washington at this time in May to press for the bill and mark the 25th anniversary of their exodus from Laos when the war ended. ''Twenty-five years ... it is too long,'' said Vang Pao, a 70-year-old former general who came to the United States and farmed in Montana before moving to Orange County, Calif. ''But America did not let its people know what we did -- and many in Congress didn't know, so it took time for us to educate them. ''We have to be patient,'' he said, ''and we have to educate the Senate as well as we did the House.'' On the Net: http://www.laoveterans.com/ 05/11/2000 -- Kathleen Government never furthered any enterprise but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way. - Henry David Thoreau <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html <A HREF="http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
