~ DECEMBER 5 2005

Repatriating Back to Laos
From: UK
Inquiry:

I recently heard that there is a repatriation programme in Laos but all I could find on it was about the Hmong people living as refugees in Thailand. I have a relative who is interested in returning to Laos after having to leave many years ago due to war. Do you know of any such programs which may assist him? And if there isn't a repatriation programme, is there any other way for him to return to Laos and live there?

Unfotunately, we are not experts in this area however we will attempt to give some insight.

Specifically to the question of a repatriation programme in Laos (not related to Hmong refugees in Thailand), we have not heard of any such programme. You may hear Lao expatriates say this but it is often hearsay or rumors. In fact, you tend to hear even more rumors when it is election time in Laos. The only repatriation programme that appears to be happening is the one that you mentioned - Hmong and other Lao refugees still in Thai refugee camps.

Generally speaking, most Lao expatriates could probably go back and live in Laos just they may not necessarily be recognized as a Lao national citizen. In other words on paper one may be treated as a foreigner as most likely many do not have identification documents and other such things that other Lao nationals have. Many people are able to live in Laos for years without being a citizen either through getting a work position and having a work visa or some other situation. Others attempt to become citizens but never get it or wait years for it. It is a notoriously difficult and slow process for foreigners to gain Lao citizenship or even permanent residency. Your father always has the option of getting the one month visitor's visa and then simply leave and come back at any border in order to renew it.

Before deciding to go back to live there for sure, one suggestion would be to take the opportunity just to visit Laos again first. We are not advising against moving but returning after so many years can in itself be a type of culture shock. And once the nostalgic period wears off, one is left to think about very important issues about life in Laos.

One last note: The only people that may have difficulty returning are those who are/were involved in political activities. But again there is no way to know for certain until one gets to the airport and is turned away.

It should be noted that your relative's sentiment is quite common among many older generation Lao expatriates and it is quite understandable. We wish him the best of luck.

I am doing research on the growth and prosperity of Laos people and Laos communities in the United States after the Vietnam War.

However my question is why Lao people seem to be the least prosperous. Can you please give me any suggestions that can assist in my research?

It will be important not to make blanket statements about the Lao community as a whole. Some Lao people are very successful in spite of what some statistics say. We prefer to take a more positive look at the community and how far it has come.

However, your goal of research on this topic will be respected. Here are some possible suggestions for your research points:

• Agrarian work attitude - work hard, work lots, even if it is low paying.
• Education - those with low education tend to go to work faster than most but the positions they get are often low paying.
• Money now mentality - some do not necessarily care to think about investing in their future through education but rather simply want to start working as soon as possible. However some do this for very good reasons such as the need to support a family. Others may simply not be interested in anything else such as schooling.
• Family issues - [refer to item mention above] Family priorities take over and the need to work and make money are greater than attending school.
• Language barrier - the language barrier prevents many from interacting with others, taking initiative to find different jobs, go to school, etc.
• Low self-esteem - often created by the langage barrier and other factors.
• Acceptance of assistance (welfare, social housing etc.) - Some writers suggest that there is a prevalent Lao attitude in Laos and elsewhere that they readily accept money and other assistance without truly appreciating what is being given. Although this may be true, it is fair to say that in other countries, most, if not all people would also accept money when given to them, free of charge, no strings attached. Therefore, I would argue this is not merely a Lao characteristic.
• Community - lack of cohesion and assistance. Other ethnic communities such as the Chinese or Jewish communities a very close knit and generally assist each other a great deal. Although in the Lao communities you sometimes see this, it is unfortunately not always the case.
• Still a new community - You also have to consider that Lao people only started immigrating to the US and other countries mainly from 1975 onwards and most in the 1980s. Other Asian groups such as the Chinese and Japanese have been immigrating to the US since the 1800s. Therefore their community base is already well established and much larger to begin with.
• Little spotlight on those that do well - There may also be a preception problem. Many people only read statistics or only know of poor or struggling Lao people. They do not know or hear about the successful Lao individuals and families.
• Religious - Some writers have suggested that Confucious and Mahayana Buddhism has stimulated the populations of Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese into stronger work ethic than others. This is debatable as well.

  All of these are points are debatable. Ultimately our people have come along way and still more ways to go. I hope that your research paper will look at the positive things Lao people have accomplished across the world as well.