Vang CAM

Vang CAM , born in 1931 with Xieng Khouang with the Laos, is a historical war leader Laotian Hmong, having fought at the sides of the France during the Guerre of Indo-China (1945/1946-1954) and of the the United States during the Guerre of Vietnam (1959/1964-1975).

Biography

Born in 1931, Vang CAM - in Hmong Vaj Pov, the name of the clan of membership appearing in first - joined resistance anti Japanese of Touby Lyfoung in 1945, it will be then noticed for its robustness, its courage, its charisma like its tactical qualities of chief and will be recruited (at the end of 1947) formed and pulled by the French Army before becoming corporal (March 1948), then officer (after contest and school 1951-1952) within the Grouping of the Airborne Mixed Commandos (GCMA). Among its assets, Vang CAM speaks French and English.

Become major within the Laotian army during between two wars (1954-1959), the United States will notice its qualities very quickly and the advantages which it could get to them to recruit a secret army within the population hmong of the Laos. It will be consequently high with the rank of general by the United States and will fight in close cooperation with the CIA and of old memebres of the special forces, the green Bérets.

In 1975, the end of the War of Vietnam and the American withdrawal of the Southeast Asia mark the abandonment of the secret army of Hmong of Laos. A few thousands manage to flee in Thailand and from there in France and in the United States. Vang CAM will flee in the United States. Initially the Americans will preserve his support in the hope to reverse the situation in Laos. In the years 1977-1978 this idea will disappear. Vang CAM will continue to belong to a government hmong in exile whose capacities will grow blurred until our days. He always lives in the United States.

In 1999, Michael Vang - nephew of Vang CAM -, will disappear after having crossed the Laotian border from Thailand with automatic weapons and $1Million in counterfeit bills.

June 4th, 2007 the American authorities announced that Vang CAM as well as a cell of ten Hmong had been stopped in California. They would have in particular tried to buy weapons (rifles of attack AK-47 Kalachnikov, missile launchers portable Stinger, anti-tank bazookas AT-4 and LAW, anti-personnel mines, grenades) with an aim of reversing the Communist government of Laos. On the ten stopped people, nine risk perpetuity if they are recognized guilty.

Controversies

Implication in the traffic of opium

Certain indices would tend to prove that Vang CAM was implied in the traffic of opium in Southeast Asia. According to witnesses, the planes provided by Air America were used for transport of opium of the CIA in the name of Vang CAM. Such a traffic, in spite of its illegal nature, filled an unquestionable utitlity in the financing of the army hmong (weapons, ammunition, vivres, drugs…).

Embezzlement

Cha Vang, wire of Vang CAM and coordinator of the Foundation Vang CAM as Bound Vang, nephew of Vang CAM and vice-president of the Foundation Vang CAM, were shown and condemned for embezzlements. The business directly does not seem to concern the general Vang CAM who was not condemned.

Position in the Hmong community

In spite of the many polemics about it as one will have declining within the hmong young generations feeling sometimes deceived, there remains a famous character and an important actor of the recent history of the Hmong people.

See too

Pa Chay
Cho Quan Low
Touby Lyfoung

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