French Colonel Robert Jambon Suicide Protest in Support for Hmong
TRANSLATED:A few weeks ago, I expressed in the columns of Ouest-France of the death of "Colonel Robert HAM, Commander of the Legion of Honour, Officer of the Order of Merit, Cross of War Theatres operations outside, cross the military value, Knight of the Million elephants and white Parasol, Commander of the national Order of Ivory Coast, which occurred October 27, 2011, at the age of 86 years. "
Colonel Ham who had retired in the Cotes d'Armor after a long and successful career in the army and navy in the intelligence services, was passionate about Asia and a champion of the Hauts-H'Mong trays with whom he had spent some years of bush and he had always been defended. He maintained it regularly with J. R., my colleague in the service policy, big history buff whose déblog'note (click here to access the site JR) offers tasty chronic and epic rants.
Colonel Ham, who had repeatedly denounced the genocide of the Hmong, has finally resigned. The expulsion last year of 4200 Hmong in Thailand, was ulcerated. And the silence on this "bargain" has finally revolted and disheartened. His body was found at the war memorial in Indochina Dinan (Côtes d'Armor).
He left a poignant letter to explain his decision. It was his "last shot", an "act of war" and not a shameful flight.
MORE...
In a suicide letter published by Ouest France, he described his action as "an act of war aimed at rescuing our brothers-in-arms facing death".
Ethnic Hmong have been complaining of discrimination in Vietnam and Laos.
Col Jambon fought alongside Hmong during France's war in South-East Asia in the 1940s and early 1950s.
Many members of the community joined French forces during the conflict - known in the country as the "Indochina war".
In the suicide note, the colonel wrote: "After a long period of disappointment I have decided to play my final card, or more precisely my final bullet."
He said the suicide was aimed at expressing his "shame and to protest against the cowardly indifference of our officials in the face of the terrible misfortune that is hitting our friends in Laos".
Col Jambon said he had been particularly outraged by the lack of international reaction to Thailand's decision to expel thousands of Hmong refugees two years ago.
"As for you, governments without honour and big media without honour, I spit my blood and my contempt in your face," his letter says.
The Hmong communities of northern Laos and Vietnam also fought alongside US forces during the Vietnam War, and feel they are discriminated against because of their past.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-16145598
Colonel Ham who had retired in the Cotes d'Armor after a long and successful career in the army and navy in the intelligence services, was passionate about Asia and a champion of the Hauts-H'Mong trays with whom he had spent some years of bush and he had always been defended. He maintained it regularly with J. R., my colleague in the service policy, big history buff whose déblog'note (click here to access the site JR) offers tasty chronic and epic rants.
Colonel Ham, who had repeatedly denounced the genocide of the Hmong, has finally resigned. The expulsion last year of 4200 Hmong in Thailand, was ulcerated. And the silence on this "bargain" has finally revolted and disheartened. His body was found at the war memorial in Indochina Dinan (Côtes d'Armor).
He left a poignant letter to explain his decision. It was his "last shot", an "act of war" and not a shameful flight.
MORE...
12 December 2011
Thailand repatriated almost 5,000 Hmong refugees to Laos in December 2009
A retired French colonel has killed himself to protest against "indifference" to the plight of Laos's Hmong minority, French media say.
Col Robert Jambon, 86, shot himself in October on the steps of the "Indochina monument" in Dinan in western France.In a suicide letter published by Ouest France, he described his action as "an act of war aimed at rescuing our brothers-in-arms facing death".
Ethnic Hmong have been complaining of discrimination in Vietnam and Laos.
Col Jambon fought alongside Hmong during France's war in South-East Asia in the 1940s and early 1950s.
Many members of the community joined French forces during the conflict - known in the country as the "Indochina war".
In the suicide note, the colonel wrote: "After a long period of disappointment I have decided to play my final card, or more precisely my final bullet."
He said the suicide was aimed at expressing his "shame and to protest against the cowardly indifference of our officials in the face of the terrible misfortune that is hitting our friends in Laos".
Col Jambon said he had been particularly outraged by the lack of international reaction to Thailand's decision to expel thousands of Hmong refugees two years ago.
"As for you, governments without honour and big media without honour, I spit my blood and my contempt in your face," his letter says.
The Hmong communities of northern Laos and Vietnam also fought alongside US forces during the Vietnam War, and feel they are discriminated against because of their past.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-16145598
