History of the Hmong Diaspora
The Hmong originated from China as early as the 1600s.1 China was their first home. There were about two million Hmong that lived in Southern China. 2 The Hmong had lived at one point in history in the lowland of China but because of problem with the government, they were forced to migrate to the mountaintops in the 1600s. 3 The Hmong had their own kingdom in China but the Chinese armies attacked and destroyed it. 4 Because of this, many Hmong migrated to the highlands of provinces such as Yunnan and Guizhou. 5 Even so, they continued to battle with the Chinese government, which at the time had given the good land to the Chinese and have been taxing the Hmong.6 Over the next two hundred years, the Hmong continued to rise up against the Chinese but then in 1854, the Chinese soldiers won over the Hmong troops.7 The Hmong were then forced to flee to Vietnam and Laos. 8 The story of China as the origin of the Hmong has always been told. 9 There are many stories regarding why the Hmong moved from lowland to the highlands of China. 10 China was the land where the Hmong diaspora began.11
Laos was the second home to most of the Hmong. Laos was home to sixty ethnic groups, making this nation very diverse 12 . By the 1970s, there were 300,000 Hmong in Laos, making up ten percent of the nation’s population 13 . The Hmong were again moved to the mountaintops or the hills. This is because the Hmong liked to live in peace and wanted their own government14 . The French at this time were trying to take and control Laos. With high taxes, many Hmong were not happy, and rose up against the French15 . The French then agreed with the Hmong that they would ask for Hmong leaders’ opinions next time with the goal of consensus 16 . The Hmong wanted an independent Hmong Kingdom; therefore they were forced to rebel against the French 17 . After three years, the French defeated the Hmong troops; however, they saw that the Hmong could be good allies, thus forming an economic connection18 . The Hmong cooperated with France, through growing opium, this time led by Touby Lyfoung. 19 Through this cooperation of growing opium, many Hmong gained economic independence, thus, participating in the trade with France for other goods. 20 However after long fights with Communism, France gave up and went back home.21
Communism began to be a big problem after World War 2. The United States began to send soldiers into Laos and Vietnam. There were two countries that were advocating for Communism at the time. The government of Laos was collapsing and Communist guerrillas were beginning to take over the country.22 The United States helped the Laotian soldiers but not very effectively.23 The Geneva Accords of 1962 is an important document in understanding how within the Vietnam War, became known as the Secret War. 24 However as mentioned in author Keith Quincy article, the “Geneva Accords required all foreign troops to leave Laos. Continued U.S. military operations in Laos would have to be in secret. 25 The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) got involved and connected with General Vang Pao, and this is how the Hmong became involved in the Secret War.26 The Americans had great success killing thousands of Vietnamese but their victory would soon cost them a horrible price.27
Communism took over and the Americans lost the Vietnam War. Defeated, they left the Hmong behind. Because of this, many Hmong fled through the jungles of Laos to relocate to Thailand. Running away from the Laos soldiers meant years of danger for the Hmong. The Hmong must cross the Mekong River, in order to reach Thailand for safety. Today, according ton the Hmong radio, mouth to mouth news and social media, there are still Hmong back in Laos, some still in the jungle battling against the Laos soldiers. To this day there are still Hmong in these jungles, afraid, scared and not knowing when they will be saved.
The first place where many Hmong arrived in Thailand was called Nong Khai.28 The Hmong settled in refugee camps with barbed wires around them. The second camp that the Hmong went to was called Ban Vinai. 29 During this time, the United States Congress was changing immigration policy to allow more southeastern Asians to come live in America.30 Many Hmong families began to apply to come to America, moving from one camp to another until they heard the news that they were accepted. In 1975, the first wave of Hmong people would arrive in America and many more came in the 1990s and in 2003. Although some Hmong did migrate to America, some also relocated to other countries as well, such as Australia, France, French Guinea, Germany and Canada.
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References
[1] Jeremy Hein, Ethnic Origins: The Adaptation of Cambodian and Hmong Refugees in Four American Cities (New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2006), 60.
[2] Hein, Ethnic Origins, 60.
[3] Hein, Ethnic Origins, 60.
[4] Keith Quincy, “From War to Resettlement: How Hmong Have Become Americans,” in Hmong and American: From Refugees to Citizens, ed. Vincent K. Her and Mary Louise Buley-Meissner. (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2012), 61.
[5] Quincy, “From War to Resettlement,” 61.
[6] Quincy, “From War to Resettlement,” 61.
[7] Quincy, “From War to Resettlement,” 61.
[8] Quincy, “From War to Resettlement,” 61.
[9] Hein, Ethnic Origins, 60.
[10] Hein, Ethnic Origins, 60.
[11] Hein, Ethnic Origins, 60.
[12] Hein, Ethnic Origins, 63.
[13] Hein, Ethnic Origins, 63.
[14] Hein, Ethnic Origins, 64.
[15] Quincy, “From War to Resettlement,” 62.
[16] Quincy, “From War to Resettlement,” 62.
[17] Quincy, “From War to Resettlement,” 62.
[18] Quincy, “From War to Resettlement,” 62.
[19] Quincy, “From War to Resettlement,” 63.
[20] Hein, Ethnic Origins, 65.
[21] Quincy, “From War to Resettlement,” 63
[22] Quincy, “From War to Resettlement,” 64.
[23] Quincy, “From War to Resettlement,” 64.
[24] Quincy, “From War to Resettlement,” 64.
[25] Quincy, “From War to Resettlement,” 64.
[26] Quincy, “From War to Resettlement,” 64.
[27] Quincy, “From War to Resettlement,” 64.