Three Americans deported

Vientiane Times; June 7, 2005

Three American citizens were deported yesterday afternoon, the American Ambassador Patricia M. Haslach was informed by Mr Langsy Kongvisay, Director General of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here.

Ambassador Haslach was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to get formal explanation about the arrest of four American citizens in Phoukout on June 3. She was informed that three out of four Americans who were in custody of Xieng Khuang security forces since June 3 were to be released and deported.

According to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs' press release, on June 3, four American citizens were detained in Phoukout district by Xieng Khuang province security forces. They were charged with having interfered in the internal affairs of Laos , causing s ocial disruption, and creating misunderstanding between authorities and people. They were guilty of misleading and obstructing people in the process of relocation to live together in order to implement the government's poverty reduction plan.

The government has been bringing scattered villages together for the purpose of maximising the use of resources for development so as to raise the people's living conditions.

The three Americans who were deported were: Mr Edward John Szendrey, Ms Geordie Maude Szendrey, and Mr Nhiazang Yang. According to the press release, the fourth American detained at the same time, Mr Sia Cher Vang, is still under custody for further questioning. Mr Sia Cher Vang is an American who conducts business in Laos .

According to the press release, the American ambassador was asked to meet with the Lao official so as to get clarification from the authority about the event, and from that point the sides would appreciate each other's perspective and together they will protect their good bilateral relations.