Hmong group surrenders in Laos

Some Hmong continue to fight against the government

About 400 members of a Hmong hill tribe are reported to have surrendered to the authorities in Laos.

The group came out of the jungle in the province of Xieng Khouang, according to the US-based Fact Finding Commission, which supports Hmong communities.

Groups of Hmong still remain in the Lao jungle, where they fled to in 1975 when the pro-US government they supported was defeated by the communists.

They are still said to face occasional attacks from Lao government forces.

HMONG IN LAOS Ethnic group that often complains of marginalisation in Lao society Took the side of the US in the Vietnam War - and say they are persecuted because of it Many still live in jungles Small numbers say they are fighting rebel insurgency Thousands have fled to Thailand in recent years US took in 14,000 Hmong recently, but has no plans for taking more Laos' forgotten Hmong

Leader Moua Tua Ter accompanied the surrendering group to Ban Ha, before he went back to the jungle with a few of his men, according to the Fact Finding Commission.

The group appeared to be "very hungry and tired", the commission said.

They are reported to have been given food by local villages before Lao soldiers registered them in preparation for resettlement.

Hardship

After the 1975 communist takeover, many thousands of Hmong left the country, while others learned to accept the new regime.

Those that fled to the jungle are thought to face increasing isolation as well as continued military pressure, and several Hmong groups have recently chosen to turn themselves in.

In mid November, a group of nearly 200 gave themselves up in the province of Bolikhamxay, near the Vietnam border.