Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Marisa Helms
St. Paul, Minn.

St. Paul group goes to Thailand for answers on Hmong grave desecration

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

In 2005, a videotape surfaced showing workers in Thailand exhuming Hmong graves at the Wat Tham Krabok refugee camp, dismembering bodies, removing the bones, and throwing the remains into open graves.

The site is a Buddhist monastery, where officials have said the graves were contaminating the water supply.

The news shocked the local Hmong community.

The exhumations prompted St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman to send a four-person delegation to Thailand to explore options for helping families affected by the desecration.

Delegate Va-magn Thoj is a policy associate with the Coleman administration. He says the Thai government is open to meeting with the St. Paul group.

"The governor of the province where the remains are had a meeting with the organizations that are holding the remains, and the organizations agreed to meet with us and to discuss how to reclaim the remains," says Thoj. "So at least at the provincial level, the Thai government has agreed to receive the delegation."

The group also includes State Sen. Mee Moua and community activist Yee Chang.

A group called the Center for Hmong Arts and Talent raised the estimated $20,000 dollars to pay for the trip. The delegation will travel to Thailand from Sept. 21-29.