Laos jail Hmong leaders forcibly repatriated by Thailand

New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday called on Laos to free Hmong ethnic minority leaders who had been jailed after being forcibly deported by Thailand earlier this year.

"The Lao government is notorious for treating deported Hmong harshly upon their return," said Bill Frelick, the group's refugee policy director.

"By imprisoning these Hmong deportees, Lao authorities confirm the fear many Hmong asylum seekers and refugees have expressed of being persecuted if returned to their native country."

HRW said more than....