06-347Council File # � Ip 3� ��
Green 5heet # '3Q� �29
RESOLUTfON
CITY OF SAINT P
by
ESOT
1 WHEREAS, the Hmong people became refugees and 1eft their home counhy to escape persecution,
2 and, since 1976, have made the City of Saint Paul their home; and
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4 WHEREAS, the Hmong people have become citizens and residents with meaningful participation
5 at all levels of life in the City of Saint Paul, and have made significant cultural and economic contriburions
6 to the city, region, and State of Minnesota; and
WHBREAS, since 2004, the City of Saint Paul has welcomed more than 5,000 Hmong refugees
from Wat Thamkrabok monastery in Saraburi, Thailand, where they had lived for more than 20 yeazs; and
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11 WHEREAS, there is substantial evidence that, since October 2005, the Government of Thailand
12 has allowed the desecration of at least 900 Hmong graves at Wat Thamla�abok after most of the refugees
13 had left for the United States. The remains of the refugees' relatives have been dug up, dismembered, and
14 the bones carried away to unknown locations; and
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16 WHEREAS, the desecration of Hmong graves at Wat Thamkrabok is based on a long history of
17 discrimination and persecution against the Hmong in Thailand; and
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19 WHEREAS, the mass ea�humation of Hmong graves, many of which were on plots of land
20 purchased by the refugees, has been carried out without the notice, consent or involvement of the relatives
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of the deceased in Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, the burial place is a sacred and integral part of traditional Hmong culture. Graves aze
sacred sites where Hmong manifest their spiritual and religious beliefs and where families pay respect and
honor to their ancestors and loved ones according to tradition; and
WHEREAS, the desecration of Hmong graves at Wat Thamkrabok violates the fundamental rights
of Hmong Americans of the City of Saint Paul, including the right to be free from discriminarion and the
right to manifest one's religion or belief. These are rights protected by the Constitution of the United States
and the Constitution of the State of Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, the Govemment of Thailand's actions at Wat Thatnln are a clear violation of its
obligations as a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Polirical Rights, the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Racial Discrimination, including the right to culture and the right to family. The Government
of Thailand's failure to protect these rights also violates customary law as set forth in the Universal
Declazation of Human Rights; and
WHEREAS, the gruesome desecration of Hmong graves at Wat Thamkrabok has caused untold
anguish, misery, and pain for the Hmong of the City of Saint Paul who have left deceased loved ones in
Wat Thaulkrabok; and
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43 WHEREAS, the State Deparhnent of the United States sent a communique to the Government of
44 Thailand expressing its concern regarding the grave desecration, but no further actions to stop the
45 exhumation of the graves by either govemment have been forthcoming; and
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47 WHEREAS, the deseeration of the graves continues and the locarion of the remains of the deceased
48 belonging to the Hmong people of the City of Saint Paul aze srill milaiown; and
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council urges the Minnesota
Congressional Delegation, under its full authority and with all possible speed, to pursue appropriate actions
to work with the Government of Thailand to put a stop to the further deseeration of Hmong graves at Wat
Thamkrabok in Sazaburi, Thailand; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council urges the Minnesota Congressional
Delegation and the State Department of the United States, under their fixll authority and with all possible
speed, to pursue all appropriate actions with the Government of Thailand to identify the remains of the
deceased and return them to their relarives living in Saint Paul; and
BE IT, FINALLY RESOLVED, that the City Council urges the Minnesota Congressional
Delegation to work with the United States Ambassador to the United Nations to request urgent actions by
the United Nations Human Rights Council and independent experts to eliminate racism and to promote
tolerance of religion or belief, to demand that Thaiiand fulfill its international obligations and take all
appropriate actions to halt further exhumarions, to investigate the whereabouts of the remains that have
been disinterred and to reriun those remains to family members.
Benanav
Bosffom
Harris
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Thune
Adopted by Council: Date
Absent I Requested by Departsnent of.
� Form Appro ,�d by City Attomey
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Adoption Certified by Council Secretary
BY� �ii/v �/Li,�S�ir__i
Approved b "�4 /""W wl.�
By: �
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Form Approved by Mayor for Submission w Council
By: �G�n����a�
� Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet �
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DepartmeMloffice/wuncil: Date Initiafed:
Mo -�rots«�� ��R.� Green Sheet NO: 3030298
Confact Person & Phone: -'
Ktis Fredson
�� Assi9n
Must Be on Council Agenda by (Date): Number
For
Routing
Order
ContractType:
RE{2ESOLUiION
Depar6nent
0 iY1 'sOffice I I
1 SVI oYsOffice DeoartmentDirector
2 'N Attornev i t
3 voYs Offi MavodAssistant
a a
5 ' Cler Ci rk
Total # of Sig re Pages �(Clip NI Lowtions for SignaW re)
Action Requested:
Approval of resolution urging the MN Congressional Delegation to pursue appropriate actions with the Government of Thailand and
the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to put a stop to the fiuther desecration of Hmong graves at Wat Thamkrabak in Saraburi,
Thailand, and to retum [he remains that ttave been disinterzed to family members in Saint Paul.
Recommendatio�s: Appm�e (A) or R
Planning Commission
CIB Committee
_. GNI Service Commission
Questions:
1. Has this persoNfirm e�er v,rorked under a cwdract for this department?
Yes No
2. Has this person/firm e�er been a city employee?
Yes ' No
3. Dces this persoNfirtn possess a skill rat normally possessed by arry
curtent city employee?
Yes No
Explain all yes answers on separate sheet and attach to green sheet
Initiating Problem, Issues, OppoKunity (Who, Whaf, When, Where, Why):
Advantages IfApproved:
DisadvantaAeslfApproved:
DisadvanWges If NotApproved:
Transaction:
Funding Source:
Financia l lnformation:
(Explain)
Cost/Revenue Budgeted:
Activity Number:
Apnl 5, 2006 3:Q4 PM Page 1