Vang Pobzeb
Vang Pobzeb (July 12, 1957 – August 23, 2005) was a Hmong American dedicated to Lao and Hmong human rights. For over 25 years, he was an outspoken critic of the Marxist governments of the Pathet Lao in Laos and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV) and their human rights violations, religious freedom violations, and persecution of the Lao and Hmong people. Early life Vang was born in Laos on July 12, 1957. He later moved to the United States and received his PhD in international relations from the University of Colorado Denver with a focus on world politics and Asian security, refugee and human rights issues. Vang was fluent in the languages of Hmong Daw (White Hmong), Mong Njua (Green Hmong), Laotian, English and was able to speak and read some French. Career Vang was responsible for the United Nations's recognition of the word Hmong as the proper term for the Hmong people. Additionally, he testified in the United States Congress, and at the United Nations in New York City and Geneva]l on numerous occasions on the Hmong genocide in Laos. Vang founded and served as the first president and executive director of the non-governmental organization Lao Human Rights