Tong Hua Her, near Vang Vieng, Laos, June 29, 2006. Half of Tong’s face is missing from a bullet wound leaving him blind in one eye with his nasal cavity exposed. His father and Hmong group leader, Blia Shoua Her says on July 15, 2003, Tong and some family were ambushed by Lao troops who were on patrol.
The Hmong people, whom about 60% of their men were assisted by the CIA to join fighting for the "Secret War" in Laos, have hidden in remote mountains of Laos for more than 30 years, afraid to come out. At least 12,000 are said to exist, with little food, scavenging in the jungle. Most have not seen the modern world.