Prawit, army leaders visit Laos

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and top army leaders made an official visit to Laos on Thursday morning to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss refugee issues.

Gen Prawit said before leaving that he would meet Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh and Defence Minister Duangjai Pijid in Vientiane.

The Hmong refugee problem would be raised and he believed the Lao government would be ready to take them  back. There could be more problems if the Hmong do not want to return to Laos, he said.

Army commander-in-chief Anupong Paojinda, Supreme Commander Songkitti Chakkrabat and army chief-of-staff Prayuth Chan-ocha were also on the trip.