Laos returns remains of US soldiers missing in action
The government has handed over to US Ambassador to Laos Ravic R.Huso the remains of US military personnel who went missing in action during the Indochina War.
An official handover ceremony took place on June 4 at Savannakhet Airport in Kaysone Pomvihan district, Savannakhet province.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Phongsavath Boupha addressed the ceremony, which was attended by a number of Lao and US officials.
The remains included bones, teeth and other items. They had been found in Khammouan, Attapeu, Huaphan and Xieng Khuang provinces.
A joint Lao-US mission to search for the remains in the period 2008/2009 took place from April 7 to May 31.
The Ministry said cooperation between the Lao and US government in the search for the remains of missing military personnel yielded a stead measure of success. Lao government officials from the central to local administrative levels provided cooperation in the joint mission.
The operation reflected the consistent humanitarian policy of the Lao government towards the American people, especially those families who had lost relatives during the war.
Since 1987 the Lao government has handed over the remains of 230 US military personnel went missing in Laos during the Indochina war.
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