researched and discussed, including the Lao and Socialist Republic of Vietnam security forces persecution, arrest and imprisonment of dissident Laotian and Hmong Christians, Buddhist and Animist religious believers in Laos. Reports by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom were discussed regarding religious freedom violations by the Lao and Vietnam-backed Lao military in Laos. Research and information was also provided about the plight of three Hmong-American citizens from St. Paul, Minnesota, including Hakit Yang, who were arrested, and later imprisoned by Lao security forces in Vientiane's notorious Phonthong Prison before they disappeared in Laos. Philip Smith told the Los Angeles Times, the New York Sun and others that the U.S. Government would be putting itself on trial for betraying the Hmong people, if it proceeded in prosecuting Vang Pao and the other Hmong leaders. Dropping of charges On September 18, 2009, the federal government dropped all charges against Vang Pao, saying that "continued prosecution of this defendant is no longer warranted," and announcing in a press release that the federal government was permitted to consider "the probable sentence or other consequences if the person is convicted.” On January 10, 2011, the federal government dropped all charges against the remaining defendants. "Based on the totality of the circumstances in the case, the government believes, as a discretionary matter, that continued prosecution of defendants is no longer warranted," according to court documents. Reaction Vang Pao's arrest and a preliminary decision by a U.S. federal judge to deny bail to Vang Pao and the other defendants sparked huge Hmong protest rallies in California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and other states. As of early 2008, pressure built on California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and U.S. President George W. Bush to issue pardons in the case, given the defendants' historical alliance with U.S. interests in Southeast Asia. See also Lao Human Rights Council United League for Democracy in Laos The Center for Public Policy Analysis Air America Lao Veterans of America Vang Pobzeb Wat Tham Krabok Hmong People Amnesty International Human Rights Genocide Refugee Conspiracy (political) 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt References External links "Gen. Vang Pao’s Last War", The New York Times Magazine, May 11, 2008. "U.S. Agents Thwart Planned Laos Coup Plot", The Christian Science Monitor, June 6, 2007. Politics of Laos Coup d'état attempts in Asia Laotian coup d'état conspiracy allegation Entrapment Coup d'état conspiracy allegation Laos–United States relations Laotian coup d'état conspiracy allegation