That Vientiane is willing to risk international credibility by using three foreigners to assuage domestic anger shows the level of concern over the unrest.
"The government is paranoid about any lack of control," the observer said.
Inter-ethnic relations in Laos are complex and several provincial governors, members of the government and even the powerful politburo are Hmong.
"It is wrong to view the Hmong as a unified group," said a French specialist on Laos. "The community divisions go back to the beginning of the 20th century and many Hmong fought alongside the communists."
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