Thai military authorities said a 53 year-old Hmong man living in Ban Huay Nam Khao, Petchabun Province, has died of a brain hemorrhage caused by shock and stress.

Jailed Hmongs

They added that the man died after hearing from his son who is being detained by Thai police in Nongkhai Province. The man's son, wife, and four other members of his family are among the 152 Hmongs from Laos, who had been arrested in Bangkok on charge of illegally entering Thailand. They were transferred to Nongkhai and have been detained there since late last year, and are now waiting to be sent back to Laos.

The dead man, Xiong Cha, is among the Hmong refugees, now

Hmong shops in Ban Huay Nam Khao

numbering over 8,000, living along both sides of the road leading to Ban Huay Nam Khao. Thai authorities have said they will send those Hmongs back to Laos by year's end.

Listen to our Laos Today report for more details.