An undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives secretly recorded a Feb. 7 luncheon meeting with Vang Pao, former California National Guard Lt. Col. Harrison Jack and others at a Thai restaurant a few blocks from the state Capitol in Sacramento, according to the agent’s affidavit.  They then walked to a recreational vehicle parked nearby to examine machine guns, grenade launchers, anti-tank rockets, anti-personnel mines and other weapons, the agent wrote.

California’s large Hmong community are said to be stunned by the arrest.  “People don’t know right now whether the charges are justified or a witch hunt. We just want people to remember that for 20 years the Hmong community has worked to make sure that this is our home,” said Peter Vang, refugee community liaison for Fresno County, home to about 30,000 ethnic Hmong.   US Attorney McGregor Scott, announcing the arrests, said: “The United States cannot provide a safe harbour to those plotting to overthrow a government with whom we are at peace.”