These were our allies

Remember the US war in Indochina, called the Vietnam war? The Hmong in Laos, who the US recruited to fight against the Pathet Lao, have finally started to come out of hiding to surrender, more than 30 years after the US departure from Saigon.

They've been on the run all this time, trying to avoid Lao troops. This drove them so deep into the jungle that they were entirely cut off from the rest of the world:

The Hmong had been in such remote areas that most of the children had never seen a motor vehicle, he said. When a big truck pulled up to the village, they were astonished at the sight.

Happily, those who have surrendered have been welcomed and fed, and the Lao military has so far stayed away. Let's all hope that continues.