Thailand deported 40 Uyghurs to China despite receiving resettlement offers from the U.S., Sweden, and Australia. This action has drawn criticism for potentially exposing the detainees to human rights abuses. The Thai government claimed it acted at China’s request and denied alternative options. Human rights groups have condemned the deportation, highlighting ongoing issues in Xinjiang.
Recent statements from a Thai opposition member of parliament revealed that Thailand had received offers from three nations, including the United States, to resettle 48 detained Uyghurs; however, the Thai government deported 40 of these individuals back to China at Beijing’s request. This deportation occurred despite warnings from the U.S., the United Nations, and various human rights organizations about the potential for torture in their native Xinjiang region, which they fled over a decade ago. Currently, five Uyghurs remain in a Thai prison, while the whereabouts of three others are unknown.
According to Thailand’s official stance, the decision to repatriate the 40 men was based on a request from China, accompanied by assurances of safety. They claimed no other nations had extended offers for resettlement. Nonetheless, opposition lawmaker Kannavee Suebsang asserted that external offers had indeed been made, highlighting a contradiction in the government’s claims. He referenced a meeting held on July 10, 2024, with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during which it was confirmed that there were three countries willing to accept the detainees: the U.S., Sweden, and Australia.
The U.S. State Department corroborated the existence of previous offers to resettle the Uyghurs in the United States, expressing a longstanding commitment to preventing such deportations. Attempts to obtain statements from Swedish and Australian officials went unanswered. Kannavee suggested that Thailand’s rejection of these offers was influenced by China’s insistence on the return of the Uyghurs without international resettlement.
During a parliamentary committee meeting, officials reiterated that both the U.S. and other nations had expressed readiness to accept the Uyghurs, indicating a potential for resettlement that was not pursued by the Thai government. Reports have surfaced regarding the severe human rights abuses occurring within the Xinjiang region, including the use of concentration camps. This prompted human rights advocates, such as Sunai Phasuk from Human Rights Watch, to assert that multiple nations had expressed interest in accepting the Uyghurs but were not acted upon because Thailand did not advance the discussions.
Last week, China dismissed international concerns regarding the safety of the repatriated Uyghurs, claiming they would reunite with their families. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the deportation as a breach of international agreements and counterproductive to Thailand’s professed commitment to human rights. The response from the United Nations and other rights organizations was overwhelmingly negative, underscoring the precarious situation for the Uyghurs in Thailand, where experts warned of possible torture.
In summary, Thailand’s decision to deport Uyghurs to China, despite offers for resettlement from the United States, Sweden, and Australia, has sparked significant criticism from various international bodies and human rights advocates. The Thai government maintains it acted on requests from China, but opposition politicians and experts argue that alternative solutions were available. This situation raises serious questions about Thailand’s human rights obligations and the complicated dynamics of its relationships with both China and Western nations.
Original Source: www.rfa.org
