The U.S. State Department revealed that multiple resettlement offers were made to Thailand for Uyghur men prior to their deportation back to China. Thai officials claimed no serious offers were presented. The U.S. criticized Thailand’s actions as a violation of international commitments and raised concerns about potential repercussions for the Uyghurs in China.
According to the U.S. State Department, the United States and various other nations made numerous attempts to resettle over three dozen Uyghur men prior to their recent deportation from Thailand back to China. The Uyghurs had been under Thai custody since 2014 after fleeing persecution in China’s Xinjiang region.
The State Department indicated that efforts were made over the years to prevent their return to China, mentioning possible resettlement options, including in the United States. In contrast, Thailand’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Russ Jalichandra, asserted that no serious offers were made for the men’s resettlement to a third country.
The U.S. criticized Thailand’s actions as a breach of its obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Torture, emphasizing that they should not require consent from China when offering asylum to persecuted individuals. The Thai government’s decision comes amid concerns regarding potential repercussions from Beijing.
In light of the circumstances, Jalichandra suggested the deportation might have been influenced by fears of retribution from China should the Uyghurs be allowed asylum elsewhere. This situation mirrors broader allegations of human rights abuses against Uyghurs, as China has detained over a million in supposed re-education camps.
Recent events had previously seen the deportation of around 100 Uyghurs back to China in 2015, sparking international criticism. Following the recent deportation, Human Rights Watch criticized the move as contrary to both domestic and international law, and U.N. human rights head Volker Türk condemned Thailand’s actions, urging the country to prevent the return of remaining Uyghurs to China.
In response, a Chinese official denied any wrongdoing on the part of either China or Thailand, reaffirming the rights of repatriated individuals were respected. The Chinese government also contended that their policies in Xinjiang are designed to promote stability and eradicate extremism, rejecting accusations of abuse.
The U.S. and other nations made multiple offers to resettle Uyghur men in Thailand before their deportation back to China, which has been criticized for potential human rights violations. Despite U.N. and advocacy group objections, Thai officials indicated concerns of repercussions from China influenced their decision. Overall, this situation reflects the ongoing plight of the Uyghur population amid international tensions over human rights issues.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
