Senator Calls on Prime Minister to Address Concerns of Uyghur Detainees
A group of 43 Uyghur men, who have been detained in Thailand for over a decade, claim that the Thai government may be preparing to deport them to China, where they face the risk of abuse and torture, according to activists. Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit, a former head of the National Human Rights Commission, urged Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to clarify the government’s intentions regarding these claims.
The detainees, held at the Suan Phlu immigration detention centre in Bangkok, expressed their fears in a public letter, stating, “We could be imprisoned, and we might even lose our lives. We urgently appeal to all international organizations and countries concerned with human rights to intervene immediately to save us from this tragic fate before it is too late.”
Ten years ago, Thailand became a transit route for Uyghurs escaping repression in China in pursuit of asylum in Turkey. The majority of these detainees were among approximately 350 individuals arrested near the Malaysia border in March 2014.
Around 170 women and children from this group were eventually released to Turkey in July 2015, while 109 men were deported to China shortly afterward, with their current status unknown. A number of detainees have reportedly escaped, while at least five individuals have died in detention.
Currently, five asylum seekers are serving sentencing related to a 2020 escape attempt, while the remaining 43 continue to be held without charge in the overcrowded Suan Phlu facility, facing a lack of communication with family, legal representatives, or fellow detainees.
A recent report by the National Human Rights Commission indicated that Thai authorities have no plans to release the Uyghurs, as Thailand is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.
Under Thai law, the Uyghurs’ detention is classified as a national security issue, which places them under the jurisdiction of the National Security Council rather than immigration authorities. This classification prevents them from accessing the National Screening Mechanism, which offers refugees a chance to reside legally in the country.
Thai immigration police have asserted their commitment to appropriately managing the detainees’ welfare. However, recordings and communications recently revealed that on January 8, the Uyghurs were asked to sign voluntary deportation documents—an act that instilled panic among them.
Reports indicate that conversations regarding the potential deportation of the Uyghurs have taken place within the government, though no formal directive has been issued. This renewed push for deportation reportedly correlates with the ongoing 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China, as well as an expected reduction of backlash from the United States with the upcoming change in administration.
Human rights organizations contend that the Uyghurs are innocent and face danger if returned to China. All detainees have submitted asylum applications to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees; however, the Thai government has obstructed UN access to the detainees.
A report from last year revealed that the UNHCR declined unofficial requests from the Thai government for assistance with the Uyghur detainees due to concerns about antagonizing China. The agency has not provided a comment on the ongoing situation.
