The Thai government faced criticism for its decision to deport 40 Uyghur men to China, despite offers from Canada and the United States to resettle them in the past decade. Sources indicate that Bangkok took no action regarding these offers for fear of upsetting China.
In defending the deportation, Thai officials stated that they acted in accordance with national laws and human rights obligations, responding to calls from United Nations human rights experts regarding the welfare of the deportees.
Human rights organizations allege that China engages in widespread abuse against the Uyghur ethnic minority, which numbers approximately 10 million in the Xinjiang region. The Chinese government denies any allegations of mistreatment.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed on Monday that no country had made a concrete resettlement offer and expressed frustration over the prolonged situation. He emphasized that despite discussions with numerous nations, definitive commitments were not received.
An official from the U.S. State Department noted that the United States has long sought to prevent such deportations by repeatedly offering to resettle the Uyghurs. Additionally, Canada was reported to have offered asylum, as well as proposals from Australia, all of which were reportedly overlooked by Thai authorities due to concerns about repercussions from China.
The Chinese embassy in Bangkok stated that the deported individuals were “illegal migrants” returning to their families after over a decade apart, further asserting that they had not committed serious crimes.
Deportation Decision Sparks Outrage
Pisan Manawapat, a former Thai ambassador, revealed that multiple countries had reached out to Thailand with resettlement proposals for the Uyghurs but noted that these were disregarded to maintain favorable relations with China. The country views China as its largest trading partner, leading to hesitation in political decisions regarding potential diplomatic fallout.
Phumtham asserted that the deportation occurred following reassurances from Beijing allowing Thai officials to monitor the Uyghurs post-return. However, United Nations human rights advocates have warned that the deported group faces risks of torture and ill-treatment upon their return, leading to significant international backlash.
In the aftermath, the UN refugee agency reported being denied access to the Uyghurs by Thai authorities, impeding their ability to process their asylum claims and leaving them in an uncertain detention status.
Previously, a non-governmental organization highlighted that in May 2023, the UN’s assistance to the detained Uyghurs was curbed due to concerns of straining relations with China amidst ongoing humanitarian issues.
