No immediate risk of deportation, according to police, but rights groups express concern.
In Bangkok, 43 members of a Vietnamese hill tribe minority group have been sentenced for illegal entry into Thailand, as reported by human rights activists. Among those jailed is the spouse of activist Y Quynh Bdap, who is currently facing extradition to Vietnam where he could face a decade-long prison sentence for terrorism, an allegation he denies.
The group of Montagnards was detained during a police raid on a funeral service in Nonthaburi, which had been organized by Bdap’s wife for her recently deceased mother from Vietnam. Initially, 68 asylum seekers were apprehended.
While Thai police confirmed the detainment of over 40 individuals for illegal entry, they noted that there is no imminent risk of deportation. Pol Col Ronapat Tubtimtong stated, “They were fined 4,000 baht each for illegal entry, but since they lacked the funds, they were jailed for eight days instead.” He added that they hold refugee cards and would be transferred to the Suan Phlu detention center after serving their sentences, where NGOs typically seek bail for them.
Among those detained, some individuals were reportedly entitled to remain in Thailand and were subsequently released. All detainees are Montagnards from the Central Highlands of Vietnam, a group known for their Christian faith and longstanding tensions with the communist government.
Bdap, a member of the Ede tribe, fled Vietnam for Thailand in 2018, citing religious persecution. He had been granted refugee status by the UNHCR but was arrested in June 2022 following an extradition request from Vietnam. He initially received a six-month sentence for illegal entry while the extradition request was under review.
Bdap founded a group advocating for Montagnard rights, which the Vietnamese government has classified as a terrorist organization. The government has accused the group of involvement in a violent incident in Dak Lak province in June 2023 that left nine officials dead. Bdap and his organization have denied these allegations, but if he is extradited, he faces a 10-year sentence for terrorism imposed by a Vietnamese court.
Human rights activists warn of a significant risk of torture if Bdap is returned to Vietnam. In a recent decision, the Bangkok Criminal Court approved his extradition, but his attorney filed an appeal in February and has yet to hear back from the court. She noted that the extradition case considers Thailand’s new Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act, 2022, with no specific timeline for a court ruling.
The Montagnards, who allied with the US-supported South in Vietnam’s past conflicts, continue to seek greater autonomy—or even independence—for their region. Recently, Vietnamese authorities branded a US-based refugee aid organization as a “terrorist” entity, accusing it of financially supporting Bdap’s group and intervening to prevent his deportation from Thailand.
