Thailand Criticised for 'Forcibly' Deporting Cambodian Activists

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Wikipedia

 

Thailand faces international criticism after forcibly deporting six Cambodian political activists, raising concerns about human rights obligations and refugee protections.

 

Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports that the deportation includes five Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) supporters who held UN refugee status and a sixth awaiting determination, along with a child who was later released to family.

 

The activists, among them Pen Chan Sangkream and Hong An, were detained by Thai immigration in Pathum Thani on the grounds of illegal residency. This forcible deportation to Cambodia occurred swiftly, drawing condemnation for what HRW describes as an abandonment of "fundamental refugee protection principles."

 

Upon their return, Cambodian authorities detained the adults under charges of "plotting," invoking Cambodia’s criminal code with penalties reaching up to 10 years of imprisonment. These accusations link to an August case concerning dissent over a pact between Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

 

Such charges, critics say, reflect Cambodia's ongoing crackdown on former CNRP members since the party's dissolution in 2017, when it fell afoul of Cambodian government animosity toward opposition activities.

 

Earlier this year, the dynamics of Thai-Cambodian political relations had already spotlighted Thailand's controversial stance.

 

Notably, it accommodated Cambodian requests to curb actions by opposition activists within its borders during Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet’s state visit.

Such actions have been seen as part of a transnational repression strategy that extends beyond Cambodia to include Thailand's engagements with Laos and Vietnam in restricting dissident activities.

 

Thailand’s actions raise significant questions under the newly effective Act on Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearances, purportedly crafted to prevent deportations where there's a likelihood of torture or inhumane treatment.

 

HRW argues that in forcibly deporting these individuals, Thailand disregards these protocols alongside international obligations to protect refugees and asylum seekers.

 

This situation also clouds Thailand’s recent triumphant securing of a UN Human Rights Council seat, starting January 2025, as the deportations starkly contradict the commitments implied in its candidacy.

 

Ultimately, these developments underline the persistent tension between political expedience and human rights obligations in Southeast Asian politics.

 

As Thailand maneuvers these diplomatically sensitive contexts, its actions scrutinised globally, questions about its commitment to international human rights standards go uneluded, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2024-11-30

 

 

[Aussie999]

And Thailand was recently given a chair on the UN council for Human RIGHTS.... and we know the UN will take no action... why, because the UN is no longer a valid organization.

Edited 11 hours ago by Aussie999

[Tropicalevo]

57 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

And Thailand was recently given a chair on the UN council for Human RIGHTS.... and we know the UN will take no action... why, because the UN is no longer a valid organization.

 

Yes, ironic isn't it.

There are very few human rights in Thailand.

The UN might have responded more strongly had the refugees been Muslim.

[Emdog]

Decision makers in Thailand seem to lack any moral compass, and have for a long time.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

five Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) supporters who held UN refugee status and a sixth awaiting determination,

remember back in 2015? "By forcibly sending back at least 90 Uighurs, Thailand has violated international law. In China they can face serious abuses including torture and disappearance." https://www.reuters.com/article/world/thailand-sends-nearly-100-uighur-migrants-back-to-china-idUSKCN0PJ0E1/

and what did Thailand get in return for it's lapdog behavior?

Erawan shrine was bombed and 20 people killed. Payback? I would think so. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Bangkok_bombing

There are no powerless people

[paul1804]

Did you really expect anything different from the Thai authorities, they do the same to many Burmese knowing full well that the illegally instated Junta are killing innocent people daily & those deported young Burmese men are then conscripted and made to add to the misery & killing of their fellow people.

Looking at Cambodia's history these so called activist who most likely are just political opposition will get imprisoned and tortured just like in Burma & China, and to a lesser extent Laos, Vietnam, Pakistan and a few others that call themselves a democracy where the military controlled or run governments are in reality dictatorships. 

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand faces international criticism after forcibly deporting six Cambodian political activists, raising concerns about human rights obligations and refugee protections.

Isn't Thailand now on the humanitarian council... or something similar?

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

we know the UN will take no action

Thailand can lose its "chair."

[TheFishman1]

Government’s only interested in one thing that’s money TIT

[bradiston]

2 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

Government’s only interested in one thing that’s money TIT

It could cost the government dear. Thailand paid for their appalling human rights abuses on slave labour in the fishing and seafood processing industries with trade restrictions by Europe and the US, and trade agreements abandoned or put on hold until they cleaned up their act. But this back scratching is endemic in ASEAN. Don't criticise me and I won't criticise you. So everybody buttons up. And so it continues.