Uyghur detainees in Thailand fear imminent deportation to China

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

by Bright Choomanee

A group of Uyghur men, detained in Thailand for more than 10 years, claim that the Thai government is planning to deport them to China, where they risk abuse and torture, according to activists. Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit, former head of the National Human Rights Commission, has urged Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to clarify any plans regarding their deportation.

 

The Associated Press (AP) has obtained a letter from 43 Uyghur men held at the Suan Phlu immigration detention centre in Bangkok, pleading to halt what they describe as an imminent deportation threat. The letter warns of imprisonment and possible loss of life, urging international human rights organisations to intervene before it is too late.

A decade ago, Thailand emerged as a route for Uyghurs escaping repression in China and aiming to reach Turkey, a traditional supporter of Uyghur asylum seekers. The detained group in Bangkok were initially part of a larger group of approximately 350, arrested near the Malaysia border in March 2014.

 

In July 2015, about 170 women and children from this group were released to Turkey. Subsequently, 109 individuals, mostly men, were deported to China, and their current whereabouts are unknown.

The remaining detainees were kept in Thailand’s immigration detention, with at least 12 escaping and five dying in detention, including two children.

 

Five of the asylum seekers received prison sentences for a 2020 escape attempt, while 43 remain held without charge under harsh conditions at Suan Phlu. They are denied communication with families, lawyers, or other detainees.

 

Uyghur deportation

 

The National Human Rights Commission reported in 2023 that Thai officials have no plans to release the Uyghurs, as Thailand is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.

 

Under Thai law, the detention of Uyghurs is considered a national security issue managed by the National Security Council (NSC), preventing access to the National Screening Mechanism that allows refugees to live in the country.

Immigration police claim they are trying to care for the detainees as best as possible. Recordings obtained by AP show that on January 8, Uyghur detainees were asked to sign voluntary deportation papers by Thai immigration officials, causing alarm due to similarities with documents signed by those deported to China in 2015. The detainees refused to sign.

 

Three individuals, including a Thai MP, have indicated recent government discussions about deporting Uyghurs to China, although no official directive has been issued. Two sources suggest that the timing coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China.

 

They also believe Washington’s response might be muted with the incoming administration of Donald Trump.

 

The Thai and Chinese foreign ministries have not responded to AP’s requests for comment. China labels the Uyghurs as jihadists without presenting evidence, while activists and rights groups insist the men are innocent and face persecution, imprisonment, and possibly death if deported to China.

 

All Uyghurs detained in Thailand have submitted asylum applications to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, verified by AP. However, the UN agency has been barred by the Thai government from visiting the Uyghurs, reported Bangkok Post.

 

A non-governmental organisation report from May last year indicated that the UN agency declined unofficial Thai requests for assistance due to concerns over angering China. The UNHCR did not respond to requests for comment.

 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2025-01-13

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

Sad old Thailand.

Bowing to its Chinese master.

Thailand has sold its dignity and its independence.

"Now, when can we have those much needed submarines?"

[Gottfrid]

So, why are they so stupid, that they flee to Thailand, when they know the result? 

[connda]

Thailand is pretty much made it be know that it IS NOT a destination for asylum seekers. 
Once they open that can of worms, they'd never be able to close it again.  However, I don't understand why Thailand would want to keep asylum seekers in a Immigration remand prison for 10 years as opposed to simply sending them on their way to say, Turkey.  My guess is there is back-channel conversations that have taken place with Western sources: "Don't send them back to China, but don't send them to us either."  But?  Who really knows.

[Dcheech]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The remaining detainees were kept in Thailand’s immigration detention, with at least 12 escaping and five dying in detention, including two children.

They keep that pretty quiet. TIT.
 

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

So, why are they so stupid, that they flee to Thailand, when they know the result? 

Easiest overland route to attempt. They were heading to Malaysia when caught. The overland borders up by Sinkiang (Xinjiang) province, China, are heavily guarded. Lethal force routinely used.  

[spidermike007]

I'll bet China can't wait to have them returned so they can harvest their organs and sell them for a small fortune. 

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

A group of Uyghur men, detained in Thailand for more than 10 years, claim that the Thai government is planning to deport them to China, where they risk abuse and torture, according to activists. Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit, former head of the National Human Rights Commission, has urged Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to clarify any plans regarding their deportation.

Thailand at it's best... and elected as a member of the UNHCR ?

[topt]

49 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Thailand at it's best... and elected as a member of the UNHCR ?

Then you read stuff like this and wonder what that actually means -

8 hours ago, webfact said:

A non-governmental organisation report from May last year indicated that the UN agency declined unofficial Thai requests for assistance due to concerns over angering China. The UNHCR did not respond to requests for comment.

If true, after the questions about WHO during/after Covid potentially shows how much more embedded and influential China have become in the last 10 years or so.

[terryofcrete]

Thailand's rulers won't look after their own people so what could we expect from them when dealing with refugees fleeing persecution..

[Watawattana]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I'll bet China can't wait to have them returned so they can harvest their organs and sell them for a small fortune. 

Or stir-fried...

[spidermike007]

25 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

Or stir-fried...

According to the widely used, although somewhat hard-to-find-credit-for figures, a heart is worth around $1 million in the US. Livers come in second, worth about $557,000 and kidneys cost about $262,000 each. 

 

https://medicalfuturist.com/how-much-is-life-worth/