Thai Foreign Ministry to Address EU Concerns Over Uyghur Deportation

[webfact]

Justice Minister Thavi Sodsong. Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

In response to international criticism stemming from Thailand's recent deportation of 40 Uyghur refugees to China, Justice Minister Thavi Sodsong has announced that the Foreign Ministry will take charge of handling the issue. The deportation, which occurred on February 27th under the cover of night, has drawn condemnation from the European Parliament and sparked calls for action against Thailand.

 

The European Parliament has strongly condemned the deportation, urging Thailand to immediately halt further forced returns, particularly to countries where the deported individuals might face persecution or life-threatening situations. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have called on the European Commission to utilise ongoing free trade agreement negotiations to press Thailand into enacting reforms, including halting such deportations.

 

The MEPs have also demanded that the Thai government adhere to international human rights standards, urging changes to the country's lese-majesty laws, the release of political prisoners, and the ratification of all core International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.

 

Minister Thavi emphasised that Thailand acted within the legal framework and highlighted the Foreign Ministry's role in clarifying the situation to the international community. However, he refrained from commenting on how these events might impact Thailand’s ongoing free trade negotiations with the European Union.

 

The deportation has not only caught the attention of European lawmakers; the United States, among other countries, had previously offered to resettle the 40 Uyghurs. These men, detained in Thailand since 2014 after fleeing perceived persecution in China’s Xinjiang region, were forcibly returned despite fears expressed by rights groups that they could face torture or abuse upon their return.

 

The U.S. State Department has voiced concerns, stating that repeated offers to resettle the refugees elsewhere, including in the United States, were declined. The incident raises broader diplomatic questions and calls into question Thailand's commitments to international human rights protocols.

 

The MEPs' response has been definitive, with a resolution passed by 482 votes in favour, demanding greater accountability from China to respect the Uyghurs' fundamental rights, ensure transparency regarding their current status, and involve the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in their monitoring.

 

Thailand faces increasing pressure from the international community to address these human rights concerns, which could have significant ramifications for its international relations and trade discussions. The Foreign Ministry's upcoming diplomatic engagement will be crucial in addressing these international demands and clarifying Thailand's stance to a concerned global audience, reported Thai Newsroom.

 

-- 2025-03-15

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

Thailand's stance on human rights is indefensible.

It's record is well documented world wide.

How Thailand was ever allowed to sit on the UNHRC is just beyond belief.

[MikeandDow]

When this unelected goverment does nothing  I hope they are kicked off the council  this is a big loss of face now !! and now just starting !

[lordgrinz]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Minister Thavi emphasised that Thailand acted within the legal framework and highlighted the Foreign Ministry's role in clarifying the situation to the international community.

 

Yup, Thai way of doing things, double down on your stupidity, nothing to see here, move along. It's just a misunderstanding.

[hotsun]

I hope this continues to drag on and on, make them lose the most face possible

[ikke1959]

So his job is done.. he reacted and now they will continue with business as usual.. They don't care what the world think .. Thailand is the center of the universe..

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

So his job is done.. he reacted and now they will continue with business as usual.. They don't care what the world think .. Thailand is the center of the universe..

 

Until they realize China is actually pulling the strings, God forbid they make the mistake of angering their Emperor.

[newbee2022]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

utilise ongoing free trade agreement negotiations to press Thailand into enacting reforms, including halting such deportations.

Well, that's a sharp sword. Is it working? I hope so because it has to do with money🤗

[PETERTHEEATER]

Thai Foreign Ministry to address........

Here it is: 

174 Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing

[geisha]

The reaction of the Thai government to such subjects is like all headlines in the press here and online.. Here today, gone tomorrow. 

[MikeandDow]

46 minutes ago, geisha said:

The reaction of the Thai government to such subjects is like all headlines in the press here and online.. Here today, gone tomorrow. 

Correct !  the main problem is Thais cannot think ahead ! only think about here and now, in all aspects of there lives. thais cannot see the benefit of preventive maintance nor safety cost to much money !! they would rather ignore it  bury head in the sand, nothing will be done about this from the thai side just hope it will go away

[hotandsticky]

15 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

Correct !  the main problem is Thais cannot think ahead ! only think about here and now, in all aspects of there lives. thais cannot see the benefit of preventive maintenance nor safety cost to much money !! they would rather ignore it  bury head in the sand, nothing will be done about this from the Thai side just hope it will go away

 

 

I added a +1 to your post but I disagree slightly with your choice of words; they don't deliberately (ie in a premeditated way) - I don't think they set out to ignore it or bury their head in the sand. I think it just "is" - they are reactive, they deal with things as and when they happen - and in between such events they remain sabai sabai or add alcohol and they are sanook as well,

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

In response to international criticism stemming from Thailand's recent deportation of 40 Uyghur refugees to China, Justice Minister Thavi Sodsong has announced that the Foreign Ministry will take charge of handling the issue. The deportation, which occurred on February 27th under the cover of night, has drawn condemnation from the European Parliament and sparked calls for action against Thailand.

His response will be " we had assurances from Beijing that they would be treated well"

[daveAustin]

Tempting to say ‘what’s it got to do with the EU’ and look at the state of them now, but since you have countries offering to take them in (US), you know there’s a motive. Thailand obviously couldn’t do that because it would lose face if they did that and thus not being able to sweep this under the rug, but that motive is China. A double shame on you, Thailand. That is just low!