Thai govt under fire for deporting Chinese dissidents

[webfact]

DEPORTATION
Govt under fire for deporting dissidents
The Nation, Agencies

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT'S forced deportation of two Chinese dissidents recognised as refugees puts them at grave risk of torture and other mistreatment, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said yesterday in a letter to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The authorities forcibly returned Dong Guangping and Jiang Yefei on the weekend, despite the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) informing key government agencies on November 10 that the two had been accepted for refugee resettlement in a third country. "Thailand's forced return of these two rights activists into harm's way in China after being explicitly told that they were refugees is cruel as well as unlawful," said Sophie Richardson, HRW's China director.

"These actions blatantly contradict the pledge to uphold rights the prime minister made before the UN General Assembly. It's deeply alarming, if not surprising, that the junta's deference to abusive neighbours takes priority over the rule of law."

Returning the two refugees to China - where they are at risk of persecution, arbitrary detention and possibly torture - constitutes refoulement, which is prohibited under customary international law and violates Thailand's obligations under Article 3 of the Convention against Torture, the HRW said.

Thailand should cease any deportation of UNHCR-recognised refugees or persons of concern who are in the official process of pursuing an asylum claim, the HRW said.

Thailand should also ratify the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, and urgently reform its immigration laws to recognise refugee status under law.

Thailand should also call on China to reveal the two men's whereabouts, release them and permit them to travel abroad to reunite with their families, who have resettled in a third country, the HRW added.

"It seems clear that the forced return of these two activists was a deliberate, pre-mediated rights violation by the Thai junta at China's behest," Richardson said. "PM Prayut should recognise that Thailand is moving toward the sort of pariah status reserved for the most rights-abusing countries and right these wrongs."

Thai authorities declined to comment on the protection letter yesterday, but said the men were sent back because they had entered Thailand illegally. "We have taken every step in accordance with Thai laws," General Thawip Netniyom, secretary-general of the National Security Council, told Reuters. "All we know is that they appear to be dissidents of the Chinese government. We don't know about their other offences."

In Washington, US Department of State spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday, "We are deeply concerned that Thailand has sent two UNHCR-registered Chinese refugees back to China where they could face harsh treatment, arbitrary detention, and the lack of due process … We urge Thailand to abide by its international obligations and commitments as well as its long-standing practice of providing safe haven to vulnerable persons."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Govt-under-fire-for-deporting-dissidents-30273351.html


-- The Nation 2015-11-20

[kmj]

Can't upset the new Chinese masters...

[Ireland32]

Beautiful Chiland...Land of Smiles and Fortune Cookies.

[yellowboat]

They have totally ruined their chances for that seat on the UN security council for decades to come. Thai government talks up freedom and decency, but their actions are deeply troubling.

[TKDfella]

I find this whole thing very confusing. When the PM was at the UN meetings earlier was Thailand not voted in to chair G77 next year. If the UN has serious issues with Thailand over this affair can/will the G77 chair be revoked? If Thailand has signed/agreed to to sign, certain UN 'right's' documents but has not yet ratified them does that mean Thailand is not a full member of the UN Human Rights section? If that is the case, isn't it a bit late to calling on Thailand to ratify? And does anyone here know if the two Chinese 'dissidents' are just guilty of being democracy activists or is there a whole lot more to them (spying for example). Hope someone can set me straight on this because it really could affect what Thailand becomes in the future. Thanks in advance.

[craigt3365]

Thailand is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_relating_to_the_Status_of_Refugees

Here's an interesting discussion of it:

https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Thailand.pdf

Thailand has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention and does not recognize the status of refugees. As a result, asylum seekers are not distinguished from other immigrants, legal or illegal. The Thai government asserts that it applies humanitarian conditions and observes the 1951 Convention in practice.

Thailand is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and to its First, but not Second, Optional Protocol.

.....................

Illegal migrants whom the UNHCR has recognized as “person of concern” will not be deported back to their countries of origin, according to the Thai government. Instead, the UNHCR will take responsibility for such persons, with a view to resettling them in third countries.

About the 2 who were deported. In the Bangkok Post, they are also talking about some others who have gone missing here. Interesting....

https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/30117

Dong Guangping is a human rights defender and former political prisoner who served three years in prison from 2001 to 2004 on a charge of 'inciting subversion of state power' for promoting democracy. In July 2014 he was again detained and held incommunicado for over eight months following his participation in an event commemorating the victims of the government crackdown on Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.

Jiang Yefei is the Chairperson of the Thai branch of the Federation for a Democratic China. He fled to Thailand seven years ago following persistent persecution by the authorities in China. In the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in Sichuan province in 2008, Jiang Yefei gave critical interviews to the foreign media, after which he was detained and reportedly subjected to torture.

A dark spot on Thailand's international reputation. Great Op/Ed article in the Post today also. Unfortunately, no links are allowed here.

[casualbiker]

Why where they arrested again. Oh yes, overstaying their visa! If the UN had done its job properly they shouldn't have been in that position! Did they expect Thailand to disregard their own laws! If it's true that the two Chinese did overstay then that's on the UN's head!

[yellowboat]

Why where they arrested again. Oh yes, overstaying their visa! If the UN had done its job properly they shouldn't have been in that position! Did they expect Thailand to disregard their own laws! If it's true that the two Chinese did overstay then that's on the UN's head!

Perhaps, but biting the hand that fed you, and wanting a position on the security council means Thailand is only interested the prestige the UN brings and not its obligations. When the UN set up shop in Bangkok, it was one of its larger employers. Thailand needed the UN then for its economy. Then the general wanted Thailand to have a chair at the security council . Their behavior is not complicated, but childish and erratic .

[trainman34014]

But....but, the morons in charge here think that 'torture and other mistreatment' of people is normal behaviour !

[craigt3365]

Why where they arrested again. Oh yes, overstaying their visa! If the UN had done its job properly they shouldn't have been in that position! Did they expect Thailand to disregard their own laws! If it's true that the two Chinese did overstay then that's on the UN's head!

They were recognized as political refugees and the UN had notified Thailand and was arranging their flight to Canada. Which is where their families are now. Thailand jumped the gun and just handed them over to China.

Great Op/Ed piece in the Bangkok Post. You should read it.

[casualbiker]

Why where they arrested again. Oh yes, overstaying their visa! If the UN had done its job properly they shouldn't have been in that position! Did they expect Thailand to disregard their own laws! If it's true that the two Chinese did overstay then that's on the UN's head!

They were recognized as political refugees and the UN had notified Thailand and was arranging their flight to Canada. Which is where their families are now. Thailand jumped the gun and just handed them over to China.

Great Op/Ed piece in the Bangkok Post. You should read it.

the report I read said their Thai visa's had expired!

[craigt3365]

Ummm....their political refugees. International laws dictate how they should be treated. Thailand said they agree with this. Obviously not....and a few others related to them have gone missing here.

[manhood]

Thailand don't care about anybodies rights now and mistreat international law and rules. They act like a junta is acting and things get more and more worse: so not any freedom for the people in this country , just the freedom of the junta and their supporters who run this country by money !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but far from any rights for the people of Thailand!

Thailand want to play a role in the world, they soon can play a role together with North Korea......that's they way for Thailand!

[ThaiTony2]

The UN and USA put pressure on this latest move by Thailand but wait... Chiland must jump when China say jump. You want to be friends with China then when your friend tell you to do something then you want to show them you will listen. Trying to burn the candle at both ends, expect to get burned.

[tbthailand]

This military junta willingly violates human rights. Internally and on the international stage.

The self-appointed PM blatantly lies about it to the world - does he think no one notices?

This military junta represents the worst of Thailand and is turning the country into a pariah state.

It is my hope that the Thai people will take-back their sovereignty from these military clowns, but I harbor no illusions that this junta will leave power willingly.

The Thai people have a rough road ahead of them.

[jollyhangmon]

Thailand don't care about anybodies rights now and mistreat international law and rules. They act like a junta is acting and things get more and more worse: so not any freedom for the people in this country , just the freedom of the junta and their supporters who run this country by money !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but far from any rights for the people of Thailand!

Thailand want to play a role in the world, they soon can play a role together with North Korea......that's they way for Thailand!

+1

Call it a 'military-dictatorship', shall we ...