Thailand has reportedly deported over 40 Uyghurs to China amidst international outcry about their safety. These individuals had been detained for over a decade after fleeing China in 2014. U.N. officials and rights groups had warned against their deportation due to fears of persecution in China, yet Thai authorities have remained unresponsive to these concerns.

Activist groups in Thailand report that more than 40 Uyghurs, detained for over a decade, have been forcibly deported to China. These individuals were part of a larger group of approximately 300 Uyghurs who fled from China and were arrested in Thailand in 2014. Previously, Thailand had deported over 100 of them back to China in 2015, provoking international outcry as concerns about their safety and potential persecution in China were raised.

U.N. officials and rights organizations had cautioned against the potential repatriation of these detainees. In January, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed intentions to persuade Thailand not to proceed with the deportations. Despite these appeals, Thai authorities have remained silent, not providing comments regarding the recent reports of the deportation.

This incident occurred amidst heightened scrutiny of China’s treatment of its Uyghur population, which human rights groups allege includes systematic abuses—claims the Chinese government vehemently denies. On the day of the deportations, images captured by media showed blacked-out vehicles leaving the immigration center in Bangkok. Subsequently, an unscheduled flight took off from Thailand to China’s Xinjiang region.

Phil Robertson, director of Asia Human Rights and Labor Advocates, condemned the actions of Thai officials, stating, “Thai officials involved in this forced return… have the blood of these Uyghur men on their hands.” The previous deportations had left the returned Uyghurs unheard from, echoing fears of repercussions for the individuals being sent back now.

Beyond the deportation issue, a separate incident involving a bombing at a Bangkok shrine, which occurred shortly after the 2015 deportations, raised tensions. Although authorities linked the attack to a crackdown on human trafficking, there was a broader implication regarding Uyghur militant involvement, causing further complexity in the narrative surrounding these events.

In summary, the forced deportation of Uyghurs from Thailand to China raises significant human rights concerns. Policymakers and activists have expressed alarm over the potential for severe repercussions upon their return. The situation underscores ongoing tensions regarding China’s treatment of Uyghurs and the broader implications of refugee and asylum policies in the region.

Original Source: www.northcountrypublicradio.org

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