Thai authorities have reportedly deported a group of Uyghur men to China early Thursday, after trucks with covered windows were seen leaving a detention center. The deportation allegedly involved 40 Chinese citizens, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Their ethnicity is not confirmed, but visuals suggest they are Uyghurs. Concerns arose due to the Uyghurs' history of detention in harsh conditions and potential persecution if returned to China.
Thai lawmaker Kannavee Suebsang urged the government to prevent the deportation, saying, "What is the Thai government doing? The prime minister must answer the people urgently." Attorney Schoochart Kanpai warned that deportation violates Thai and international law. "Any action to deport them without due process would not only violate Thai law but also severely damage Thailand's international reputation," Kanpai said. Another Thai lawmaker, Romadon Panjor, noted a suspicious flight to China. Uyghur activist Polat Sayim's team observed these developments, and an AP journalist reported increased security at the detention center.
This group of detainees, originally over 300 Uyghurs, fled China. In 2015, Thailand controversially deported 109 against their will. Later, 173, mostly women and children, went to Turkey. That left 53 Uyghurs in Thai detention seeking asylum. Since then, five detainees, including two children, have died.
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US Sens. Jim Risch and Jeanne Shaheen criticized the deportation plans, stating: "These men face torture, imprisonment, and even death upon return to China." Attorney Rayhan Asat asked both the UN and US government to block the deportations, stressing the consequences: "If the deportation occurs, Thailand will effectively issue death sentences, thereby aiding and abetting the Chinese government in committing atrocities." (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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