Thai Delegation Visits China to Meet Deportees Amid Controversy

A Thai delegation visited China to meet five out of forty recently deported Uyghurs, amid international criticism for human rights violations associated with their deportation. The government insists there was no hidden agenda, while managing diplomatic relations with China despite offers from Western nations to resettle the deported individuals.

On Tuesday, a delegation of Thai government officials, including Cabinet ministers, traveled to Xinjiang, China to engage with some of the Uyghurs deported from Thailand last month. However, only five of the forty individuals deported will be available for meetings, according to government sources. This deportation, conducted surreptitiously on February 27, contravened appeals from UN human rights experts who highlighted the risks of torture and irreparable harm these individuals may face upon return.

The deportation has drawn significant criticism from Western countries, including the United States, which imposed visa sanctions on unnamed Thai officials in response. The European Parliament has also condemned Thailand for its actions, urging the European Union to leverage trade negotiations to prevent such occurrences in the future. Rights organizations allege that the Chinese government commits extensive abuses against the Uyghur population, an ethnic minority of approximately ten million in the Xinjiang region, though Beijing steadfastly denies these allegations and accuses the West of spreading misinformation.

The Thai delegation, which includes Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechachai and Justice Minister Taweee Sodswong, as well as senior military officials and media representatives, will be briefed by a representative from the Xinjiang autonomous region. Following this briefing, they are scheduled to visit some of the Uyghurs before returning to Thailand on Thursday. The Thai government has previously expressed confidence in assurances received from China regarding the treatment of the Uyghurs.

Minister Phumtham indicated that of the 40 Uyghurs who were deported, only five along with one individual deported a decade ago would be met. These were part of a larger group that fled China and were arrested in Thailand in 2014. Mr. Jirayu, a government spokesperson, emphasized the transparency of Thailand’s actions, stating that there was no hidden agenda or diplomatic maneuvering involved.

During a briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning characterized the visit as a positive aspect of the friendly relations between China and Thailand. Additionally, it has been reported that Canada and the United States expressed willingness to resettle the returned Uyghurs; however, Thailand has refrained from accepting these offers due to concerns over its relationship with China. The Thai government maintains that it acted in its national interest to avoid potential repercussions from Beijing, as outlined by Russ Jalichandra, the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs.

This article details the visit of a Thai delegation to China to meet with Uyghurs who were recently deported. The deportation has faced international condemnation for potential human rights violations, reflecting tensions between Thailand, Western nations, and China regarding the treatment of Uyghurs. The Thai government insists there is no hidden agenda, prioritizing diplomatic relations with China despite offers from other countries to assist the deported individuals.

Original Source: www.bangkokpost.com