Canada and the US provided to resettle 48 ethnic Uyghurs held in detention in Thailand over the previous decade, sources have stated, however Bangkok took no motion for concern of upsetting China, the place most of them had been covertly deported final week.
Thailand has defended the deportation, which got here regardless of calls from United Nations human rights specialists, saying that it acted in accordance with legal guidelines and human rights obligations.
Human rights teams accuse China of widespread abuses of Uyghurs, a primarily Muslim ethnic minority numbering about 10 million in its north-western area of Xinjiang. Beijing denies any abuses.
The Thai deputy prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated on Monday that no nation made any concrete supply to resettle the 48 Uyghurs.
“We waited for greater than 10 years, and I’ve spoken to many main nations, however nobody informed me for sure,” he informed reporters.
Phumtham was out of presidency from 2006 till mid-2023.
The US provided to resettle the 48 Uyghurs, an official from the US state division stated.
“America has labored with Thailand for years to keep away from this case, together with by constantly and repeatedly providing to resettle the Uyghurs in different nations, together with, at one level, the US,” the US official stated, asking to not be named.
Canada additionally provided asylum to the detained Uyghurs, stated 4 sources, together with diplomats and other people with direct information.
Two of those sources stated one other supply got here from Australia.
These proposals, which the sources stated weren’t taken ahead by Thailand over fears of a falling-out with China, haven’t been beforehand reported.
All of the sources declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Thailand’s international ministry didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
China’s international ministry stated that the repatriation was carried out in accordance with Chinese language, Thai and worldwide legislation.
“The repatriated had been Chinese language nationals who’re unlawful migrants,” it stated. “The authentic rights of the related individuals are totally protected.”
A spokesperson for Canada’s immigration ministry stated they’d not touch upon particular person circumstances.
The Australian Division of International Affairs and Commerce referred to a press release by the international minister, Penny Wong, who stated on Friday the nation “strongly disagrees” with Thailand’s resolution.
Apart from the 40 Uyghurs deported final week, 5 are presently in a Thai jail as a result of a seamless felony case, in keeping with native officers. Reuters couldn’t instantly affirm the whereabouts of the opposite three folks.
Pisan Manawapat, a Thai ambassador to Canada and the US between 2013 and 2017 and a senator earlier than he retired in 2024, stated that at the least three nations had approached Thailand with proposals to resettle the Uyghurs, however declined to call them.
“We didn’t wish to upset China,” Pisan stated, with out offering additional particulars. “So we didn’t make the choice on the political degree to undergo with this.”
China is Thailand’s largest commerce accomplice and the 2 nations have shut enterprise ties.
Phumtham stated Thailand made the choice to deport the group to China final week after reassurances from Beijing that Thai officers could be enable to watch the Uyghurs’ wellbeing within the nation following their return.
UN human rights specialists had stated the group could be prone to torture, ill-treatment and “irreparable hurt” if returned to China, and their deportation has drawn widespread condemnation.
Following the deportation, the UN’s refugee company stated in a press release that it was repeatedly denied entry to the group by Thai authorities.
A supply stated the UN refugee company’s lack of entry to the Uyghurs meant they may not be processed as asylum seekers, stalling their potential resettlement and leaving them caught in detention.
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