A Thai delegation is visiting Xinjiang, China, to meet with Uyghurs deported last month. Only five of the deported individuals will be available for the meeting, amid international criticism and sanctions against Thailand for the secretive deportation. The Thai government contends it received guarantees regarding the safety of the Uyghurs, while concerns about international relations with China influence its actions.
A delegation from Thailand, including cabinet ministers and military officials, is traveling to Xinjiang, China, to meet with some Uyghurs who were deported last month. Despite deporting 40 Uyghurs on February 27, only five will be available for the meeting. This secretive deportation has drawn international criticism, including sanctions from the United States and condemnation from the European Parliament for risking the deportees’ safety.
The Thai government has consistently argued that it received assurances from China regarding the well-being of the deported Uyghurs. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechachai has indicated that the delegation will only interact with five of the 40 Uyghurs returned, along with one from a prior transfer a decade ago. All these individuals belong to a group that fled China and faced arrests in Thailand in 2014.
Mr. Jirayu Houngsub, a government spokesperson, emphasized that the visit aims to demonstrate Thailand’s honesty in dealing with the matter and to deny any implication of a concealed agenda in the deportation of refugees. The Chinese foreign ministry has described this visit as part of regular friendly exchanges between the two nations.
Additionally, there are reports that Canada and the United States have expressed a willingness to resettle the Uyghurs, a proposition that Thailand appears to reject out of concern for its relationship with China. The Thai Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Russ Jalichandra, noted that proceeding with the deportation was fundamentally about protecting Thailand’s national interests against potential repercussions from Beijing.
In summary, the Thai delegation’s visit to Xinjiang underscores the complexities surrounding the deportation of the Uyghur population. While Thailand attempts to assure the international community of its integrity, the ongoing scrutiny from global entities regarding human rights remains critical. The interaction with the Uyghurs may influence future diplomatic relations and indicate Thailand’s stance amidst foreign pressures and allegations of human rights violations.
Original Source: www.bangkokpost.com
