Thailand’s potential repatriation of Uyghurs to China would constitute a significant breach of human rights, Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit has warned. Angkhana, who chairs the Senate Committee on Human Rights and Freedom, emphasized the risks Uyghur detainees face, including torture and arbitrary detention, if returned to China.
The senator disclosed that earlier this month, her committee submitted a formal request to visit the detained Uyghurs, currently held in Thai immigration detention facilities. However, a satisfactory response from the Immigration Police Bureau has yet to materialize. Although the bureau invited the committee to its Chaeng Wattana headquarters, Angkhana clarified that the detainees are housed elsewhere. “We will send the request again. We truly wish to visit the Uyghur detainees,” she stated.
Angkhana, a former National Human Rights Commissioner, recently met with Chalida Tajaroensuk, founder of the People’s Empowerment Foundation, to address concerns over the plight of 48 Uyghurs believed to be at risk of forced repatriation. Reports indicate the detainees have been asked to complete repatriation forms, though specifics on their destination and timeline remain uncertain.
The Uyghur detainees have been in Thai custody since 2014 under conditions described by human rights organizations as inhumane and degrading. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Thailand to halt any plans for forced repatriation and to allow the detainees access to refugee status determination processes. The organization highlighted the detainees’ fears of persecution, citing a January 10 letter in which they expressed concerns about imprisonment or execution if returned to China. Many of the detainees have initiated a hunger strike, appealing for international support.
The issue has also gained traction internationally. During a U.S. Senate confirmation hearing, Senator Marco Rubio pledged to urge Thailand against deporting the Uyghurs. Rubio, a vocal critic of China’s treatment of Uyghurs, described their persecution in Xinjiang as “one of the most horrifying things that has ever happened,” accusing Chinese authorities of forcing Uyghurs into camps and subjecting them to slave labor.
The detainees’ case underscores growing global scrutiny of Thailand’s immigration policies and its handling of vulnerable asylum seekers. International observers, including human rights groups and foreign governments, continue to monitor developments closely.
Angkhana’s committee, along with other advocacy groups, remains committed to ensuring that Thailand upholds its obligations under international human rights law.
