Thai team to check on Uighurs

But NSC Secretary-General Anusit Kunakorn said the trip still needs to be approved by Deputy PM and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan.

“I will travel to China myself. No exact date has been scheduled, but next week is best. The sooner, the better,” he said during a press conference at Government House.

Anusit said the inspection trip would not include representatives from international organisations, but he expected them to travel to China later. 

He said the Chinese government had promised that the Uighur were being taken care, as per international principles on human rights. 

Thailand’s deportation of illegal Uighur migrants back to China stemmed from what a government source called a “gentleman’s agreement” between Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. The two leaders discussed the matter during Li’s visit to Thailand last December, the source said.

China wanted all Uighur people from its Xinjiang region to be repatriated, but Thailand agreed to only send back those found to have Chinese nationality, the source said. 

“Thailand has asked China for understanding in regard to criticism from the international community if all Uighur migrants are repatriated to China,” the source said. 

The source said China was unhappy that Thailand deported 172 Uighur migrants to Turkey late last month.

China is ready to allow Thailand and international organisations to check the safety and treatment it is providing to Uighurs repatriated from Thailand, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.

Beijing has guaranteed that it would take good care of their safety and would examine carefully whether any of the Uighurs had committed any wrongdoing, he said.

“If they did nothing wrong, they will be freed. The Chinese will allow representatives from our National Security Council and international organisations to examine the treatment,” Prayut told reporters.

“That is what they [Chinese] have announced. Do you want anything more? Look at their law, and they said they would follow their justice procedures. They are not an uncivilised nation,” he said.

The pre-dawn repatriation of 109 Uighurs to China on Thursday alarmed the international community, as the Thai government’s action was deemed to go against the international principle of non-refoulement (forced return of a person to a persecuting state).

In a strong statement, US Department of State spokesperson John Kirby said the United States condemned Thailand’s forced deportation of over 100 ethnic Uighurs to China, where they could face harsh treatment and a lack of due process.

“We’ve expressed our grave disappointment to Thailand. And we urge Thai authorities as well as authorities in other countries where Uighurs have taken refuge not to carry out any further forcible deportations. We also urge Chinese authorities to uphold international human rights norms with regard to these individuals who have been returned to China and to ensure transparency, due process, and the safety and proper treatment of these individuals,” he said.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry expressed regret about the forced repatriation. “We deplore this act of the government of Thailand, which is in contravention also of international humanitarian law, carried out in spite of our numerous initiatives before Thailand and related international institutions,” it said in a statement.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch urged the Thai government to stop sending any more people of Turkic ethnicity to China, where they face persecution.

Some 300 Uighurs have entered Thailand since March last year. The Thai Foreign Ministry said 172 had been sent to Turkey as per their wishes, but 109 were repatriated to China as requested by Beijing in connection with illegal migration and other unclear charges. Some 60 others still face deportation.

“Thailand has cravenly caved in to pressure from Beijing and robbed these people of their only protection,” said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch.

Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a press briefing on Thursday that “China’s policies on illegal emigrants are clear and consistent. 

“Those charged with serious criminal offences will be brought to justice, while those not charged with criminal offences or only with minor offences will be properly settled.”

Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said the government had conducted the repatriation carefully in accordance with international obligations and humanitarian principles.

Deputy government spokesman Maj-General Werachon Sukondhapatipak said the countries concerned, notably Turkey, should express their gratitude to the Thai government for sending Uighurs to the country earlier, instead of criticising.

“We have tried to create a better understanding with Turkey on the issue and they should understand our situation too,” he said, and revealed that the Foreign Ministry had been tasked with seeking the understanding of the international community.

A furious premier Prayut said no country should protest or condemn his government on the matter, as Thailand is not protesting against any country.

“We comply with all international laws but we also have our own laws to follow. Look at what they did with the Chinese Embassy and our consulate office,” he said, “Let me ask whether illegal entry into the Kingdom is lawful?

“What we have to consider is whether they violated the laws and where they came from?” he said. “Thailand cannot take these burdens anymore. How many years have we taken care of these kinds of people and their offspring?” he said.

The repatriation of Uighurs to China prompted anger from the Turkic community in Turkey and Europe, some of who attacked the Thai Honorary Consulate in Istanbul on Wednesday night.

The Metropolitan Police has inspected areas near the Chinese Embassy and Turkish Embassy in Bangkok and found the situation normal but intends to maintain close surveillance in the areas, according to Police Maj-General Kokiart Wongsumeth, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 2.