Uyghur Refugees in Thailand Face Deportation Threat: WUC Warns
The World Uyghur Congress highlights risks to refugees in Thailand and China's global surveillance network in its latest weekly brief.
The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has sounded an alarm over the precarious situation of Uyghur refugees in Thailand, warning that they face the imminent threat of forced repatriation to China. In its latest weekly brief, the organization detailed a series of concerning developments involving human rights violations, international diplomatic pressure, and the suppression of pro-democracy voices in Hong Kong.
Crisis in Thailand: Two Refugees at Risk
Central to the WUC's concerns is the plight of two Uyghur refugees who have been detained in Thailand since 2014. On October 21, these individuals were transferred from prison to immigration detention. Despite their explicit statements that they do not consent to being returned to China, reports indicate that their legal representatives have been denied access to them since the transfer.
On October 31, a coalition including the Migrant Working Group (MWG), the Thailand Migration Reform Consortium (TMR), and the Coalition for the Rights of Refugees and Stateless Persons (CRSP) issued a joint plea. They urged the Thai government to avoid forced returns and instead facilitate the resettlement of these individuals in a third country.
The WUC has condemned the possibility of deportation, stating that such an action would violate Thailand's international legal obligations and make the government complicit in the ongoing persecution of the Uyghur people.
Shadows of Past Violations
The brief highlighted a worrying meeting on October 27 between the Chinese ambassador to Thailand and the Secretary-General of Thailand's National Security Council (NSC). This is particularly concerning because the NSC official was reportedly involved in the 2015 deportation of 40 Uyghur refugees to China—a move that Thailand's own National Human Rights Commission later ruled as a human rights violation.
Rights organizations are now calling on the Royal Thai Government to adhere to the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning refugees to a country where they face threats to their life or freedom.
International Pushback: Catalonia Takes a Stand
While the situation in Thailand remains tense, the WUC welcomed a significant diplomatic victory in Europe. On October 29, the Parliament of Catalonia adopted a resolution condemning the systematic persecution of Uyghurs by China.
The resolution acknowledges the harrowing scale of the crisis, noting that over one million Uyghurs have suffered through:
- Mass imprisonment
- Forced labour
- The systematic destruction of religious and cultural heritage
Beyond condemnation, the resolution urges European Union member states to take diplomatic action and calls on Catalan companies to scrub their supply chains of any links to forced labour. WUC President Turgunjan Alawun emphasized that international solidarity must evolve into concrete actions to protect those fleeing persecution and ensure accountability.
Crackdown in Hong Kong and Global Surveillance
The WUC brief also shifted its focus to the continued erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong, specifically the case of pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong. On November 5, Wong was sentenced to 10 years in prison following a second national security conviction.
Wong, who began his activism as a teenager and entered prison at 23, was already serving a sentence and was expected to be released in January. He has been accused of conspiring with foreign powers and running anti-government social media campaigns, allegations stemming from lobbying activities conducted after the 2020 National Security Law was imposed.
Finally, the WUC raised alarms regarding revelations of a global surveillance network allegedly operated by China. This network is reportedly designed to target and monitor individuals who speak out on ethnic issues, extending the reach of repression far beyond China's borders.