Thai Delegation Visits Xinjiang to Meet Deportee Uyghurs Amidst Criticism
Thai cabinet ministers are visiting Xinjiang, China, to meet Uyghurs deported last month, amidst criticisms of the deportation. Only five out of forty deported will be available for the meeting. The Thai government defends its actions as necessary for maintaining relations with China, despite calls from Western nations and human rights groups condemning the deportation.
A Thai delegation consisting of cabinet ministers and military officials is currently traveling to the Xinjiang region of China. Their purpose is to meet with a limited number of Uyghurs who were deported last month. The Thai government has confirmed that only five of the forty deported individuals will be available for this meeting.
On February 27, Thailand carried out a covert pre-dawn deportation of the forty Uyghurs, disregarding warnings from United Nations human rights experts regarding the risk of torture and ill-treatment they could face upon return. This action has drawn significant criticism from Western nations, including the United States, which has imposed visa sanctions on unnamed Thai officials involved in the deportation.
Rights organizations allege that Beijing is responsible for numerous human rights violations against the Uyghurs, an ethnic minority primarily Muslim, numbering approximately 10 million in Xinjiang. The Chinese government, however, refutes these accusations and claims that Western countries are spreading falsehoods under the guise of human rights advocacy.
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechachai, who is also the Defense Minister, will lead the delegation, alongside Justice Minister Taweee Sodswong and nine representatives from Thai media. As stated by government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub, they will receive a briefing from a Xinjiang representative before visiting the Uyghurs, returning to Thailand on Thursday.
The Thai government maintains that it obtained assurances from China regarding the welfare of the deported Uyghurs. The delegation has expressed expectations of meeting five individuals from the recent deportation and one additional individual who was sent back years earlier as part of a larger group.
Mr. Jirayu emphasized that the Thai government aims to demonstrate the transparency of their actions and clarify that there was no hidden agenda involved in the deportation. Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has described the visit as “part of normal friendly exchanges between China and Thailand.”
Reportedly, Canada and the United States have expressed willingness to resettle theUyghurs returned to China, but Thailand is apprehensive of offending Beijing. The Thai government argued that the deportation was in its best interest, suggesting that any alternative could provoke retaliation from China.
In conclusion, the Thai delegation’s visit to Xinjiang underscores the complex diplomatic relations between Thailand and China, particularly regarding human rights issues involving the Uyghurs. Thailand’s actions have drawn significant international scrutiny, highlighting the challenges of balancing domestic interests with global human rights advocacy. The government’s emphasis on transparency and assurances from China suggests ongoing efforts to navigate these sensitive negotiations amid international pressures.
Original Source: www.bangkokpost.com
