Thailand prepares to deport two Uyghur men to China

Two Uyghur men in Thai immigration detention face imminent deportation to China, a move human rights groups say follows a pattern of forced removals driven by diplomatic pressure from Beijing. The men, who are currently in an immigration detention center, told rights groups they fear becoming the latest targets of China's crackdown on the largely Muslim ethnic minority. One man, whose name is withheld for security reasons, wrote to his girlfriend in July that he would be 'like a slave' if sent back to China.

The pair had been serving a seven-year prison sentence for offenses related to an attempted escape from immigration detention in January 2020. They were originally apprehended by Thai police in 2014 near the border with Malaysia as part of a group of more than 200 Uyghurs fleeing China. Since that initial arrest, Thai authorities have released women and children to Turkey while deporting men to China in separate batches.

Last year, Thai authorities forcibly deported 40 Uyghur men to China despite pleas from the men and the United Nations. Although the United States and Canada reportedly offered to resettle the group, Bangkok appeared to prioritize avoiding friction with Beijing. The UN has stated that the whereabouts of those returnees remain unknown. Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, noted that previous Thai governments kept Uyghurs in inhumane detention for years before complying with Beijing's demands.

The two men pleaded their case to Thailand's office of the National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday. They are among five Uyghur men still in the Thai system, with three others remaining in prison. Chaipruak Doungprapat, chief of Thailand's national security council, told reporters that the men have outstanding arrest warrants in China. He stated that the cooperation between the two countries in combating cross-border criminal activities is consistent with international law.

Kasem, the girlfriend of one of the men, questioned the timing of the legal actions. She asked why China did not issue an Interpol red notice when the men were first detained in 2014, noting that one was a minor at the time. She believes Thai authorities are establishing a stronger legal basis for the deportation after facing criticism for last year's mass removal.

A spokesperson for China's foreign affairs ministry said the bilateral cooperation on smuggling and criminal activities aligns with the laws of both nations. Thailand's foreign affairs ministry declined to comment. The men remain in detention as Thai officials finalize the deportation process.

The UN has condemned the treatment of Uyghurs as a potential crime against humanity, citing decades of discriminatory policies in the Xinjiang region. Beijing has defended its actions as efforts for poverty alleviation and counter-terrorism. Relatives of Uyghurs have suggested that Chinese authorities prefer deportation to prevent the minority group from settling in large numbers in safe countries.