Thailand: The forgotten tragedy of 50 Uighur refugees
In Thailand, some 50 Uighurs who escaped the oppressive Chinese government have been languishing in detention centers for over a decade, in flagrant disregard of international law, reports by several NGOs.
“I beg you to free my father so we can finally be reunited as a family,” pleads a young Uighur, his voice choked with emotion. For security reasons, this son—now living in exile in Turkey for several years—has not seen his father since he was detained in March 2014 in a Thai detention center, along with about 50 other Uighurs who fled China's Xinjiang province.
Arrested a decade ago for illegal entry into Thailand after escaping persecution by the Chinese regime, their freedom remains elusive.
Freedom appears distant
"As the years go by, the likelihood of his release seems to diminish," he continues, in a message directed at the government and delivered in early March in Bangkok at a conference organized by the local NGO The Fort, which supports these Uighurs. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has identified 350 Uighurs detained by Thai authorities since 2014. While 172 women and children were resettled in Turkey in July 2015, 109 men were deported back to China under pressure from Beijing. "They were never seen again," says Phil Robertson from HRW.
Today, the 50 Uighurs remain in detention indefinitely. If deported to China, "it is clear they would face torture," says Robertson. Their prolonged imprisonment, as refugees in transit, violates international human rights standards. According to HRW, Thailand is caught between the United States and China, opting not to take a stand and thereby keeping the 50 Uighurs in appalling conditions.
Uighurs mistreated
Thai immigration services have repeatedly denied requests from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to assist these Uighurs, who are also deprived of legal representation and contact with their families. "This policy is deliberately designed to isolate them," says Robertson.
"This policy is deliberately designed to isolate them."
Overcrowded and understaffed detention centers are also a concern, points out Thailand's National Human Rights Commission. As one of the few institutions able to visit these facilities, it urges authorities to "urgently find suitable third countries" for these asylum seekers, stated an adviser during the conference.
Five Uighurs have died since 2014
In the meantime, at least five Uighurs have died in Thai custody since 2014, with two deaths last year. "The latest reports indicate seven or eight are seriously ill," Abdullah Sami, a Uighur living in Europe in contact with some detainees, told La Croix. They wonder if they'll die there. Fear of being returned to China looms large, as they know Beijing is relentless. "China sends tracked letters to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs every day," claims Chalida Tajaroensuk, director of a Thai NGO supporting Uighur refugees.
According to Puttanee Kangkun, a migration issues expert, "refugee protection in Thailand is generally weak. But for Uighurs, it's even worse because they are not even recognized as such by the authorities," she notes. "Some criminals spend less time in prison," observes The Fort director, urging the Thai government to show "courage and respect for its sovereignty."