Bangkok: A Thai minister said on Thursday ( Mar 6 ) that Thailand’s deportation of 40 Uyghurs to China last week was in the country’s best interest because there was the possibility of retaliation if the group was sent elsewhere.
The mysterious deportation, which was carried out in response to calls from UN human rights experts who claimed the Uyghurs would face torture, ill-treatment, and “irreparable harm” if they were returned to China, has been constantly defended by Thailand’s government.
Human rights organizations accuse China of carrying out frequent abuses of the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority of about 10 million in its Xinjiang place, a region that is bordered by China. Beijing denies any crimes.
Russ Jalichandra, Thailand’s vice chancellor for foreign affairs, said in a speech on Thursday that some nations had offered to absorb the Uyghurs, backtracking earlier assertions that no such propositions had been made.
He did not give the nations ‘ names. Among the nations that offered to relocate the Uyghurs were the United States, Canada, and Australia, but Bangkok refused to do so because it feared upsetting China, according to a report released on Wednesday.
Resettling the Tamils do not protect Thailand from a possible fallout with China, Russ said, so the presents from second places were “unrealistic.”
He said that sending the team to China was the “best opportunity” and that” Thailand may face retaliation from China that would have an impact on the lives of many Thais.”
Russ did never provide more details about the potential retribution.