PUBLISHED: 29 Apr 2025 at 05 :57
The Women’s Empowerment Foundation has expressed major concerns over the situation of seven Uyghur people who are currently in prison in Thailand.
Chalida Tajaroensuk, chairman of the legal community party, told the Bangkok Post on Monday that the seven had been divided into two groups.
The second party, consisting of five Tamils, was arrested for reportedly escaping a detention center in Mukdahan in 2020, she said.
The five are then serving six-year prison term in the Klongprem Central Prison in Bangkok, she said.
Ms Chalida said she visited them in prison shortly before the new Songkran trip to check up on their well-being.
” They also insist that they do not want to be deported back to China,” noting that she was told they have lawyers to defend their case.
Asked about the potential of a settlement offer in a third state for these five Uyghurs, Ms Chalida said that her team has been speeding up efforts to call several embassies before they are deported by the government in Thailand.
These five Uyghurs have just one month left in prison before they are deported to China, Ms Chalida said.
” Some offices have now contacted us,” she said. ” They have asked for information about these five Tamils so a settlement statement can be sent up to their individual foreign affairs ministers for consideration. “
Mr Chalida added that she is scheduled to visit these five Uyghurs once at the beginning of next fortnight to inquire about their lives and what kind of assistance and support they may have from her working class.
Meanwhile, she said the second group consists of two Uyghurs imprisoned atBangkok Remand Prisonwhile pending trial over their alleged involvement in the Erawan Shrine bombing in 2015. Their next hearing is scheduled to be held next month, she said.
She said that she was informed that courts overseeing the bombing circumstance would like to wrap it up this season, but the defendants prefer the case be opened as they do not want to be deported to China.
As of now, no official in Thailand has contacted her class to ask for more details for their settlement in a second land, as the two are suspected to be involved in a terrorist strike, Ms Chalida said.
” They said that staying in a Thai incarceration is much better than staying in China,” Ms Chalida said. ” They would like [the consideration of this ] event to be extended. “
Kannavee Suebsang, a Fair List Party list-MP, told the Bangkok Post on Monday that he is carefully watching the event of the five Tamils detained in Klongprem Central Prison.
Mr Kannavee said if they want to be resettled in a second country, he is ready to function with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to help them.
Mr Kannavee, but, refused to comment on the Tamils who were arrested over the Erawan Shrine bombing, as this event is still being deliberated in court.
Out of 43 Tamils who had been detained at Suan Phlu Immigration Centre in Bangkok, 40 were deported to China. The next three held visas issued by Kyrgyzstan and were resettled in Canada.
Chalida: In touch with diplomats
Kannavee: Ready to work with UN