Human Rights Watch (HRW) is urging the government to ensure the safety of 63 recently-detained Christian asylum seekers from China, fearing they may face persecution and torture if they are deported to their homeland.
HRW said authorities on March 30 arrested members of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church, including 28 adults and 35 children, in Pattaya for allegedly overstaying their visas.
These asylum seekers came to Thailand last year to escape persecution by Chinese authorities.
“They cannot get their visas renewed because immigration regulations require Chinese nationals to first report to their embassy, it added.
“In China under President Xi Jinping, leaders and members of ‘house churches’ that refuse to join official churches face ha- rassment, arbitrary arrests, and imprisonment,” Elaine Pearson, Asia director at HRW, said. “Thai authorities need to recognise the grave dangers facing Christians back in China and must under no circumstances force them to return.”
The group also called on the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to assess the group’s refugee status and “help ensure no one is deported to a place where their lives or freedom are threatened”.
“If Thailand determines that the 63 Christian Chinese cannot stay, then they should be permitted to seek protection in another country,” Ms Pearson said. “Rights-respecting governments should urgently step up to express their willingness to receive these asylum seekers at risk.”
Meanwhile, a source at the Immigration Bureau said immigration police in Pattaya had arrested the 63 Chinese nationals on visa overstay charges, but no other offences were committed.
“The government is taking care of them well under humanitarian assistance guidelines. Human rights organisations should not worry about this matter. They will be treated under the rule of law,” he told the Bangkok Post. He added all will be tried in court.
Thailand has in the past repatriated Chinese nationals wanted by China, though their fate after trial is unknown.