An opposition Member of Parliament (MP) in Thailand has contested the government’s assertion that the 40 Uyghur individuals deported on Thursday voluntarily returned to China. Kannavee Suebsang, the only MP from the Fair Party, rejected the government’s claims, arguing that it is unlikely those who had escaped persecution in China would willingly go back.
During a press briefing, Kannavee produced three letters that, according to him, were written by the detained Uyghurs. These letters, he argued, demonstrate that the deportees did not wish to return to China. The first letter, he said, was jointly signed by 48 Uyghurs held in a Bangkok detention center. In the letter, they appealed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), seeking asylum status.
Despite the appeal, 40 of the individuals mentioned in the letter were repatriated to China early on Thursday, following an agreement between the Thai and Chinese governments. According to Kannavee, the letter clearly conveyed their fear of returning, stating that they feared for their safety, claiming that they would be harmed or even killed if sent back to China. The letter, he claimed, was never delivered to the UNHCR.
The second letter was addressed to Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, detailing the plight of Uyghurs who had been detained in Thailand for over a decade. Some of them had died or fallen ill due to the harsh conditions of their confinement. In the letter, they asked for her help in securing a safe place to live, where they could rebuild their lives with their families. The letter also made a personal appeal, asking Shinawatra to understand their suffering as a mother and a daughter, and to extend the same compassion shown to her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, during his return to Thailand and reunion with his family.
The third letter, written earlier this year, featured the urgent plea, “Please don’t send us back to China,” with the word “SOS” written at the top. According to Kannavee, these letters strongly contradict the Thai government’s assertions that the Uyghurs willingly returned to China.
Kannavee stated that the government’s claims were not credible and insisted that the deported individuals should be allowed to speak for themselves. He also expressed doubt about the government’s promise to monitor the conditions of the Uyghurs who were sent back to China.
The Thai government has yet to respond to the allegations raised by the opposition MP.
