Members unicorn Posted January 12 Members Posted January 12 I was reading in the papers that Thailand is not only refusing to grant asylum to Chinese Uyghurs, but is preparing them to send them back to China, where they almost certainly will face death or worse at the hands of the Chinese. I know that there are quite a few readers who now live in Thailand, so I'm wondering if someone closer to the issue knows why the Thai government is behaving like this. Are they that afraid of the Chinese? I wonder if the Uyghurs would have fared better in Vietnam. My husband and I remembered from our trip to Vietnam that the Vietnamese recounted their bravery "We beat the French, we beat the Americans, we beat the Chinese. We're not afraid of anyone." If the Thai government is that afraid of the Chinese, couldn't they at least send the Uyghurs to a country which isn't that afraid of them? https://apnews.com/article/uyghur-china-deportation-thailand-xinjiang-human-rights-d6f813654cf40ce464bc19203a226de0 "A group of Uyghur men who were detained in Thailand over a decade ago say that the Thai government is preparing to deport them to China, alarming activists and family members who say the men are at risk of abuse and torture if they are sent back. In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, 43 Uyghur men held in Bangkok made a public appeal to halt what they called an imminent threat of deportation... Advocates and relatives describe harsh conditions in immigration detention. They say the men are fed poorly, kept in overcrowded concrete cells with few toilets, denied sanitary goods like toothbrushes or razors, and are forbidden contact with relatives, lawyers, and international organizations. The Thai government’s treatment of the detainees may constitute a violation of international law, according to a February 2024 letter sent to the Thai government by United Nations human rights experts... all of the Uyghurs detained in Thailand submitted asylum applications to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which the AP verified by reviewing copies of the letters. The U.N. agency acknowledged receipt of the applications but has been barred from visiting the Uyghurs by the Thai government to this day, the people said... an April 2023 letter authored by the chairwoman of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand first leaked to the New York Times Magazine and independently seen by the AP said there are “countries that are ready to take these detainees to settle down.”... " Quote
vinapu Posted January 12 Posted January 12 I'd say Thai government behavior is ass kissing on state level unicorn 1 Quote
reader Posted January 13 Posted January 13 And if you're wondering what's prompting a political kiss like the one above, consider China's sword of Damocles that hangs over nations that oppose its interests. And no one probably knows better than out-going FBI Dir. Christopher Wray. Last night he went on the record in a no holds barred interview on 60 Minutes and described the cyber threat China poses in the most candid and revealing interview ever by someone in his position. He also acknowledges why he got on the wrong side of both Trump and Biden. Quote
Members unicorn Posted January 14 Author Members Posted January 14 13 hours ago, reader said: And if you're wondering what's prompting a political kiss like the one above, consider China's sword of Damocles that hangs over nations that oppose its interests.. Quote
Members unicorn Posted January 14 Author Members Posted January 14 Just now, unicorn said: 13 hours ago, reader said: And if you're wondering what's prompting a political kiss like the one above, consider China's sword of Damocles that hangs over nations that oppose its interests.. Do you think that China threatened to wreak havoc on its internet or other infrastructure if it didn't send the Uyghurs back? These people probably have little strategic interest to the Chinese, so it would all be for show. Do you think China would take hostile action if these people were allowed to settle in a third country? vinapu 1 Quote
reader Posted January 14 Posted January 14 China got what it wanted from Thailand: the returns of the Uyghurs. You'll have to ask the prime minister why she decided to acquiesce. That's above my pay grade. Quote
Keithambrose Posted January 14 Posted January 14 6 hours ago, unicorn said: Do you think that China threatened to wreak havoc on its internet or other infrastructure if it didn't send the Uyghurs back? These people probably have little strategic interest to the Chinese, so it would all be for show. Do you think China would take hostile action if these people were allowed to settle in a third country? China is very sensitive to any discussion about the Uyghurs, since they deny any issues, so I suspect that they would take an interest. Although it may be a minor issue, the Chinese are known for their attention to detail! reader 1 Quote
