Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai,claims that 40 Uyghurs, held in custody in Thailand for over a decade, went back to China on their own free will and the Chinese government has given an assurance that they will be taken good care of and provided with jobs.
He insisted that the repatriations were in accordance with international practice and the Thai law, specifically the prevention and suppression of offences as they pertain to the Enforced Disappearance Act.
He said that Thailand did not want to keep the Uyghurs in detention any longer, following an official request from China for their repatriation and an assurance that they will be safe, because the offences they committed were not serious.
After their return to China, Phumtham said that the Thai government will keep track of their living conditions, to ensure that they are safe and treated fairly, adding that Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong will travel to Xinjiang to see that they are safe.
About a decade ago, Thailand sent 109 Uyghurs, mostly women, children and the elderly, to Turkey, said the defence minister, adding that the government has approached third party countries about accepting the remaining Uyghurs, but to no avail.
Asked whether the repatriations will tarnish the image of Thailand and affect its ranking, vis-à-vis human trafficking, Phumtham said that the truth will speak for itself.
Justice Minister Tawee, meanwhile, said that there are still five Uyghurs detained in Thailand, serving 7-year terms of imprisonment for attempting to break out of the detention centre at the Immigration Bureau, adding that they are due to be released in 2029.
Pol Maj-Gen Thanit Thaiwatcharamas, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, said they had received instructions from the National Security Council to repatriate 40 Uyghurs to China.
He said that he spoke with them about their repatriation and the assurances offered by the Chinese government, claiming that some of them were reluctant but initially but, after being reassured of their safety, they all agreed to go.
