The United States has worked with Thailand to avoid the deportation of Uyghurs to China, including repeatedly offering to resettle them in other countries, according to a US State Department spokesperson.
They said “We have worked with Thailand for years to avoid this situation, including by consistently and repeatedly offering to resettle the Uyghurs in other countries, including, at times, the United States."
The spokesperson was referring to last week's controversial repatriation of 40 Uyghurs who had been detained in Thailand for 11 years.
Many countries, including the US, and international rights groups have deplored the decision, saying the returnees could face oppression, assault and even death in China.
The Thai government has repeatedly claimed that the Uyghurs volunteered to go back to Xinjiang, their home province, and that their safety was guaranteed by the Chinese government. The Thai Foreign Ministry even went so far as to claim that there were no serious offers from a third country in which the Uyghurs could resettle.
Russ Jalichandra, Thailand's vice minister for foreign affairs, has described the offers from third countries as "unrealistic," adding "Thailand could face retaliation from China that would impact the livelihoods of many Thais" and that sending the group to China was the best option.
The 40 Uyghurs, who had been in Thai custody since fleeing state repression of their minority group in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region, were whisked away from a Bangkok detention center under cover of darkness last week.
China has denied all the allegations, saying its policies in Xinjiang aim only to promote economic and social development in the region and stamp out radicalism. It also rejects criticism of what it considers an internal affair.
