Uyghur migrants remain detainees in Bangkok cells after a decade

More than 40 Uyghurs who fled China are detained in overcrowded detention centers in Thailand, with uncertain fate, RFA reported.

The detainees are among over 500 Uyghurs who escaped China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to Southeast Asian countries, hoping to be resettled in Turkey via Malaysia.

Thai immigration authorities arrested at least 475 Uyghurs in 2014, detaining them in poor living conditions. At least five Uyghurs died in detention, according to the Germany-based World Uyghur Congress.

An advisor to Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission warned that the Uyghurs could be in danger if repatriated to China and urged for urgent action to find them suitable third countries for resettlement.

The civilian-led government in Thailand has been urged to expedite the screening of aliens who cannot be returned to their country of origin due to potential danger, in order to provide protection to asylum seekers, including Uyghurs.