Rights Groups Urge Thailand to Halt Chinese Refugee Deportation
Human rights groups urged Thailand to halt the deportation of three Chinese refugees with UNHCR status, citing risks of torture and execution if returned to China or Hong Kong. Thailand's legal framework prohibits such deportations, and law
Human rights networks submitted a letter to Thailand's Legal Affairs Committee on July 23, requesting that the government halt plans to deport three Chinese refugees who have already received UNHCR status cards. Puthanee Kangkan, director of Fortify Rights, expressed concern that the Thai government may push the three individuals back to China or Hong Kong, where they face risks of execution or continued detention. Under Thailand's Anti-Torture and Enforced Disappearance Prevention Act, the country is legally prohibited from returning individuals to countries where they may face torture, cruel treatment, or inhumane punishment.
The principle of non-refoulement is a fundamental international law protection that all countries must uphold, and Thailand is a signatory to multiple international human rights treaties that protect refugee status. Thai authorities should urgently release the three from immigration detention and permit them to resettle in a third country. Committee chairman Rangsiman Rome acknowledged the concern, noting that if the facts prove valid, such action would contradict Thailand's domestic law. He stated the committee will investigate the matter and question all relevant parties before proceeding further.
