BANGKOK, Thailand – Prime Minister Phatongtarn Shinawatra, on February 28, held a press conference for the first time after the Thai authorities sent back 40 Uyghur refugees the day before. The Prime Minister explained that the Uyghurs had illegally entered Thailand and had been detained in prison for 11 years. She reassured that no third countries had requested to take them in, and the Thai government acted in compliance with international laws and human rights principles. She emphasized that the refugees’ return to China was voluntary and that they would not face prosecution, with assurances of their safety from the Chinese government.
Prime Minister Phatongtarn mentioned that discussions had been held with Chinese authorities, and a commitment had been made that the Uyghurs would be safely reunited with their families without facing criminal charges. The Thai government, she said, had confirmed the safety of the refugees before proceeding with their return.
She made it clear that there were no trade deals tied to the repatriation, stressing that the matter was not related to commerce, and that people were not treated as commodities. She explained that the refugees’ safe return was a top priority for Thailand, with the government keen on ensuring their well-being.
The Prime Minister also confirmed that no third-party country had requested to take the refugees, and that China had provided evidence of their Chinese nationality. The Thai government followed standard procedures for such repatriations, and the Prime Minister assured the public that the process had been carefully monitored to guarantee the refugees’ safety.
The issue had been kept confidential at first for security reasons, with the Prime Minister reiterating that everything was done with utmost respect for the refugees’ human rights. She concluded that if she had not been certain of their safety, the repatriation would not have occurred.
