XINJIANG – A delegation of Thai ministers visited repatriated Uyghur individuals in China’s Xinjiang region, hearing firsthand accounts of improved living conditions and reintegration into society, a Thai government spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong traveled to Kashgar, Xinjiang, where they met with local officials and visited the homes of Uighurs who had been returned from Thailand in February.
During the visits, the ministers heard from Uyghurs who expressed gratitude for the Chinese government’s support, citing improved living conditions, access to healthcare, and freedom of religious practice.
One Uyghur man, who had been detained in Thailand over a decade, told the delegation that he felt “100% more free” since his return and was enjoying daily meals prepared by his mother.
“Before, I was stressed, but now I feel relaxed,” he said, adding that the government had provided him with health checkups, a new national identity card, and social security benefits. “My life is returning to normal.”
The Thai ministers also held video calls with other repatriated Uighurs, including one who had returned a decade ago and reported living a normal life with a family and livestock.
The visits come after Thailand repatriated 40 Uighurs to China in February, a move that drew criticism from human rights groups. The Thai government has maintained that the repatriation was conducted in accordance with international law and that the Uyghurs would be treated humanely upon their return.
During their visit, the Thai delegation also met with senior Chinese officials, who assured them that all repatriated Uyghurs were being well-cared for and that their human rights were being protected.
The delegation is scheduled to visit a school and additional Uighur communities in Xinjiang before returning to Thailand on Thursday. (TNA)
