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Friday, March 14, 2025

US Sanctions Thai Officials for Deporting Uyghurs to China

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The coverage will apply to present and former overseas officers for deporting Uyghurs or members of different ethnic or non secular teams with ‘safety issues.’

The US on March 14 introduced visa restrictions on Thailand officers in response to the deportation of 40 Uyghurs to China, the place the ethnic group has confronted continued suppression.

The sanction got here a number of weeks after Thailand despatched again the 40 Uyghurs held in its custody for greater than a decade. It applies to Thai officers answerable for the deportation resolution, in addition to different present and former overseas officers who performed an element in deporting Uyghurs and different ethnic or non secular teams with “safety issues” to China.
“We’re dedicated to combating China’s efforts to strain governments to forcibly return Uyghurs and different teams to China, the place they’re topic to torture and enforced disappearances,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in a press release.
Thailand beforehand defended its choices, saying that the Uyghurs have been despatched again in accordance with Thai and worldwide legislation. Nevertheless, Vice Minister of International Affairs Russ Jalichandra acknowledged earlier this month that the return of Uyghurs was out of concern about doable retaliation from the Chinese language regime.
“Thailand may face retaliation from China that might impression the livelihoods of many Thais,” Jalichandra stated in a press release on March 6.

Although some international locations had provided to resettle the Uyghurs, the Thai authorities thought of them “unrealistic,” he stated, including that deporting them to China was the “most suitable choice.”

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State Division officers met a number of Uyghur teams on Friday earlier than asserting the sanctions.

Rushan Abbas, government director at Marketing campaign for Uyghurs, stated that they had mentioned sanctions throughout their assembly.

She stated she had straight talked to the Uyghur males detained in Bangkok when she visited in late January and that the boys have been “unequivocal of their refusal to return to China.”

“In the present day’s announcement is a crucial milestone and first step in holding these answerable for these egregious pressured deportations accountable,” Abbas informed The Epoch Occasions.

She stated the visa restriction “sends a convincing message: international locations that violate human rights and flout worldwide legislation will face penalties.” She urged the worldwide neighborhood to observe america’ instance.

Julie Millsap, authorities relations supervisor for advocacy group No Enterprise With Genocide, stated she was glad to see the motion however hopes america can do extra to forestall the deportation of those who stay and “shield weak Uyghurs globally.”

“The US ought to act in coordination with different international locations to impose harsh sanctions on Chinese language and Thai officers that have been complicit in these deportations,” she informed The Epoch Occasions.

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