Thailand MP Exposes Uyghur Detention, Demands Deportation Halt
A political firestorm is brewing in Thailand over the alleged mistreatment of Uyghur detainees. A contentious dispute has erupted between Fair Party MP Kannavee Suebsang and the Department of Corrections (DoC) regarding the authenticity of letters purportedly written by these detainees.
Last Friday, Mr. Kannavee ignited the controversy by posting images of two handwritten letters on his Facebook account. He claimed they were written by Uyghur individuals held at Klong Prem Central Prison. The letters, according to Mr. Kannavee, appeal for international intervention, specifically from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to prevent their repatriation to China due to safety concerns. He also asserts a third letter was addressed to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, pleading for their transfer to a third country, ideally Turkey, where their families reportedly have asylum.
The DoC swiftly refuted Mr. Kannavee’s claims on Monday. Following an internal investigation at Klong Prem Central Prison, the DoC stated it found no evidence corroborating the letters' authenticity. Furthermore, the department reported that Uyghur detainees at the facility denied authorship. The DoC conducted handwriting comparisons between the letters and detainee samples, claiming to find significant discrepancies.
Mr. Kannavee, however, doubled down on his assertions on Tuesday, maintaining the letters' legitimacy. He clarified that he obtained the letters not through official DoC channels, but from detainees at the Suan Phlu immigration detention center in Bangkok. He stated the letters originated from a group of seven Uyghur detainees; five remain at Suan Phlu, while two have been deported to China, a development he cites as highlighting the urgency of the situation. He noted the letters were written on paper bearing the official DoC stamp, typically sold to detainees for a small fee, raising questions about how the Suan Phlu detainees obtained this stationery.
Adding to the complexity, government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub publicly questioned Mr. Kannavee’s motives and the timing of his disclosure. Mr. Houngsub pointed to a discrepancy between Mr. Kannavee’s claim of receiving the letter addressed to the Prime Minister in November and his recent decision to publicize it, suggesting this delay casts doubt on his intentions.
This escalating controversy highlights the precarious situation of Uyghur detainees in Thailand and exposes deep-seated tensions surrounding their repatriation to China. The conflicting accounts from the MP and the DoC underscore the need for a transparent and independent investigation to determine the veracity of the claims and ensure the well-being and protection of those involved. The international community, particularly the UNHCR, will likely closely monitor the situation as concerns about Uyghur human rights continue to grow. The fate of the five remaining detainees at Suan Phlu hangs in the balance, dependent on the resolution of this increasingly complex and politically charged affair.
