Thailand has faced calls from the international community to protect a group of recently rescued people whom the country suspects of being ethnic Uyghur Muslims.
Thai police rescued the group, which included 78 men, 60 women and 82 children, on March 12 from a secluded human trafficking camp behind rubber plantations in the southern province of Songkhla.
The Thai government said on Saturday that it suspected the group are Uyghur Muslims.
“From what we see, they are likely Uyghurs but we cannot confirm that until the identification process is completed,” said Thailand immigration police chief Lt. Gen. Panu Kerdlarppol.
“After we know their nationalities, we will press charges against them on illegal entry and push for deportation,” Panu said.
The Turkik-speaking Muslim Uyghurs originate from the western region of Xinjiang in China that has been the scene of numerous deadly clashes in recent years. Uyghur Muslims complain about discrimination and religious suppression by China’s majority Han people in the area.
Human Rights Watch has urged Thai authorities to make sure that the group is not forced back to China.
“Thai authorities should realize that Uyghurs forced back to China disappear into a black hole,” Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a Friday statement, adding that Uyghurs returned to China by force face credible threats of torture.
The US Department of State has also called on Thailand to protect the group.
“We are concerned about Uyghurs generally (and) welcome reports that these Uyghurs were rescued,” State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters Friday.
“We’re encouraging Thailand to make sure their humanitarian needs are met.”
MR/HSN
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