Thailand Under Pressure Over Possible Return of Five Uyghurs to China

Thailand Under Pressure Over Possible Return of Five Uyghurs to China

BANGKOK, October 29, 2026 — Thailand’s National Security Council (NSC) is expected to decide whether five Uyghur detainees should be repatriated to China, raising renewed concerns among human rights organisations over the potential risk of torture and mistreatment.

According to an internal government memo obtained by Khaosod on October 29, 2026, the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok has requested the return of all five detainees. The memo reportedly states that Thailand’s Foreign Ministry informed the embassy that the decision rests with the NSC.

Two of the five Uyghurs recently completed prison sentences for escaping Thai immigration detention facilities. They were released from prison and transferred to an Immigration Police detention centre late last week.

Rights Groups Fear Possible Repatriation

The developments have alarmed human rights organisations, particularly because they have been unable to establish contact with the 40 Uyghurs Thailand repatriated to China earlier this year.

Rights advocates say the lack of communication has raised serious concerns about the fate and treatment of those previously returned.

Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnes Callamard, who is visiting Thailand, urged the government not to send the remaining detainees back to China, where they could face torture.

“Please don’t send them back to a country where they could be tortured,” Callamard told Khaosod on Thursday, October 29.

She stressed that Thailand has international human rights obligations and described the detainees as victims of human rights violations, including torture.

Callamard said the Thai government should refuse China’s request, suggesting it could tell Beijing, “We don’t know where they are,” rather than proceed with their repatriation.

She is scheduled to meet Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Chettaphan Maksamohan on Friday, as well as a United Nations representative at the UN Office in Bangkok.

An attempt to arrange a meeting with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was unsuccessful, with the Prime Minister’s Office citing his busy schedule.

Parliamentary Committee Seeks Explanation

Krittaporn Semsantad, programme director at Peace Rights Foundation, confirmed the contents of the internal memo to Khaosod English.

She said a House committee had invited representatives from the Foreign Ministry and the NSC to explain the situation.

Krittaporn expressed particular concern for the two detainees who had recently completed their prison sentences and urged Thai authorities not to return them to China.

China and Thailand Discuss Security Cooperation

The concerns emerged shortly after the NSC announced on its official Thai- and English-language Facebook pages that it had received Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jianwei.

Zhang congratulated newly appointed NSC chief Gen Chaipruak Doungprapat on taking office. According to the council, the two sides exchanged views on security issues, including Thailand-China law-enforcement cooperation and efforts to combat online crime.

The announcement did not publicly confirm whether the five Uyghur detainees were discussed during the meeting.

The NSC’s decision on their possible repatriation remains a critical concern for human rights organisations, which are urging Thailand to ensure the detainees are not returned to a country where they could face persecution or torture.