International pressure is mounting on Thailand – including from the new US administration – over the fate of dozens of Uyghur men held in detention for more than a decade, following reports the Thai government planned to deport the group to China.

On January 22, 2025, several UN experts published a statement indicating that the Government of Thailand must immediately halt the possible transfer of 48 Uyghurs

The UN indicated Friday it was urging Thailand not to send dozens of detained Uyghurs to any country where they risk “significant” harm, after reported plans to deport them to China. Rights groups have warned that Bangkok is preparing to deport imminently a group of 48 members of China’s mostly Muslim Uyghur minority,

Human rights advocates are demanding to know why the UN’s refugee agency hasn’t done more to secure the Uyghurs’ right to asylum.

Thai authorities have denied any immediate plan to send 48 Uyghur refugees back to China after UN experts urged a stop. Rights groups accuse Beijing of widespread abuses of Uyghurs, a mostly Muslim minority in China.

BANGKOK: Thai authorities denied on Wednesday (Jan 22) there was an immediate plan to send back to China 48 Uyghurs held in the country's detention centres, after UN experts warned the group could face torture if they return.

The UN experts also called on Thailand, which is a member of the UN Human Rights Council, to respect its obligations under international law. “The prohibition on refoulement prohibits the return ...

The experts’ statement comes less than a week after Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said he would lobby Thailand against deporting the 48 Uyghurs to China during a hearing on his nomination for the post of U.S. secretary of state, which he was confirmed for on Monday.

International pressure is mounting on Thailand – including from the new US administration ... according to previous reports from UN experts, rights groups, and Uyghur campaigners. Five Uyghur detainees, including a newborn and a 3-year-old, have ...

Mr Trump has paused development assistance from USAid for 90 days to assess compatibility with his "America First" policy. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Concerning the ongoing civil war in Myanmar, Malaysian former foreign minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah said that under certain circumstances, ASEAN needs to put aside its policy of non-interference.

Jakarta—Jan. 23, 2025 was an historic day for Thailand and Southeast Asia. As a result of the new Thai law amending the longstanding Thai Civil and Commercial Code, same-sex couples are able to