OPINION

Thailand allowed some of the women and children to travel to Turkey, where they were readily accepted. But in February last year, it deported 40 of the men to China, where the United Nations says their fate remains unknown. The two Uyghur men now face deportation and risk torture, enforced disappearance and other serious abuses, according to human rights groups. One has said he would be treated like a slave if returned and has pleaded to be sent to any country but China.

Despite these warnings, Thailand appears more interested in acquiescing to China's demands than protecting its international reputation, which is already at rock bottom in terms of human rights. Thailand has a "not free" rating of 34 out of 100 in Freedom House's political rights and civil liberties assessment, and ranks 77th out of 143 countries in the World Justice Project's latest Rule of Law Index. If Thailand deports the Uyghurs to China, it will be interesting to see how much further its standing deteriorates in next year's international assessments.

...