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Human Rights Watch has raised concerns about Thailand’s practice of forcibly deporting political dissidents back to their authoritarian home countries, where they may face persecution, torture, or death. The organization documented cases of Thai authorities collaborating with neighboring countries to track down and return dissidents awaiting resettlement, many of whom were registered as refugees. These actions were found to violate international law and put the lives of these individuals at risk. The report titled “We Thought We Were Safe” analyzed 25 cases that occurred in Thailand between 2014 and 2023, involving dissidents from countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and China.
The group highlighted instances where dissidents were forcibly repatriated to Cambodia, with suspected involvement of Cambodian security personnel. Other cases involved dissidents being tracked down, abducted, forcibly disappeared, or killed in return for cooperation between the Thai government and neighboring countries to spy on Thai dissidents living abroad. This quid-pro-quo form of transnational repression, referred to as “swap mart,” became more prevalent after Thailand’s military coup in 2024, which led to military-backed rule for a decade. The current civilian government under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was urged to investigate these allegations and put an end to such practices.
Human Rights Watch called on the Srettha administration to launch an investigation into the harassment, surveillance, and forced returns of asylum seekers and refugees in Thailand. The organization also raised concerns about the disappearance and killing of Thai anti-junta activists in Southeast Asian countries. The Thai government’s potential role in these events was repeatedly denied, but the report cited nine cases of Thai activists who disappeared or were killed in Laos and Cambodia under mysterious circumstances. The government’s bid for a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council was seen as an opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to protecting human rights.
The report highlighted the dangers faced by political dissidents fleeing authoritarian regimes and seeking refuge in Thailand, only to be subjected to surveillance, harassment, and forced returns back to their home countries. Instances of dissidents being disappeared or killed in neighboring countries raised further concerns about the regional cooperation in targeting critics of the Thai government. Dr. Francesca Lessa, an expert in International Relations, drew parallels with historical agreements among autocratic governments in Latin America to eliminate political opponents on each other’s soil. These actions reflect a common strategy among such regimes to eliminate opposition and dissent as threats to their power and survival.
In light of these revelations, Human Rights Watch called for accountability from the Thai government and for the protection of asylum seekers and refugees in the country. The practice of transnational repression and collaboration in targeting dissidents must be addressed to uphold international human rights standards. The report’s findings shed light on the challenges faced by political dissidents and activists in Southeast Asia, where the exchange of critics and dissidents among authoritarian governments undermines the rights and safety of individuals seeking refuge and freedom of expression. The international community, including the U.N. Human Rights Council, was urged to scrutinize these practices and hold governments accountable for human rights abuses.
