Uighur refugees' fate in balance

Uighur refugees' fate in balance

The government has said it is dealing with 200 detained Uighur refugees on a humanitarian basis while the national verification process for the group is under way.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that Ankara is willing to accept the refugees.

Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said on Friday that Thailand is working with all parties concerned to find a solution for the Uighur refugees, who have been detained in Thailand since early this year.

The government is yet to decide whether to send the Uighurs to another country, he said.

"We know the positions of relevant countries but the process of nationality verification and fact-finding is ongoing. We can assure people that we are taking care of them based on humanitarian standards," Mr Sek said.

The spokesman said Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn previously met Mr Cavusoglu at an international forum, but did not confirm if the issue was discussed. 

China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying was quoted on Friday by Reuters as saying the case was a matter for China and Thailand, and the "relevant country" should stop interfering.

"We urge the relevant country to immediately stop meddling in placement work for the relevant case, be cautious with words and actions and not send out mistaken signals that connive in, and even support, illegal immigration activities," Ms Hua said. The Chinese consul in Songkhla, Qin Jian, earlier said the detained refugees should be repatriated if they are identified as Chinese, dismissing concerns the refugees would be mistreated if they were sent back.

Defence minister Prawit Wongsuwon recently said the Uighurs would be safe if they were repatriated to China.

But Mr Cavusoglu was quoted by Turkish media as saying that he officially offered refuge to the Uighurs during a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

"They could face death if they return" to China, he said.

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