On February 27th, the Thai government repatriated 40 Uyghur detainees back to China. These individuals fled Xinjiang to Thailand in 2014, at which time the group numbered up to 350 people, with some being detained for more than ten years. Some believe that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, and that Thailand’s actions are under immense pressure from the Zhongxiu government. Recently, Zhongxiu has indeed strengthened its competition with the US imperialist bloc, especially in Southeast Asia and Thailand. Under such conditions, what kind of future awaits these repatriated detainees?
Regarding the returnees, Thailand stated that China has assured that the repatriated Uyghurs will not face punishment. According to a written agreement with China, all of them returned voluntarily. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, “The legal rights and interests of the relevant personnel are fully protected.”
However, it is not difficult to see from BBC videos that although the returned individuals are in their prime, they appear dazed and staggered. Some need assistance from others to walk after disembarking. Yet, these scenes are described by Zhongxiu as warm family reunions at the airport. The Zhongxiu government always refers to them as smuggled migrants deceived by criminal organizations. The oppression of the Xinjiang people, especially ethnic minorities, by the Chinese fascist government is well known worldwide. In Xinjiang, there are numerous checkpoints and prisons everywhere. Ethnic minority people have no political rights, not even the right to use their own language and script. Police can arbitrarily take away men with beards (considered a typical Uyghur appearance) walking in groups on the street. In the so-called “education camps,” which are actually concentration camps and ethnic prisons, those resisting Zhongxiu rule are labeled as “ethnic separatists” or “religious extremists” and forced into labor. They are made to learn articles praising the Zhongxiu Party daily and are not allowed to have any other thoughts. Zhongxiu has committed heinous crimes in Xinjiang. Although the Zhongxiu government repeatedly claims that “foreign forces incite ethnic division,” they are actually the main culprits causing such division. It is precisely because they cannot tolerate such reactionary rule that these ethnic minorities have to leave their hometowns and flee. As long as the reactionary Zhongxiu regime remains in power, the oppression over ethnic minorities will never disappear.
In response, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights pointed out that this move “clearly violates international human rights law,” and U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo issued a statement condemning it strongly. However, these bourgeois liberals or other imperialist leaders’ “justification” speeches have never changed the plight of the Xinjiang people; they are merely used to condemn and attack the Zhongxiu imperialism. Like the past fascists of Germany, Italy, and Japan, the international law of the bourgeoisie is powerless before them. Only through the efforts of the Chinese people to thoroughly overthrow their reactionary rule can all ethnic groups achieve liberation.