A Thai MP sharply criticizes the government in parliament over the deportation of Uyghurs to China.

During a parliamentary debate on March 24, Justice Party member Kanawi Sopseweng sharply criticized the Thai government for forcibly deporting 40 Uyghurs to China and concealing the decision from the media and public.

As reported by the Thai Global News Network on March 25, Kanawi noted that Thailand's deportation decision "has put the country in a major predicament, and other countries will exploit this issue to exert various pressures on Thailand, including trade and customs restrictions."

He said that the process of Prime Minister Petongtarin's government's handling of the issue deserves a movie, with the prime minister and the ministers of justice, defense, and foreign affairs playing key roles. The film should be titled "73 Days of Lies."

Kanawi also criticized Deputy Foreign Minister Bhumtham Wichaichai for making false statements to the media and organizations about the Thai government's neutrality, despite knowing that the decision to deport the Uyghurs had already been made. He said, "Do you know that you have taken sides many times? But this time you chose the wrong side."

According to the report, Justice Minister Thawi Sodsong spoke during the meeting, asserting that these Uyghurs had entered Thailand illegally and voluntarily requested to return to China. He asserted that they were being deported in the country's best interests because they lacked any documents proving their asylum claims.

At the end of the session, Deputy Prime Minister Bhumtham Wichaichai spoke, accusing Kanawi of not understanding the decisions made for the country's security and interests due to his lack of experience in government administration. He added that he had taken journalists to visit the deported Uyghurs and that they were living in very good conditions.

The Uyghurs who fled to Thailand had been detained there for more than 10 years. Thailand had returned 109 of them to China in 2014, sparking sharp international criticism. Of the remaining 48, 40 were deported to China on February 27, a deportation the Thai government kept secret. Despite its claim that no third country would take in these Uyghurs, it has been revealed that the United States, Canada, and Australia have made offers to take them in for years. The United States condemned Thailand's decision as a violation of international law and imposed visa bans on the Thai officials involved in the case and their family members, barring them from entering the United States.