US 'strongly' condemns Thailand for deporting Uyghurs to China
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a strong condemnation of Thailand for deporting at least 40 Uyghurs to China
Rubio stated that the Uyghurs face "genocide and crimes against humanity" in China
He claimed the deportation could violate Thailand's obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture and the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
Rubio said the action contradicts Thailand's tradition of protecting vulnerable people and its human rights commitments
He directly accused China, under Chinese Communist Party control, of committing genocide against Uyghurs in East Turkistan (Xinjiang)
Rubio called on Chinese authorities to provide access to verify the well-being of the returned Uyghurs
The article mentions that Human Rights Watch previously urged Thailand not to repatriate the Uyghurs due to risks of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and torture
In January, Rubio had pledged to press Thailand not to deport the Uyghurs
East Turkistan is home to over 10 million Uyghurs, who make up about 45% of the region's population