VOA慢速英語：泰國遣回中國維族人民受到國際譴責

Thailand's military government has deported morethan 100 ethnic Uighurs to China. Human rights groupsand the United Nations criticize the Thai government for the act.

A man removes stones at the Thai honorary consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, July 9, 2015. Thailand confirmed on Thursday it had forcibly returned nearly 100 Uighur migrants to China. (REUTERS/Osman Orsal)

The overnight deportation of the ethnic Uighurs to Chinaoccurred at a military air force base. The Uighurs wereearlier held in detention centers across Thailand. Thegroup was mostly men but included some women and children.

Reports Thursday said Thai authorities used force to control the men whoresisted as they were put on a plane to China. Reports also said women wereheard asking Thai officials not to return them to China, where many say theyface persecution – severe and unfair treatment.

Weerachon Sukondhapatipak is the Thai Deputy Government spokesman. He says the decision to deport the group came following long negotiations withinternational officials.

He also said the Uighurs in the group had lived in China for quite some time, and were identified as having Chinese citizenship.

The group was part of about 370 ethnic Uighurs held in Thai detention centerssince their arrival early last year. The World Uighur Congress in Germanysays talks over what would happen to the refugees included officials fromGermany, the European Union, the United States, Turkey and China.

More Uighurs are leaving China for Southeast Asia because of persecution by the Chinese government. The Uighurs make up about 45 percent of thepopulation in western China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Chineseauthorities have accused Uighurs of separatist acts of violence to establish anindependent state.

International organizations and rights groups condemn Thailand’s decision todeport the Uighurs.

Sophie Richardson is the China director of the U.S.-based Human RightsWatch. She says Thailand had broken international human rights law.

"If in fact it is true the Thai government has sent these people back it hascommitted a grave violation of international human rights law. You do not sendpeople back to a place where they have well-founded fear of persecution,” shesaid.

Angry protesters attacked the honorary Thai consulate general in Istanbul,Turkey. Some broke windows and pulled down the Thai flag. However, noinjuries were reported.

VOA correspondent Ron Corben reported this story from Bangkok. JonathanEvans adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

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Words in This Story

deport– v. to force a person who is not a citizen to leave a country

persecution– n. cruel or unfair treatment, especially because of race orreligious or political beliefs