Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reportedly warned Thailand about unlawful targeting of dissidents and migrants from neighbouring countries. This allegation is part of a new report that condemns Thai authorities for assisting neighboring nations in detaining dissidents and refugees, contributing to what’s described as “Transnational Repression”.
According to HRW, Thailand engaged in a variety of illicit activities against refugees, dissidents, and asylum seekers, including surveillance, violence, abductions, enforced disappearances, and forced returns. The report also alleges that foreign countries exercised similar actions against Thai dissidents, engaging in what HRW terms a “swap mart”.
These findings emerge in the context of a worsening situation in Thailand and neighboring countries like Cambodia, where escalating repression against dissidents has alarmed human rights organizations. Earlier this year, Thai authorities reportedly arrested three activists who fled Cambodia due to political persecution. While there was criticism from several human rights groups, the Thai government maintained they were arrested for violating Thai laws and subsequently announced it won’t deport them to Cambodia.
Formerly considered a safe haven, Thailand’s reputation has reportedly evolved due to its increased detaining and expelling of dissidents, contributing to this alleged “Transnational Repression”. As per the report, governments practice such actions to “silence or deter dissent by committing human rights abuses against their own nationals or former nationals”.
Further violations of Thailand’s national law against torture and enforced disappearances, as well as international law such as the principle of non-refoulement, customary international law and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment were noted in the HRW report. It urged the Thai government to suppress such repressive acts and start investigating authorities of neighbouring countries involved in illicit acts against migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.