PHNOM PENH — The Cambodian government announced plans Saturday, December 19, to deport at least 20 Uighur Muslims, who fled China after deadly ethnic violence, back to Beijing despite fears of persecution and torture there.
"Currently they are still in Cambodia, but they will be sent out of the country within seven days," Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
The Cambodian Foreign Ministry said the Uighur Muslims could be sent back to China.
"I can't say where they will be sent but I assume their final destination will be China, the place where they come from," spokesman Koy Kuong said.
"They are illegal immigrants and according to Cambodian immigration law they should be expelled from the country. So we must expel them."
The Uighurs fled China into Cambodia following deadly ethnic violence in the north-western province of Xinjiang in July.
At least 197 people were killed and more than 1,600 injured when Chinese security forces suppressed protests by Uighur Muslims over discrimination and religious and cultural controls in their region.
Chinese authorities convicted 21 Uighurs in October on charges of murder, intentional damage to property, arson, and robbery.
Last month, nine Uighurs were executed for their roles in the protests.
Xinjiang and its Uighur Muslims, a Turkish-speaking minority of more than eight million, continue to be the subject of massive security crackdowns.
Muslims accuses the government of settling millions of ethnic Han in their territory with the ultimate goal of obliterating its identity and culture.
Beijing views the vast region as an invaluable asset because of its crucial strategic location near Central Asia and its large oil and gas reserves.
Possible Torture
The planned deportation of Uighur Muslims sparked international outcry for fears of possible torture in China.
"We have definitely conveyed a message to the Cambodian government to refrain from deporting them," Kitty McKinsey, spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) office in Phnom Penh, said.
McKinsey said as signatories to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, Cambodia should not force the Uighurs to return to China.
Human rights groups warned that the lives of the Uighur Muslims would be in danger if they are deported to China.
"Cambodia will be sending these Uighurs to a terrible fate, possible execution and likely torture," said Amy Reger, a researcher at the Washington-based Uighur American Association.
She cited the case of Shaheer Ali, a Uighur political activist who fled to Nepal in 2000 and was granted refugee status by the United Nations.
But the activist was forcibly returned to China from Nepal in 2002 and was executed a year later.
The US also warned against the deportation of the Muslim Uighurs to China.
"The US strongly urges the Cambodian government to honor its commitments under international law," said US embassy spokesman John Johnson.
Cambodia's decision comes as Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping is expected to visit the country for a three-day visit beginning on Sunday.
China and Cambodia have long kept close relations, with China giving large amounts of aid to the impoverished Southeast Asian nation.
"Currently they are still in Cambodia, but they will be sent out of the country within seven days," Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
The Cambodian Foreign Ministry said the Uighur Muslims could be sent back to China.
"I can't say where they will be sent but I assume their final destination will be China, the place where they come from," spokesman Koy Kuong said.
"They are illegal immigrants and according to Cambodian immigration law they should be expelled from the country. So we must expel them."
The Uighurs fled China into Cambodia following deadly ethnic violence in the north-western province of Xinjiang in July.
At least 197 people were killed and more than 1,600 injured when Chinese security forces suppressed protests by Uighur Muslims over discrimination and religious and cultural controls in their region.
Chinese authorities convicted 21 Uighurs in October on charges of murder, intentional damage to property, arson, and robbery.
Last month, nine Uighurs were executed for their roles in the protests.
Xinjiang and its Uighur Muslims, a Turkish-speaking minority of more than eight million, continue to be the subject of massive security crackdowns.
Muslims accuses the government of settling millions of ethnic Han in their territory with the ultimate goal of obliterating its identity and culture.
Beijing views the vast region as an invaluable asset because of its crucial strategic location near Central Asia and its large oil and gas reserves.
Possible Torture
The planned deportation of Uighur Muslims sparked international outcry for fears of possible torture in China.
"We have definitely conveyed a message to the Cambodian government to refrain from deporting them," Kitty McKinsey, spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) office in Phnom Penh, said.
McKinsey said as signatories to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, Cambodia should not force the Uighurs to return to China.
Human rights groups warned that the lives of the Uighur Muslims would be in danger if they are deported to China.
"Cambodia will be sending these Uighurs to a terrible fate, possible execution and likely torture," said Amy Reger, a researcher at the Washington-based Uighur American Association.
She cited the case of Shaheer Ali, a Uighur political activist who fled to Nepal in 2000 and was granted refugee status by the United Nations.
But the activist was forcibly returned to China from Nepal in 2002 and was executed a year later.
The US also warned against the deportation of the Muslim Uighurs to China.
"The US strongly urges the Cambodian government to honor its commitments under international law," said US embassy spokesman John Johnson.
Cambodia's decision comes as Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping is expected to visit the country for a three-day visit beginning on Sunday.
China and Cambodia have long kept close relations, with China giving large amounts of aid to the impoverished Southeast Asian nation.
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