Forcible return of Uighurs from Cambodia sparks UN experts’ concern
rick murphy
If the 20 ethnic Uighur asylum-seekers are returned back to China by
force, they will be executed for sure just like quite a few of them
were executed by Chinese government recently.
What a god-damn shame.
+++++++++++++
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33325&Cr=china&Cr1=
Forcible return of Uighurs from Cambodia sparks UN experts’ concern
22 December 2009 – Two United Nations human rights experts have
expressed their concern over the forcible return from Cambodia to
China of 20 ethnic Uighur asylum-seekers who had fled violence in
their home country.
The asylum-seekers had escaped China in recent months, following the
July clashes between Uighurs and ethnic Han in Urumqi, the capital of
China’s Xinjiang Autonomous Region, which Government figures show
claimed more than 150 lives.
Nine people, mostly Uighurs, were executed last month for their
involvement in the violence. Earlier this month, eight more people
were sentenced to death, while concerns remain over the whereabouts
and circumstances of many others reportedly detained after the
clashes.
“In light of the reports of severe torture I have received following
the July events and the recent executions in Xinjiang region in
violation of the most basic fair trial guarantees, this is a blatant
violation of Cambodia’s obligations under the principle of non-
refoulement as stipulated in article 3 of the UN Convention against
Torture,” said Manfred Nowak, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.
Mr. Nowak said the current situation is aggravated by the fact that he
had previously reminded the Cambodian Government, through an urgent
communication, of their international obligations.
The deportation order for the Uighurs came before they had learned of
the results of their asylum applications.
“This means that the Cambodian authorities have knowingly prevented an
objective determination of their refugee status under the Geneva
Convention on refugees and whether the deportees would be at risk of
torture, other forms of ill-treatment or the death penalty,” Mr. Nowak
stressed.
He called on the Chinese authorities to treat the 20 Uighurs humanely
and to grant access to them in case they are detained.
For her part, Gay McDougall, the UN Independent Expert on minority
issues, urged the Chinese Government to allow for a comprehensive and
independent assessment of the tensions and grievances that erupted
into violence in July as quickly as possible.
“A thorough analysis of the events that took place must go to the
heart of the ethnic tensions in the region that underlie the terrible
tragedy and appalling loss of life experienced by both [the Uighurs
and the Han],” she said.
Such an assessment must be impartial and hear from both communities
and would be a “positive step towards reconciliation,” said Ms.
McDougall, whose application in the immediate aftermath of the July
violence to visit the region still has not been granted.
Without an understanding of the causes of the July clashes in an open
and transparent manner, the communities will be pushed further apart,
she underscored. “The possibility of further ethnic hostility cannot
be discounted under current conditions.”
The expert also voiced concern over respect for due process rights.
“The apparent fast-tracking of some trials and subsequent executions
send shocking signals to some communities and may serve to further
inflame tensions.”
Over the weekend, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR)
said the forced return of the asylum-seekers on Saturday took place a
day after the agency had communicated its concern to the Cambodian
Government about the deportations of the 20 Uighurs which took place
before their asylum cases had been assessed.
The agency stressed that “a disturbing pattern of such cases is
increasingly evident around the world.”