Thailand's repatriation of illegal immigrants in line with int'l practices: expert

Thailand's recent repatriation of over 100 illegal Chinese immigrants was in accordance with international practices, says a Thai expert on international affairs.

On July 9, Thailand repatriated to China a total of 109 illegal immigrants who had been on their way to Turkey, Syria or Iraq to join the "jihad," according to the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.

Those immigrants crossed borders in an illegal manner, not to mention some of them are criminal or even terrorist suspects, Li Renliang, a professor at Thailand's National Institute of Development Administration, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

The Thai authorities returned them to China as required by international laws, and the Thailand-China law-enforcement operation was in line with relevant international treaties and bilateral agreements and thus was justified and legal, Li added.

Police investigations showed that those immigrants, who were encouraged by religious extremism, intended to travel through countries including Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Turkey before entering Syria and Iraq to join the "jihad" there.

Some governments, Li said, have groundlessly criticized the normal cooperation between China and Thailand in combating illegal immigration. They labeled the illegal immigrants, including those implicated in terrorism, "refugees" and made every attempt to obstruct the repatriation, he said.

Their reaction, indicative of a double standard for fighting terrorism, is ridiculous and runs contrary to international anti-terrorism efforts, Li said.

In addition, Li noted that some parts of southern Thailand have been troubled by separatism and extremism for years.

The influx of illegal immigrants poses a threat to Thailand's social stability and national security, the professor said, adding the Thai authorities will not sit by idly in face of the issue. Endi