On democracy and human rights in Thailand, notably the lese-majesty law and the deportation of Uyghur refugees

B100193/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on democracy and Human Rights in Thailand, notably the cases of the lese-majesty law and the deportation of Uyghur refugees

(2025/2594(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Thailand,

– having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas the Government of Thailand has recently deported forty Uyghur refugees to the People`s Republic of China (PRC), while five others continue to remain in Thai custody;

whereas prior to their deportation the aforementioned individuals had been imprisoned in Thailand for eleven years in precarious conditions;

whereas credible reports by UN human rights experts have assessed that these individuals -if returned to the PRC- will most likely face torture, ill-treatment and “irreparable harm”;

whereas under Article 112 of Thailand`s criminal code any criticism of the Monarchy qualifies as lèse-majesté, thus constituting a criminal offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison; whereas the respective provisions remain vague granting Thai authorities wide discretion;

whereas since 2020, 278 individuals have been charged on the basis of Article 112, notably prominent human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa and pro-democracy activist Mongkhon Thirakhot;

whereas the Indo-Pacific region is home to increasingly important political, trade and security partners for the EU; whereas a free, connected and stable Indo-Pacific region based on rules and respect for international law constitutes an essential cornerstone in the EU`s approach to the region;

Strongly condemns the unlawful deportation of forty Uyghur refugees to the PRC;

Expresses deep concern for the safety and well-being of the deported Uyghur refugees and calls on the PRC to guarantee their fundamental rights;

Regrets the Government of Thailand`s refusal to accept any of the asylum offers made by several countries, including the United States, Australia and Canada;

Urges the Government of Thailand to uphold the principle of non-refoulement under international human rights, refugee, humanitarian and customary law;

Calls for the immediate end of all unlawful deportations from Thailand;

Urges the PRC government to uphold its commitments and obligations under national and international law and grant the forty individuals fair and humane treatment;

Stresses the importance for Thailand to pursue a democratic path and strengthen its institutions in line with democratic principles, the rule of law and individual freedom;

Calls on the Government of Thailand to lift all restrictions on the opposition and the media and to refrain from resorting to repressive tactics as arbitrary arrests, intimidation, lèse-majesté charges, and harassment;

Stresses that Thailand continues to be a key actor in the Indo-Pacific region and a crucial interlocutor for the EU, as stressed during the recent visit by the European Parliament`s Delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and ASEAN to Thailand;

Underscores the importance of close EU-Thailand cooperation across multiple fields, including security and trade;

Reiterates the critical role parliamentary diplomacy shall play in broadening and consolidating EU-Thailand relations;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the United Nations Secretary General, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, and the Government and Parliament of Thailand.