Protecting refugee Y Quynh Bdap: Thailand’s obligations on the eve of the UN Human Rights Council vote

Link to the program recording here.

On September 30, a Thai court ruled that UNHCR recognized refugee Y Quynh Bdap could be extradited to Vietnam despite numerous organizations attesting that he would likely face torture or worse.

Bdap faces ten years in prison if forced back to Vietnam based on his conviction (in absentia) of ‘terrorism’ charges in a show trial that was bereft of either evidence or justice. Numerous governments via their embassies in Bangkok have raised concerns for Y Quynh Bdap’s safety, and urged the Thai government to allow him to resettle to a third country, but Vietnam has sent officials from Hanoi to pressure Thailand to return him to them, setting the scene for a high stakes courtroom appeal, a diplomatic tug of war and growing fears of Vietnam’s growing reach and transnational repression.

In the midst of this drama, Thailand’s effort to seek election to the UN Human Rights Council has come to the fore. With that election scheduled to happen at the UN General Assembly in New York on October 9, many are looking seriously at how Thailand will resolve Y Quynh Bdap’s desperate situation.

Will the new Thai government of PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra uphold its obligations to protect refugees and human rights, or will it continue down the road of former PM Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha?

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Speakers:

Nadthasiri Bergman, lawyer for Y Quynh Bdap.

Prakaidao Phruksakasemsuk, program director, Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF).

Krittaporn Semsantad, program director, Peace Rights Foundation (PRF).

Phil Robertson, director, Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates (AHRLA).