Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Tuesday to address ongoing human rights issues in discussions with Cambodian officials as she begins her two-day official trip to Cambodia. The visit, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, offers an opportunity to highlight ongoing concerns regarding transnational repression and the legal obligations of countries under international law.
HRW issued a statement calling on the Thai Prime Minister to express worries over the forced repatriation and disappearance of political dissidents between Thailand and Cambodia. Many Thai activists seeking asylum in Cambodia are reported to have been forcibly returned or vanished without a proper investigation. On the other hand, Cambodian dissidents in Thailand have described experiencing harassment, monitoring, intimidation, and deportation.
These activities may violate the fundamental tenets of international human rights and refugee law. In particular, they could breach the principle of non-refoulement, which forbids sending individuals back to nations where they are at genuine risk of persecution, torture, or other severe harm. State collaboration in stifling political opposition contravenes international commitments under treaties like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which both Thailand and Cambodia are signatories.
It is uncertain whether Prime Minister Shinawatra will take this opportunity to discuss these violations.
According to official statements from the Thai and Cambodian Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Shinawatra’s official visit to Cambodia focuses on strengthening bilateral relations through enhanced cooperation in a range of areas. The Thai Ministry noted that the visit would support collaboration in infrastructure connectivity, trade and investment, tourism, education, public health, and labour. The Cambodian Ministry emphasized joint efforts to boost border area development and maintain peace, security, and stability between the two countries. While both governments highlighted these shared goals, the statements do not mention human rights concerns or cross-border political issues, despite rising calls from rights organizations to address such matters during high-level diplomatic exchanges.
