A group of nearly three dozen rights groups is calling on Thailand’s Prime Minister to release a Vietnamese activist who is facing extradition back to Vietnam. The activist, Y Quynh Bdap, who holds United Nations refugee status in Thailand, was detained by Thai authorities in June on a Vietnamese warrant. Bdap was seeking asylum in Canada at the time of his arrest and is currently being held in Bangkok pending extradition.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as well as other Thai officials and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Amnesty International and 32 other rights groups expressed concerns that Bdap “faces a real risk of torture, prolonged arbitrary detention, or other grave human rights violations” if he is returned to Vietnam. Bdap, who co-founded the Montagnards Stand for Justice group, fled to Thailand in 2018 to escape persecution in Vietnam, particularly targeting the country’s predominantly Christian Montagnard minority.
The 32-year-old activist was convicted in absentia in Vietnam in January on terrorism charges and handed a 10-year prison sentence for alleged involvement in organizing anti-government riots in Dak Lak province the previous year. Despite the extradition order issued by a Bangkok court in September, Bdap’s appeal against the decision is still pending.
Rights groups highlighted that Bdap’s activities were focused on advocating for Montagnards’ rights, training them in international and Vietnamese law, and documenting human rights abuses. His efforts made him a target of the Vietnamese government, leading to his conviction in a controversial trial. The NGOs also pointed out that U.N. rights experts have raised concerns about the trial’s fairness and potential political motivations.
Phil Robertson, director of the Asia Human Rights and Labor Advocates group, emphasised the importance of allowing Bdap to reunite with his family and be granted protection in a third country. Robertson stated that there is no valid reason to detain a refugee father away from his children based on what he referred to as “bogus accusations and politically motivated claims” by the Vietnamese government.
As Thailand recently secured a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council, the rights groups have called on the Thai government to uphold its commitment to human rights by ensuring Bdap’s safety and freedom. The joint letter urged Prime Minister Shinawatra to release the activist on bail while his appeal is being processed and to prevent his potential return to Vietnam, where he risks facing torture and further human rights violations.