Two human rights groups have urged Thailand not to deport a Chinese journalist who investigated corruption in China, warning he would risk political persecution and torture back home.
Bai Zhaodong faces the risk of deportation following pressure on Bangkok from Beijing over his reporting on the Chinese government, Reporters Without Borders and Safeguard Defenders, an Asia-focused rights group based in Spain, said in a statement.
The groups said Thai authorities have detained Bai since January, barred him from leaving Thailand and are holding him at a Bangkok immigration centre.
Bai exposed a large corruption and financial fraud network implicating local government officials and higher-ranking officials in the Chinese Communist Party, the rights groups said.
Persecution and Torture Risks
Thai authorities must withstand the growing pressure from China to forcibly detain and return individuals sought for clear political persecution by the Chinese Communist Party and uphold its commitments under international and domestic torture prohibitions, said Laura Harth, a director at Safeguard Defenders.
The statement said Bai faces foreseeable, present, personal and real risk of political persecution, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture and other serious human rights violations if deported to China.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
