Thai PM urged to free Vietnamese activist facing extradition

Rights groups are pushing Thailands leader to free a Vietnamese activist whos been told to go back home. About 35 groups sent a letter to Paetongtarn Shinawatra on 10/18/2024 saying Y Quynh Bdap might get hurt if hes sent back.

Bdap‚ whos got UN refugee status in Thailand was picked up by Thai police last year. He was trying to get to Canada when they got him on a Vietnamese warrant. Hes in Bangkok waiting to be sent back.

The groups think Bdap could face “real risk of torture prolonged arbitrary detention or other grave human rights violations“ if hes returned. Jirayu Houngsub‚ who speaks for the PM‚ said they havent got the letter yet and couldnt say anything.

Bdap helped start a group called Montagnards Stand for Justice. He ran to Thailand in 2018 cause he was in trouble back home. Vietnam doesnt treat the Montagnard people (who are mostly Christian) very well.

I am a human rights activist fighting for religious freedom and advocating for peoples rights

A court in Bangkok said last fall that Bdap should be sent back. Hes trying to change that decision. Vietnam says he helped start riots last year‚ but he says he didnt do it. They gave him 10 years in jail without him being there.

The groups that wrote the letter said UN experts think the trial in Vietnam wasnt fair. They also said Thailand just got voted into the UN Human Rights Council for 3 years starting next year.

Prakaidao Phurksakasemsuk from one of the groups said‚ “Being elected to the UN Human Rights Council comes with serious responsibilities to implement policies and actions to respect human rights“. She thinks what happens to Bdap will show if Thailand means it