The recent death of a Uighur man -- who had sought refuge in Thailand and was subsequently detained for nearly a decade, was a sad reflection of the unbalanced response towards persons who seek refuge, or "refugees", in this country. Various groups currently seek protection from persecution, armed conflicts and key human rights violations in their country of origin, and they deserve to be treated decently and humanely.
Regrettably, that incident clouds the country's brighter side on human rights. For several decades, some 90,000 persons who sought refuge from Myanmar (particularly ethnic minorities) have enjoyed the hospitality of this country, at least temporarily, pending other solutions. They have generally not been pushed back to their country of origin.
