PHUKET: The families of two Chinese democracy activists handed over to Beijing by Thai authorities have left Bangkok en route to Canada for resettlement as refugees, activists have told Radio Free Asia.
The move comes after Jiang Yefei and Dong Guangping, who had fled persecution in their home countries, were handed back to the Chinese authorities last Friday in a move that drew strong criticism from the United Nations.
Five Chinese nationals including Jiang and Dong had been repatriated on an aircraft chartered for the purpose by the Chinese government, Radio Free Asia reported.
Vivian Tan, regional spokeswoman for UNHCR, told Reuters: ''These people are recognised refugees, meaning they were interviewed and their claim of persecution was found to be legitimate. They should not be sent back to a place where their lives can be put in danger.''
According to Radio Free Asia, Jiang, a political cartoonist, had been in Thailand since 2008, having left China after being detained and tortured over his criticism of the ruling Chinese Communist Party's handling of the devastating Sichuan earthquake.
He was granted refugee status last April.
After their arrest, Dong and Jiang pleaded guilty to charges of illegal immigration, and were fined 5000 and 6000 baht respectively for not having appropriate papers.
Their guilty plea paved the way for deportation procedures to begin, and the Chinese government paid the fines on their behalf, activists told RFA.
The move comes after Jiang Yefei and Dong Guangping, who had fled persecution in their home countries, were handed back to the Chinese authorities last Friday in a move that drew strong criticism from the United Nations.
Five Chinese nationals including Jiang and Dong had been repatriated on an aircraft chartered for the purpose by the Chinese government, Radio Free Asia reported.
Vivian Tan, regional spokeswoman for UNHCR, told Reuters: ''These people are recognised refugees, meaning they were interviewed and their claim of persecution was found to be legitimate. They should not be sent back to a place where their lives can be put in danger.''
According to Radio Free Asia, Jiang, a political cartoonist, had been in Thailand since 2008, having left China after being detained and tortured over his criticism of the ruling Chinese Communist Party's handling of the devastating Sichuan earthquake.
He was granted refugee status last April.
After their arrest, Dong and Jiang pleaded guilty to charges of illegal immigration, and were fined 5000 and 6000 baht respectively for not having appropriate papers.
Their guilty plea paved the way for deportation procedures to begin, and the Chinese government paid the fines on their behalf, activists told RFA.
