Outrage as teenage democracy activist is turned away from Thailand

A teenage leader of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement was detained at Bangkok’s main airport by Thai authorities before being sent back. The treatment of Joshua Wong, who won international fame as the leader of the “umbrella protests” which shut down Hong Kong’s central business district for more than 10 weeks in 2014, has prompted condemnation from human rights groups. His arrest appeared to be ordered by Thailand’s military junta, which said it was concerned over the 19-year-old being “active in resistance movements against other foreign governments”. Mr Wong said: “If I hadn’t returned to Hong Kong, I can’t imagine what kind of situation I’d be in. Fortunately, I did not become another missing person.”

I actually had a lot of discussion with a Thai official, but because he didn’t speak English very well, I couldn’t hear him very well. But there was one word I heard very clearly: blacklist

Joshua Wong

Mr Wong was due to give a speech at a conference at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, marking the 40th anniversary of the October Massacre which saw more than 40 students killed during a military crackdown in Thailand. He was put on a flight back to Hong Kong on Wednesday about 12 hours after he arrived at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. Activist Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, who had invited him to Thailand, said: “By inviting Joshua Wong it allows us to learn a different dimension of democracy.The government should have been more open-minded … I am very disappointed with the Thai government.”

Thailand’s arrest of Joshua Wong, a well-known pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong, sadly suggests that Bangkok is willing to do Beijing’s bidding. Wong should be … allowed to travel and exercise his right to free expression

Sophie Richardson, Human Rights Watch

Asia-Pacific