Add Thailand to the list of countries China won’t allow Joshua Wong to travel to
- 8 years ago
BANGKOK — Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was refused entry into Thailand this week after the country caved into pressure from China.
Wong was detained at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Tuesday night after Thai officials received a request from the Chinese.
Wong was scheduled to give a talk on political activism at Chulalongkorn University, according to the Independent.
China’s Foreign Ministry said in a short statement it was aware of the reports and respected Thailand’s immigration control, although it didn’t say if China had requested Wong be detained.
After arriving back in Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon, Wong described how he was forced to spend 12 hours inside a cell at the airport, the Guardian reported.
“For almost 12 hours I was detained alone inside a cell,” Wong told the press. “When I asked what the reason for them detaining me … they just said: ‘We will not give you any explanation. You have been blacklisted already.’”
The soon to be 20-year-old landed back into Hong Kong around 3:40 p.m. on Wednesday.
Deputy commander of the Suvarnabhumi immigration office Pruthipong Prayoonsiri told Thailand’s the Nation newspaper that China had sent a request for the activist’s entry to be denied.
“As a result, the immigration bureau blacklisted him and held him for deportation. When officer informed him, Joshua Wong did not oppose it,” Prayoonsiri said.
Wong was detained at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Tuesday night after Thai officials received a request from the Chinese.
Wong was scheduled to give a talk on political activism at Chulalongkorn University, according to the Independent.
China’s Foreign Ministry said in a short statement it was aware of the reports and respected Thailand’s immigration control, although it didn’t say if China had requested Wong be detained.
After arriving back in Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon, Wong described how he was forced to spend 12 hours inside a cell at the airport, the Guardian reported.
“For almost 12 hours I was detained alone inside a cell,” Wong told the press. “When I asked what the reason for them detaining me … they just said: ‘We will not give you any explanation. You have been blacklisted already.’”
The soon to be 20-year-old landed back into Hong Kong around 3:40 p.m. on Wednesday.
Deputy commander of the Suvarnabhumi immigration office Pruthipong Prayoonsiri told Thailand’s the Nation newspaper that China had sent a request for the activist’s entry to be denied.
“As a result, the immigration bureau blacklisted him and held him for deportation. When officer informed him, Joshua Wong did not oppose it,” Prayoonsiri said.