Thai court postpones Vietnamese activist’s extradition hearing

Updated July 15, 2024, 03:08 a.m. ET.

A court in Bangkok on Monday postponed the hearing on Vietnam’s request for Thailand to extradite Montagnard activist Y Quynh Bdap.

Defending lawyer Nadthasiri Bergman said the court agreed with the defendant’s request that the case documents be made available in a language he understands. The hearing will now take place on Aug. 1 and 19.

“We did not have time to prepare the fight for the case today, which was politically motivated,” Bergman told reporters outside the court, which was closed to the media due to the national security nature of the hearing. 

However, several officials from Vietnamese security agencies were allowed inside, she said.

In January, Vietnam sentenced 32-year-old Bdap to 10 years in prison on terrorism charges, accusing him of involvement in 2023 attacks on two public agency headquarters in Dak Lak province in which nine people were killed. Bdap has protested his innocence, pointing out that he has been in Thailand and recognized as a refugee since 2018.

On June 11, Thai authorities arrested Bdap for “overstaying” his visa following an extradition request from Hanoi. The previous day he met with Canadian authorities to discuss resettlement there as a refugee.

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Bdap is an ethnic Ede and the co-founder of Montagnards Stand for Justice. Montagnards is a term coined by French colonialists to describe around 30 indigenous tribes living in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. They have a long history of conflict with the Vietnamese majority and claim they have been discriminated against over issues including religion and land rights. 

“He, a minority, was tortured and is scared if he is to be sent back,” Bergman said, adding that she intended to prove he was innocent of any involvement in the Dak Lak attacks.

“Thailand has to live up to the international standard, given he is a protected asylum seeker under the U.N. agency.”

Thailand has bid three times for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. The latest attempt is for the 2025-2027 term, with the election taking place this October.

Kannavee Suebsaeng, vice chairman of Thailand’s House Committee on Law, Justice, and Human Rights, who observed Monday’s hearing said, given Thailand’s aspirations, it needs to improve its track record on human rights.

“I want Thailand to handle this transnational repression properly to shore up its dignity,” he said outside the court. 

Freedom House defines transnational repression as “governments reaching across borders to silence dissent among diasporas and exiles, including through assassinations, illegal deportations, abductions, digital threats, Interpol abuse, and family intimidation.”

Bdap was denied bail and continues to be held in a special prison in Bangkok.

Edited by Mike Firn.

Updated to include comments from Kannavee Suebsaeng.