Thailand says assured of Uyghurs safety after US visa bans

Suspected Uyghurs are transported back to a detention facility in the town of Songkhla in southern Thailand after visiting women and children at a separate shelter March 26, 2014. - Reuters

BANGKOK: Thailand on Saturday (March 15) responded to a United States visa ban on officials from the kingdom involved in deporting dozens of Uyghurs back to China, saying it had "received assurances" of their safety.

The Thai government has suffered intense criticism from around the world for its decision to hand over at least 40 Uyghurs, who were flown by special plane to China's northwestern Xinjiang region in late February.