Uyghurs must have fair trial

12.00.00am GMT Thu 7th Jan 2010

Statement by Graham Watson MEP on the extradition of twenty Uyghurs from Cambodia to China and their need for a fair trial

"Cambodia's sneaky decision to extradite twenty Uyghurs to China is a disgrace. The UNHCR was still in the process of investigating their cases: it should have had the chance to finish its work.

"China must now agree to allow representatives of the international community to be present at the trials of these poor people. It has a moral responsibility to treat them fairly, and should guarantee that there will be no executions.

"The Cambodian government should give a proper account of why it chose to act in this way. It should also promise that the two Uyghurs who are currently missing will not be extradited when they are found.

"Both Cambodia and China must understand that if they act brutally and by stealth, their own reputations will rightly suffer.

"I am now seeking an urgency resolution in the European Parliament on this matter to show the seriousness with which we treat it."

Details of the extradition can be found at: http://www.unpo.org/content/view/10508/81/