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Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong barred from entering Thailand Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong barred from entering Thailand
(about 4 hours later)
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been barred from entering Thailand, where he had been hoping to speak to Thai students. Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been barred from entering Thailand and deported.
Mr Wong, who became the face of the 2014 Hong Kong street protests, was detained on arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport on Wednesday. Mr Wong, who became the face of the 2014 Hong Kong street protests, had been hoping to speak to Thai students.
The Thai student group has alleged that move was made by Thailand at the request of China. But the 19-year-old was detained on arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport and then flown back to Hong Kong.
The Thai government has denied giving any order for Mr Wong's detention. He said there had been "no explanation for his detention", but activists attributed the decision to intervention from Beijing.
The military leaders, in power since a 2014 coup, said immigration officials had made the decision to bar him, although no reason for doing so has been given. Mr Wong was at the heart of the mass demonstrations against Beijing that brought parts of Hong Kong to a standstill in late 2014.
China's foreign ministry said it had noted the reports and respected Thailand's immigration control. The protesters were calling for free elections for Hong Kong's leadership. The protests failed to achieve their goal, but several of their leaders have since entered politics.
'Letter from China' 'Twelve hours'
Mr Wong, 19, was at the heart of the mass demonstrations against Chinese influence, known as the Umbrella Movement, which brought parts of Hong Kong to a standstill for nearly three months. Mr Wong had been invited by Thai student activist Netiwit Chotipatpaisal to address students at Chulalongkorn University to mark the 40th anniversary of a massacre of students in 1976.
The protesters were calling for free elections for Hong Kong's leadership, without influence from Beijing. The protests ultimately failed to achieve their goal, but several of their leaders have since entered politics.
Mr Wong, who was recently sentenced to community service for his involvement in the protests, had been invited by Thai student activist Netiwit Chotipatpaisal to address students at Chulalongkorn University to mark the 40th anniversary of a massacre of students in 1976.
Mr Netiwit had told the South China Morning Post newspaper ahead of the visit that it could inspire Thai students to speak against the military leadership.Mr Netiwit had told the South China Morning Post newspaper ahead of the visit that it could inspire Thai students to speak against the military leadership.
But when he arrived in Bangkok in the early hours of Wednesday, Mr Wong was stopped by police and immigration officials. But when he arrived in Bangkok in the early hours of Wednesday, Mr Wong was detained.
Mr Netiwit said on Facebook that police would not let him speak to Mr Wong and told him they had received a letter from China regarding the visit. He did not give proof of his claim. "They forced me to stay inside the police station and stay in prison for 12 hours," Mr Wong said at a news conference back in Hong Kong.
A Thai foreign ministry spokesman said entry into Thailand "has to be in line with the relevant immigration laws and regulations". "When I asked what's the reason for them to detain me at Bangkok, they just say that 'we will not give any explanation'."
Nathan Law, a fellow Hong Kong protest leader who has since been elected to parliament as Demosisto's first MP, also blamed China for the detention. Thailand's military leaders, in power since a 2014 coup, denied any role in the detention.
"China is worried that Wong, an important leader in the Occupy movement, would bring (his) influence to other countries," he told a Hong Kong radio station. But Mr Netiwit said on Facebook that police told him they had received a letter from China regarding the visit, without providing proof of his claim.
Rights groups called for Mr Wong's immediate release. Human Rights Watch said his detention "sadly suggests that Bangkok is willing to do Beijing's bidding". The Nation newspaper also quoted an immigration official as saying a request to blacklist Joshua Wong came from China.
Nathan Law, a fellow Hong Kong protest leader who has since been elected to parliament, told local radio Beijing was worried Mr Wong "would bring (his) influence to other countries".
Hong Kong authorities said they had asked Thailand to respect Mr Wong's rights. China's foreign ministry, meanwhile, said it respected Thailand's immigration control.
Rights groups condemned the move. Amnesty International said it underscored government willingness to suppress freedom of expression and raised serious concerns "about how China is using its influence over Thai authorities".
Thai criticismThai criticism
Last May, Mr Wong was denied entry to Malaysia where he had been set to take part in talks about democracy in China. He was immediately returned to Hong Kong. Last May, Mr Wong was denied entry to Malaysia where he had been set to take part in talks about democracy in China.
In recent years, Thailand has faced criticism for its co-operation with the Chinese authorities. In recent years, Thailand has faced criticism for its co-operation with Beijing.
Last year, Hong Kong publisher Gui Minhai disappeared while on holiday in Thailand.Last year, Hong Kong publisher Gui Minhai disappeared while on holiday in Thailand.
He later appeared on Chinese state TV, saying he had voluntarily handed himself over to the authorities over a drink-driving fatality years ago.He later appeared on Chinese state TV, saying he had voluntarily handed himself over to the authorities over a drink-driving fatality years ago.
There was widespread speculation that he had been deported to China at Beijing's request because of his involvement with a bookshop and publishing house which published material critical of China's leaders. There was widespread speculation that he had been deported to China at Beijing's request because of his involvement with a publishing house which published material critical of China's leaders.
The UN condemned the Thai authorities last year for deporting two Chinese dissidents who had been given refugee status by the organisation. The two men had been in detention in Thailand for illegally entering the country and rights group believe they were returned to China. The UN condemned Thailand last year for deporting two Chinese dissidents it had given refugee status. The men had been in detention for illegal entry and rights group believe they were returned to China.
Thailand also sparked international consternation when it sent back dozens of Uighur Muslims who had fled China. The government in Bangkok insisted it had acted within international law.