Phil Robertson, director of Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates, returns to Beyond the Mekong to speak with The Diplomat’s Luke Hunt about their plight and the region-wide issue of transnational repression. “If they, these four refugees, are sent back, including Zhang and others, they would face persecution, arrest, likely torture and detention, and long prison terms,” he said. Robertson said Zhang Xinyan’s detention had again raised concerns in the United States, European Union, Australia, and Canada, which was expected to lead diplomatic efforts in securing her release. Their plight was also reminiscent of the 40 Uyghurs that Thailand forcibly repatriated to China last year. Bangkok-based Robertson, who has 30 years of experience working in human rights, also speaks about organized crime, human trafficking networks, and scam compounds in mainland Southeast Asia, as well as cross-border relations between Thailand and Cambodia.