Thai authorities have forcibly returned six Cambodian political opposition activists and a young child, Human Rights Watch reported Friday. The forcible removal puts the activists at risk of mistreatment and unfair trials in Cambodia according to the group.

The six activists and one activist’s five-year-old grandson were arrested in Thailand on Sunday and forcibly removed the following day. The activists are supporters of the now-dissolved Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP).

Elaine Pearson, the Asia director at Human Rights Watch, stated that the activists’ arrests were a violation of fundamental refugee protection principles. Five of the activists were recognized as refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The UNHCR is dedicated to protecting the rights of refugees, which includes safeguarding them from political persecution.

The principle of non-refoulement under international law prohibits countries from transferring individuals when the returnees would be at risk of serious human rights violations upon return.

In a recent report, HRW outlined Thailand’s systematic practices of transferring activists, who sought asylum protection in the country, to neighboring countries such as Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. This “‘swap mart’ of refugees and activists” forms a part of mutual assistance between the neighboring countries to target critics of the governments in the region.

The CNRP was founded in 2012 to strengthen freedom and human rights. Additionally, the organization sought to promote free and fair elections and to defend Cambodia’s “national integrity.” The Cambodian Democratic Movement of National Rescue was behind the CNRP and established its working groups.

The CNRP was the second largest political party in Cambodia following the 2013 elections. In 2017, the CNRP was dissolved by Cambodia’s high court. Despite the cessation of the CNRP, the organization’s former leaders and members are working to restore democracy in Cambodia.

The Cambodian government has a history of political oppression and intimidation. Additionally, Human Rights Watch found that Thai authorities have engaged in transnational repression against political refugees. Human Rights Watch has implored the Cambodian government to drop all politically motivated charges against the activists and release them unconditionally.