By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE THAI MARITIME Enforcement Command Centre’s Area 3 plans to set up a special task force in charge of maintaining the country’s maritime interests in the Andaman Sea, confirmed a vice admiral today (July 22, 2020).
Thai-MECC Area 3 commander Vice Adm Choengchai Chomchoengpat said the task force will be set up with a budget provided for fiscal 2021 and be tasked with the protecting of the country’s maritime interests in the sea off several southern provinces.
The navy-led special task force will also help the other authorities combat human trafficking in the Andaman Sea which might probably involve job-seeking migrants such as ethnic Rohingya groups, according to the commander.
The task force will conduct regular marine patrols and help with the government measures launched against the illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the sea off Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun, he said.
The Thai-MECC performs in close, continual coordination with varied government agencies such as the Marine Department, the Fisheries Department and the Marine and Coastal Resources Department and the Marine Police, he said.
CAPTION:
Top: Three beaches from the Karon Viewpoint in Phuket with the Andaman Sea very calm on this sunny day. Photo: Shankar S. (CC BY 2.0)
