MYANMAR authorities did not release the four Thai fishermen captured in an attack by its patrol boats on Thai trawlers today (Dec. 6) as earlier confirmed leading to the Thai team having waited in vain to receive them and then withdrawing to their base, TV Channel 7 said this evening.
Images had emerged showing the four Thai fishermen standing behind 27 Myanmar fishermen who were seated at a pavilion in front of the pier at Koh Song island. The Myanmar navy had brought them there from Koh Cheuk island on board the captured S. Charoenchai 8 Thai trawler for the immigration officials to proceed in sending them back home.
This afternoon Koh Song was visible from Ranong customs port which is directly opposite the Myanmar island. Tourist boats were sailing in and out while trawlers were out fishing in Thai waters again.
Thai officials had brought a team of doctors and nurses plus two vans from Ranong Hospital to wait to receive the four Thai fishermen but they have yet to be sent back.
It was reported that there were still obstacles in the process of sending the release letter to the Myanmar central government.
Because of this, the four Thai fishermen were not freed and as Saturday and Sunday are holidays for the provincial government it is expected that they would only gain their freedom on Monday.
This being the case the team waiting to receive them withdrew to their base but are on call 24 hours a day.
The Foreign Ministry’s Director-General of the Information Department Mr. Nikorndej Balankura said the letter sent to Myanmar authorities was not a protest, only diplomatic coordination.
He emphasized that up to now there were no reports that the capture of the fishing boat and four fishermen was linked to Wa rebels having occupied a “no-man’s land” in the mountainous border area near Pai district of Mae Hong Son.
Sailors aboard three Myanmar patrol boats opened gunfire at three Thai fishing boats which led to the death of a Thai crewmember who had reportedly drowned in the sea and the injury of two others.
CAPTION:
Some of the captured fishermen and their trawler S. Charoenchai which Myanmar navy seized. Photo: Thai Rath
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