PRIME Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said the four Thai fishermen captured by Myanmar navy in an attack on Thai trawlers on Nov. 30 and now sentenced to four to six years in jail will be pardoned while confirming “good news” is still likely in the New Year, Naewna newspaper said this evening (Dec. 16).
A source in Myanmar’s Kawthaung township had earlier said that all 31 fishermen, with 27 of them being Myanmar citizens, had been sentenced to jail for allegedly illegally fishing in Myanmar’s territorial waters.
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. One of the Myanmar navy patrol boats towed one of the Thai trawlers to Yan Cheuk island off Kawthaung township in southern Myanmar.
Kawthaung Provincial Court has sentenced the trawler’s owner to five years in jail for allegedly illegally fishing in Myanmar’s territorial waters and one year for illegal entry for a total of six years. He was also fined 200,000 kyat.
The three Thai crew members got three years’ imprisonment for allegedly fishing in Myanmar’s territorial waters without permission and one year in jail for illegal entry for a total of four years. They were also fined 30,000 kyat each.
Meanwhile the 27 Myanmar crew members got to one year in jail for illegal entry.
Even so, Paetongtarn said upon returning from an official visit to Malaysia that Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa had told her that the trial and sentencing of Thai fishermen to jail was just a normal procedure and after this all four Thai fishermen would be pardoned.
This had already been discussed with Myanmar authorities and an early release requested, she said, adding that Myanmar’s internal process had to be completed first with this requiring legal action.
Asked whether six Myanmar crewmembers who were arrested for smuggling after 40,000kg salted fermented shrimp was found in their trawler moored at a Ranong pier would be exchanged for the four captured Thai fishermen, Paetongtarn said the two issues were probably not related.
Asked if it could be confirmed that the four Thai crewmembers would be released in the New Year, Maris, who was with the Prime Minister, replied, “At the moment, it’s like that.”
CAPTION:
Top: Some of the captured fishermen and their trawler S. Charoenchai which Myanmar navy seized. Photo: Thai Rath
Insert: Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra talking to the press upon returning from Malaysia today, Dec. 16, 2024. Photo: Thai Rath
Front Page: One of the Thai fishing boats attacked by the Myanmar navy. Photo: Naewna
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