PUBLISHED: 5 Jan 2025 at 13: 23
UPDATED: 5 Jan 2025 at 14: 32
Four Thai fish crew members were never released by Myanmar on Saturday as before anticipated because their transfer procedure is still in progress, according to Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
Mr. Phumtham stated on Sunday that the Foreign Affairs Ministry was carefully monitoring the situation and that the release of the four Thais was being processed.
According to Mr. Phumtham, family had previously met the four Thai prisoners in Kaw Thaung and discovered that they were all in good physical and mental health.
The minister stated that they would be available quickly, but he was unable to give an exact date due to procedural concerns regarding the release.
The crew members were sentenced to four to six years in a Myanmar prison after their , alleged incursion into the Myanmar waters late in November, according to a new record.
Earlier Mr Phumtham had predicted their release on Jan 4 ( Saturday ), Myanmar’s Independence Day.
On Saturday, 151 additional Thai nationals were freed from Myanmar.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry’s official, Nikorndej Balankura, expressed disappointment over the length of the Thai fishing crew’s protracted incarceration in Myanmar.
He stated on Sunday that it was disappointing that the government had tried its hardest to free the four Thais and would proceed to do so.
The official added that the Thai fishermen’s launch was soon being attempted by the Myanmar Foreign Affairs Ministry as a result of their cooperation. But, the release also depended on internal operations in Myanmar, he said.
He claimed that when the four Thais from the Thai consulate in Yangon were granted access to them, they were found to be in good physical and mental health, and they each received three meals per day.
Mr. Nikorndej argued that the situation was delicate when it came to the transfer of the Thai fishing because it involved issues with both sides ‘ fishing industries and diplomatic relationships as a whole.
He claimed that for the sake of the problem, patience and careful dialogue were necessary.