Govt regrets Myanmar’s continued detention of Thai fishers, asks for patience

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In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 5 Jan 2025 at 13: 23

UPDATED: 5 Jan 2025 at 16: 27

Nikorndej Balankura, spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, makes a statement about the extended detention of four Thai fishermen on Sunday. (Screenshot)
The Foreign Affairs Ministry’s official, Nikorndej Balankura, makes a statement regarding the four additional Thai fishermen’s overnight confinement on Sunday. ( Screenshot )

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 transfer of the four Thais was being processed.

The four Thai prisoners in Kaw Thaung had already been met by friends and were all in good physical and mental health, according to Mr. Phumtham.

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&nbsp, alleged incursion into the Myanmar lakes late in November, according to a new report.

Earlier Mr Phumtham had predicted their release on Jan 4 ( Saturday ), Myanmar’s Independence Day.

151 additional Thai detainees were released from Myanmar on Saturday.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry’s official, Nikorndej Balankura, expressed disappointment over the length of the Thai fishing crew’s stay in Myanmar.

He stated on Sunday that it was disheartening that the government had tried its hardest to free the four Thais and would continue to do so.

The Thai fishermen’s discharge was reportedly requested by the Myanmar Foreign Affairs Ministry, who added that the government had tried to cooperate. However, the release even depended on internal operations in Myanmar, he said.

He claimed that the four Thais in Kawthaung were given permission to travel to the Thai consulate in Yangon and that they were both in good physical and mental health, and that they each received three foods per day.

Because of concerns about the fishing industries of both sides and diplomatic ties nevertheless, Mr. Nikorndej argued that the situation was delicate when it came to the launch of the Thai fishermen.

He claimed that the issue needed to be tempered and carefully resolved.