Thai authorities seized a Myanmar fishing boat in Thai waters off the coast of Ranong, following a recent escalation in tensions between the two countries.
Thai naval officers, acting on a tip-off, intercepted the Myanmar vessel at Waithong pier in Ranong province around 9 p.m. on Friday (December 13), according to the Thailand Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3, as reported by ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐๐ฐ๐ด๐ต. A search of the boat uncovered 40,000 kilograms of salt-fermented shrimp packed in 2,000 sacks. The vessel, which lacked proper permits to import fishery products, was confiscated, and six Myanmar crew members aboard the vessel were arrested for smuggling and handed over to local police for further legal action.
This seizure follows an incident two weeks earlier when a Myanmar patrol boat fired on 15 fishing boats in Myanmar waters, capturing a Thai fishing boat and arresting 31 crew members, including four Thai fishermen and 27 Myanmar nationals. The incident also resulted in the death of one Thai fisherman during an escape attempt, and another was injured.
Although Myanmarโs junta had previously indicated that the Thai fishermen might be released on January 4, Myanmarโs Independence Day, the Kawthaung court sentenced them to prison terms ranging from four to six years on December 16. In response, Thailandโs Foreign Affairs Minister, Maris Sangiampongsa, stated that officials would explore the possibility of seeking pardons for the fishermen.โฉ
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