Four Thai fishermen, pardoned by a Myanmar court after being imprisoned for fishing in Myanmar’s waters last year, have been released and reunited with their families.
They were set free yesterday, at the Meeruang Ngoen pier in Kawthaung, Myanmar, where they were welcomed by their waiting relatives.
The fishermen were arrested on November 30. They were part of a fleet of Thai fishing boats operating in the area, but their compatriots managed to evade arrest.
Initially, the Thai side claimed that they were fishing in Thai waters and that the Myanmar authorities should have fired warning shots, instead of directly targeting the fishing vessels. One of the fishing boats was damaged by gunfire and it and its crew were seized.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai had previously stated that the crew would be released in early January, following diplomatic approaches made to Myanmar.
The skipper of the fishing vessel and his three crew members were, however, sentenced by a court in Kawthaung, formerly Victoria Point, to six years and four years in prison, respectively.
One of the freed fishermen said yesterday that they were treated well by Myanmar’s authorities, but are happy to return home.
The handover was witnessed by Thai Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Russ Jalichandra, accompanied by Col. Apichai Rueangrit, Chairman of the Thai-Myanmar Local Border Committee (Ranong-Kawthaung), as well as a commander from Kawthaung.
Russ expressed his gratitude to Myanmar for granting pardons to the four Thai nationals, while highlighting the close ties between the two countries.
