A court in Myanmar has sentenced four Thai fishermen, who were arrested on November 30 in a controversial incident off the coast of Thailand’s Ranong province, to between four and six years in prison and a fine for illegally entering and fishing in Myanmar waters without a permit.
The court in Kawthoung sentenced the owner of the fishing vessel to six years in prison and a fine of 200,000 kyats (Bt3,244), while the three other fishermen received four-year prison terms and fines of 30,000 kyats (Bt484) each, according to Matichon online.
The arrests occurred after Myanmar patrol boats fired upon the Thai fishing vessels. The fishing crew arrested included 30 Myanmar nationals.
The incident led to bilateral tensions, as Thai authorities insisted that the detained fishermen were in Thai waters, while Myanmar claimed otherwise.
Thailand's Foreign Ministry summoned the Myanmar envoy to Thailand to lodge a protest, claiming that Myanmar had not adhered to the rules of engagement during the incident.
