The Thai navy is ready to retaliate against Myanmar’s navy if they intrude into Thai waters and attack Thai fishing boats, according to naval commander-in-chief Admiral Jirapol Wongwit today.
In response to a report that Myanmar’s patrol boats attacked a group of Thai fishing vessels, in waters off Ranong province, seizing one boat and 31 crew on Saturday, Admiral Jirapol said that the Royal Thai Navy will have to ask Myanmar about the incident, to determine where exactly the attack took place and whether the attack was an overreaction, adding however that, if the Thai vessels were fishing in the Thai waters and were attacked, the Thai navy could respond in kind.
Spokesman for the Thai Foreign Ministry, Nikorndej Balankura, said that the Thai Embassy in Myanmar has been instructed to ask Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry for an explanation of the incident.
According to Thai fisheries officials, the incident took place at about 1am on Saturday, when three Myanmar patrol boats approached the Thai fishing flotilla near Phayam Island in Thai waters and opened fire. Two crewmen were killed, a Thai and a Burmese. One fishing boat was impounded, along with its 31 crew.
