The four Thai fishermen sent to prison by a Myanmar court yesterday, for fishing in Myanmar waters, are expected to be released on January 4, according to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
She said she has been informed about the Kawthoung Court’s sentencing of the four by Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa.
“It is a usual process for the prison terms to be handed down first, followed by pardons. Both sides have already discussed pardons for them. They will be freed as agreed, shortly after the New Year,” she said.
She praised the excellent relations between the two countries, saying that they facilitated the talks that led to the pardons.
The Myanmar court sentenced four Thai fishermen to between four and six years in prison and fines for illegally entering and fishing in Myanmar waters. They were arrested on November 30 in a controversial incident off the coast of Thailand’s Ranong province.
The owner of the fishing vessel was sentenced to six years in prison and fined 200,000 kyats (Bt3,244), while the three other fishermen received four-year prison terms and fines of 30,000 kyats (Bt484) each.
The arrests occurred after Myanmar patrol boats had opened fire on the Thai fishing vessels. The detained crew included 30 Myanmar nationals.
The incident caused bilateral tensions, as Thai authorities insisted that the fishermen were in Thai waters, while Myanmar claimed otherwise.
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry summoned Myanmar’s envoy in Bangkok to lodge a protest, asserting that Myanmar had failed to adhere to rules of engagement during the incident.
