Thailand urged Myanmar to release a group of fishermen who strayed into territorial waters

Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said on December 2 that the official in charge of East Asian affairs, Piyapak Sricharoen, met with Myanmar ambassador Chit Swe after the Myanmar navy ship opened fire on a Thai fishing boat, causing a fisherman to drown. and 31 crew members were detained, including 4 Thai nationals.

Thai Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai previously said that the country’s fishing boat strayed about 7 km into Myanmar’s territorial waters on November 30. After the Myanmar warship opened fire, a fisherman on the Thai fishing boat jumped into the sea and drowned.

Minister Phumtham said those were “just warning shots”, not an attack by the Myanmar navy against Thai fishing boats.

Ambassador Swe regretted the incident and said he would convey this matter to relevant people at the highest levels of the Myanmar government. The Thai Foreign Minister also contacted his Myanmar counterpart Than Swe and pledged “full support for Thailand”.

The Thai government has also asked the country’s ambassador in Yangon to raise the issue with Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Naypyidaw. The Myanmar military government has not responded to the incident.

Thai officials have issued a warning to all means to take precautions when fishing near the maritime border between this country and Myanmar.