BANGKOK: More than 30 Thai fishing boat crew members were arrested in Myanmar waters on Saturday (Nov 30) after an encounter with other vessels left one person dead, a navy commander said.
Suwat Donsakul, naval commander of the southern province of Ranong, told AFP that a Thai fisherman had drowned and that “31 people had been taken to Myanmar”, without specifying who arrested them.
Suwat said several Thai fishing boats were operating in Myanmar waters at the time of Saturday’s incident.
The deceased “jumped into the water during the attack”, he said.
Suwat said he had asked local authorities to negotiate with their counterparts in Myanmar to secure the release of the fishermen.
A spokesperson for the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs told AFP that negotiations would also be initiated with the Burmese side to obtain their release.
AFP has contacted Myanmar’s government junta for comment.
The incident prompted the Ranong provincial fisheries department to issue a warning to fishermen and boat owners to avoid areas near the Thai-Myanmar maritime border.
The fisheries department said in a statement that “armed fishing boats from Myanmar” attacked Thai fishing boats about 20 km west of Phayam Island off the Thai coast, without specifying the identity of the alleged attackers.
His warning was “to all fishing operators and vessel owners to exercise caution when sailing near the border.”
Thailand and Myanmar share approximately 2,400 km of land and sea borders, including the Andaman Sea.
According to a notice posted on the Thai Fisheries Department website, Thai fishing boats are operating illegally in Myanmar waters, increasing tensions between the two countries.
