Ranong seek release of more than 80 Thais nabbed by Myanmar
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Thai officials in Ranong are seeking to negotiate with their Myanmar counterparts for the release of more than 80 Thais captured by Myanmar authorities for encroaching on Myanmar soil.
Thai authorities believe hundreds of Thai encroachers are still stranded and hiding on the Myanmar side on the border after Myanmar authorities cracked down on alleged encroachers on Wednesday afternoon.
Thai officials as well as Thais, who have fled back across the border, said more than 300 Thai families, or about 800 people, have cleared forests and set up a community in an area across from Kraburi district in Ranong.
The villagers said they believed almost 800 Thais were still hiding in forest following the crackdown.
Col Pornsak Poolsawat, the commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment’s Taskforce, said Thai authorities were still awaiting contact with Myanmar to negotiate for the release of the Thais.
Ranong Deputy Governor Pattawee Paratkhajariya said Pornsak, who chairs the joint Thai-Myanmar Border Committee, has made preparations for holding talks with Myanmar.
Pattawee said the Thai authorities would try to have Myanmar release the captured Thais as soon as possible.
He said the Kraburi district chief had been instructed to put medical officials on standby in case the Thais fled back across the border.
