Good ties will result in early release of Thai detainees in Myanmar : Army Chief
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Good relations between Thailand and Myanmar will result in early freedom of Thai nationals detained for encroaching into Myanmar territory, Army Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ochai said Monday.
Gen Prayuth said he will discuss the border problems with the Army Region 4 commander Lt Gen Udomchai Thamsarorach about residents' misunderstanding on regulations and conditions for working in Myanmar.
He said that the 49 detainees -- 41 men and eight women -- are safe and that the Thai military delegation which crossed the border to visit them provided them food and took care of them as fully as possible. There was no clash as had been earlier reported.
"This case should be a lesson that whatever we are in our neighbour's territory, we must respect their rules," said Gen Prayuth.
Gen Prayuth noted, however, during the latest arrest of 49 Thais, the Myanmar authorities also discovered military weapons during the operation. so more talks were needed as Myanmar law carries severe penalties in such cases.
He said he expects good results due to the current good ties between the two countries.
Gen Prayuth said that the Thai nationals are now being detained but have not been charged with any offence.
Meanwhile Lt Gen Udomchai Thamsarorach said all 49 Thai detainees in Myanmar are safe and not ill
The general On Sunday visited a village in Kra Buri district in Ranong to follow up on progress in helping 49 Thai detainees.
He met relatives of the detainees, telling them not to worry, as relevant officials are trying to help them return home safely. No one was injured nor ill, he said.
Col Pornsak Poonsawat, Commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment on Sunday visited Klongkranai area at the Thai–Myanmar border zone to send food, medicine, and drinking water to the Thai detainees and to negotiate with Myanmar officials.
However, the Myanmar officials authorised to talk did not show up, so Thai officials have contacted the Myanmar military via communication radio to reschedule an appointment for new negotiations, though no date has yet been confirmed.
Commenting on a report that some Thai people managed to flee, Pathawee Pratkachariya, deputy Ranong governor said that about 30 Thais escaped the arrest and returned home. They claimed that they did not know the site of their rubber plantation was in Myanmar territory.
Meanwhile, in Krabi, relatives of four detainees gathered at the village head’s home, waiting to hear about any progress.
Nutthanicha Makpol, wife of Wimol Makpon, one of those arrested for trespassing into Myanmar, said she was worried after learning that her husband and neighbours had been arrested and could not be contacted.
An initial investigation on the encroachment found that Thai workers had been defrauded by brokers into buy plots of land at a cheap price not realising that the land was in Myanmar territory.
According to a report, on July 4, three companies of Myanmar troops detained the Thai nationals who allegedly cut trees and were clearing the area to plant para rubber trees in Myanmar territory at Koh Song, opposite Ranong's Kra Buri district.
