Myanmar 'to free Thai encroachers soon'

He said land lease contracts allowing some who’d been tricked into farming in Myanmar's Koh Song area to remain there are being considered.
After two rounds of negotiations between local authorities of both countries, on July 6 and July 9, had failed to secure their release, Prayuth said further talks at local level would be preferred rather than bringing the matter up as a bilateral dispute.
“Local talks would soon begin and are expected to find common ground on the issue,” he said.
A local Thai military officer, Colonel Phornsak Phoolsawas, said the release had been delayed because Myanmar authorities wanted to sort out arms smuggling and drug dealing involving some of the Thai detainees. He said distinguishing between ordinary encroachers and those involved in illegal trades would be top of the agenda.
Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha said there were possibly more than 43 Thai people returning to Thailand, as some heading home had failed to register with authorities. He said Thais farming on Koh Song involved palm plantations begun four years ago, and talks over land leases would be important to settle the issue in the long term.
The former Army general said he would visit Myanmar on July 13 to discuss preparations for a coming SEA Games tournament to be hosted there, and would bring up the encroachment issue with the Myanmar government, negotiating for immediate release and for leasing the farming and palm plantations.
“I hope that Myanmar would be willing to settle the matter for the sake of good bilateral relations and the talks should be successful,” he added.
Col Phornsak, as commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment based in Ranong, which is opposite Koh Song, said there were 46 Thais returning to Thailand, or fleeing detention as of yesterday. Another one was wounded after a gunfight with the Myanmar military, but details were not available.
He said a network of drug dealers staying on Koh Song with the Thai workers had grown marijuana among other crops and smuggled them into Thailand for over two years.
“Myanmar authorities are interviewing all detainees and separating ordinary encroachers from wrongdoers, resulting in a number returning to Thailand,” he said.
The colonel identified three Thais suspected of involvement in illegal activities on Koh Song: Kriangkrai Suetrong, now in Thai custody for his links with marijuana plantations, while Phitthaya Bunthawee and a man identified as Jong have been accused of illegally encouraging the Thai encroachers to farm and settle on Koh Song, without permission from Myanmar authorities.
Phornsak said there were war weapons found hidden at several homes in plantations on Koh Song: eight assault rifles, one handgun, and homemade devices and a large number of munitions, along with four pickup trucks and four farm tractors.
Deputy Ranong Governor Pathawee Paratkhajariya said the Thai encroachers had been duped into farming and settling on Koh Song through systematic operations by Thai con-racketeers, who told them they would eventually own the land there at only Bt3,000 a rai.