Number of Thais arrested in Myanmar higher than earlier report

Pornsak and his team travelled into Myanmar where the Thais were detained and the Myanmar army gave him the list of the Thais detained for allegedly encroaching into the Myanmar territory to farm rubber trees and marijuana.

“From the list, there are a total of 92 Thai detained; 82 men and 10 women, not 49 as earlier reported. Today Myanmar army will transfer the detainees to a prison in the Victoria Point, known as Koh Song,” he said.

The detainees were rounded up on July 4 by three companies of Myanmar troops. They were allegedly cutting down trees and clearing an area to plant para rubber trees in Victoria Point, opposite Ranong's Kra Buri district. Thai Army Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said that the Myanmar authorities discovered military weapons during the operation although the Thais have not been charged with any offence.

Pornsak said Thais found not to be involved with the weapons and marijuana would be charged with illegal entry. Those considered innocent of other offences than illegal entry would certainly be freed back to Thailand through a checkpoint between the Victoria Point and Ranong’s Muang district.

The Myanmar side has promised to take good care of the detainees, he said. Pornsak also showed the list of 92 detainees and said that his unit would open a centre within the Thepsattri Force’s barracks in Ranong’s Muang district in the next few days to cooperate with relatives of the detainees.