Myanmar seeks medicine for Thai detainees in bad health

Pornsak is chief of the Township Border Committee (TBC) and commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment task force. 

It is reported that the request had been made via the Thai embassy in Myanmar. 

The border committee has been coordinating with Ranong Hospital to provide medication for illnesses such as high blood pressure, stress and maternity concerns, he said, adding that it was also providing household remedies. 

Myanmar authorities have also asked for the names of the detainees’ relatives, so they can identify those who come to visit them in jail. Only one relative per prisoner is allowed to visit per day. 

A court in Myanmar’s Kawthaung province has sentenced the detainees to three-and-a-half years in jail for deforestation and illegal entry – the first two of the five counts that all 92 were charged with. The other three counts they are being investigated for are growing illicit drugs including cannabis and kratom; illegal possession of firearms and military weapons; as well as obstructing officials. 

The 92 villagers, 82 of whom are men, maintain that they were lured by a broker to clear a plot of land that they later learned was beyond the area Thais are allowed to use. 

Pornsak said that, so far, cases related to the other offences have not progressed. Those who were only penalised for illegal entry or deforestation and had nothing to do with other serious offences could have their sentences commuted or be pardoned later, he said.