Thais charged with illegal entry and land encroachment pardoned
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Myanmar's President Thein Sein has pardoned 83 of the 92 Thai detainees rounded up in Myanmar soil in July, it was announced today.
Making the announcement was Col Pornsak Poonsawat, chairman of the Thailand-Myanmar Township Border Committee (TBC) for Ranong-Kaw Thaung.
Col Pornsak led family members to visit 92 Thai detainees in a Myanmar prison across the border after they were arrested in Kaw Thaung in July for land encroachment and illegal drug and weapon possession.
Escorting the relatives of Thai detainees to the Kao Mile Prison, Col Pornsak said he received a report from the Thai embassy in Yangon that Myanmar President Thein Sein signed a pardon for 83 Thai detainees charged with illegal entry and land encroachment. The Thai detainees will be released today.
The relatives brought personal items and medicine to the Thai inmates between 9am to noon, the visiting time allowed by the Myanmar authorities.
A Myanmar court earlier handed down verdicts to those charged with land encroachment and weapons possession, while cases involving illegal drugs are awaiting the court’s hearing.
A local court earlier handed down jail terms of three and one half years for the 92 Thai villagers -- 82 men and 10 women -- for illegal entry and deforestation, while another two were charged with drug-related offenses.
Eight Thais were sentenced to seven years in Myanmar jails for illegal possession of military weapons, an additional verdict on top of their illegal entry and deforestation charges.
