Thai pair in Myanmar court

The pair are among nine Thai detainees still imprisoned after the arrest of 92 people in July for illegal entry, encroaching on Myanmar territory and clearing land opposite Ranong in southern Thailand.
Recently 83 others were pardoned after being found guilty by a Myanmar court of illegal entry and encroachment on a local forest.
The two faced additional charges of possessing drugs. The court said yesterday it would rule on both defendants on October 1.
Seven others face charges of possessing military weapons.
Col Pornsak Poonsawat, Thai co-chairman of the Thai-Myanmar Township Border Committee, said his office was preparing to negotiate with Myanmar to help the remaining Thais.
He said his office would hold talks with Myanmar officials over the release of the nine Thai detainees. It is a positive sign considering Myanmar’s earlier decision to pardon 83 Thais. “So we could expect good news in the near future,” he said.
In a related development, Pornpun Pupiangjai, the second secretary at the Thai Embassy in Yangon, said relevant officials were doing their best to assist the nine detainees in the same way as the 83 who were pardoned.
A Myanmar court earlier handed down jail terms of three and a half years to the 92 Thais – 82 men and 10 women – for illegal entry and deforestation after they encroached on Myanmar territory opposite Ranong.