Thailand protested an incident involving Myanmar’s navy firing on Thai fishing vessels, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra made a statement on Sunday. One fisherman drowned during the incident and two were injured. Dozens of Thai fishermen were also detained from one of the boats.
Shinawatra had questioned claims that the fishing boats had intruded into Myanmar’s territorial waters when the country’s navy opened fire on the vessels late last week.
The Thai defense ministry had earlier said two of 15 Thai fishing vessels were fired on when they were 4 to 5.7 nautical miles (7.4 to 10.6 km) inside Myanmar’s territorial waters near the southern Thai province of Ranong.
“It is inconclusive,” Shinawatra said, when asked by reporters whether Thai fishing boats entered Myanmar’s territorial waters.
“We don’t support violence whatever the circumstances,” she said, adding that Thailand was seeking more details on the incident and a quick release of four of the Thai nationals who were among the 31 fishermen detained by Myanmar’s forces.
Myanmar’s ruling junta did not immediately respond to a telephone request for comment on the incident.
Thai Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said a letter protesting the use of force was sent to Myanmar through an established local border mechanism, demanding clear details about what happened and a quick return of the Thai boat and crew detained at sea.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa also issued a letter of concern over the incident to the Myanmar government and summoned the Myanmar ambassador for a meeting on Monday. Thailand seeks clarification about what happened and a quick release of the four Thai nationals from Myanmar.
Myanmar has been in a state of crisis since 2021 when the military seized power, toppling an elected government and sparking an armed rebellion by crushing protests with lethal force across the country.
Team Bharatshakti
(With inputs from Reuters)
