Myanmar authorities confirm no casualty in Thai fishing vessel seizure
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Lynn/Yoon (NP News)- Dec 3
Major General Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson for the State Administration Council (SAC), reported that a Thai fishing boat that had entered Myanmar's territorial waters was intercepted and inspected without any casualties.
On December 2, Major General Zaw Min Tun clarified to the media that the Myanmar military (navy) had intercepted and inspected a Thai fishing boat that had illegally entered Myanmar's territorial waters to engage in fishing activities.
During the incident, a Myanmar naval vessel conducting security duties within Myanmar's territorial waters in Kawthaung Township detected five suspicious movements via radar at 2:40 AM on November 30. Upon investigation, the vessels were identified as fishing boats; however, when signaled with lights, they fled, as reported by a spokesperson for the State Administration Council (SAC).
"Despite being signaled to stop for inspection, the fishing boats attempted to flee the scene. We pursued them and apprehended a Thai fishing vessel illegally operating within Myanmar's territorial waters, five miles north of Kyatmout Island, about three miles northeast of Kawthaung Township, at 3:20 AM," said Major General Zaw Min Tun.
During the interception, 27 Myanmar nationals and 4 Thai nationals were detained along with the fishing vessel. It was reported that at 5:00 AM on November 30, official notification was made to the authorities at the Myanmar Border Fisheries Department in Ranong.
"It is important to clarify that, contrary to the claims made by anti-government media outlets, the Myanmar Navy did not violate Thai territorial waters. Contrary to false claims, Thai fishing boats illegally entered Myanmar's territorial waters and these boats were detained according to the established procedures. Secondly, there were no reported injuries or casualties.," said Major General Zaw Min Tun.
According to the initial investigation, the detained fishing vessel is owned by a Thai national from Ranong, Thailand. It departed from Ranong Port at 3:00 pm on November 29 and was found fishing within Myanmar's territorial waters.
"Each Thai national was paid 15,000 Thai Baht, while Myanmar nationals received 12,000 Thai Baht for their involvement in illegal activities. Authorities found materials linked to militant terrorist groups and are conducting further investigations," said the spokesperson.