THAILAND – Despite earlier assurances from Myanmar authorities that four Thai fishermen involved in a major incident between Myanmar military and their vessel that we reported on HERE would be released, they remain in custody, raising concerns about the ongoing diplomatic negotiations between Thailand and Myanmar.
The incident, which unfolded on November 30, involved the Myanmar navy opening fire on Thai fishing vessels, leading to one death and the detention of 31 crew members. Among those detained, four were Thai nationals, with the rest being Myanmar citizens.
Last week, the Myanmar government had reportedly confirmed plans to release the Thai fishermen, with Thai officials preparing to receive them at the border. However, as of December 8th, 2024, the fishermen have yet to be repatriated. The delay has been attributed to bureaucratic processes and the absence of a formal release order from Myanmar officials, which now evidently needs approval directly from Myanmar’s top military affairs committee, delaying the process. Myanmar is essentially in a state of civil war between the military junta and multiple armed ethnic groups. This is not the only issue Thailand and Myanmar have had recently, as there have also been alleged tensions between one armed ethnic group, who yesterday denied there being any major problems.
The Thai Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has expressed optimism about the return of the fishermen, stating that they are safe and that negotiations are ongoing. However, the lack of progress has led to frustration among the families of the detained fishermen and has sparked discussions about the reliability of diplomatic assurances in such sensitive cross-border incidents.
The Thai government continues to engage in diplomatic efforts to secure the release of its citizens. As for the fate of the remaining Myanmar fishermen who were working in Thailand, their circumstances are also unclear.
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