MYANMAR’S State Planning and Administration Council sent a letter to the border authorities of Dawei district late last night (March 27) notifying that the sentences of four Thai fishermen and three Filipinos have been reduced and waived and they are now to be deported, Thai Rath newspaper said early this morning.
The four Thai fishermen were captured by Myanmar navy in an attack on Thai trawlers on Nov.30,2024 and they were later sentenced to four to six years in jail.
Sailors aboard three Myanmar patrol boats opened gunfire at three Thai fishing boats which led to the death of a Thai crewmember who had reportedly drowned in the sea and the injury of two others. One of the Myanmar navy patrol boats towed one of the Thai trawlers to Yan Cheuk island off Kawthaung township in southern Myanmar.
Kawthaung Provincial Court sentenced the trawler’s owner to five years in jail for allegedly illegally fishing in Myanmar’s territorial waters and one year for illegal entry for a total of six years. He was also fined 200,000 kyat.
The three Thai crew members got three years’ imprisonment for allegedly fishing in Myanmar’s territorial waters without permission and one year in jail for illegal entry for a total of four years. They were also fined 30,000 kyat each.
Meanwhile the 27 Myanmar crewmembers got to one year in jail for illegal entry.
Myanmar’s chairman of the State Planning and Administration Council said the four Thai fishermen and three Filipinos were being released to maintain friendly relations and out of humanitarian concern.
While the Thai fishermen were imprisoned at Kawthaung jail, the three Filipinos were serving time in home confinement.
A warning was issued that if they commit another crime they would have to serve the remainder of this sentence plus the additional penalty.
The four Thai fishermen were identified as:
(1) Mr. Wirot;
(2)) Mr. Sunan;
(3) Mr. Sompong;
(4) Mr. Thaworn.
The three Filipos also being released are the following:
(1) Mr. Jason Corp Jaramilla;
(2) Ms. Sunshine Rivera;
(3) Ms. Magdalena Vicente.
CAPTIONS:
Top photo: The Thai trawler S. Charoenchai seized by the Myanmar navy .
Front Page: Some of the captured fishermen on their seized trawler. Photos: Thai Rath
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