Thailand has urged the Myanmar ambassador to push for the immediate release of the four Thai citizens who are currently detained in the neighbouring country after their boat came under fire from Myanmar navy ships off the coast of Ranong last week.
The director-general of the Department of East Asian Affairs, Piyapak Sricharoen, yesterday met with the Myanmar ambassador to Thailand, U Chit Swe, who expressed his regrets over the incident, said Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa in a video statement.
Mr Maris said the Myanmar ambassador agreed to raise the issue with the government in Nay Pyi Taw, before adding the government is doing all it can to secure the release of the Thai fishing crew.
He also said he had sent a private text message calling for a transparent investigation to his counterpart, Than Swe -- who is also a deputy prime minister -- who responded by affirming his support for a full probe into the incident.
Furthermore, Mr Maris said he had instructed the Thai ambassador in Yangon to travel to Nay Pyi Taw to raise the issue with the permanent secretary of Myanmar's Foreign Affairs Ministry.
"The government will do its best to take care and handle this issue.
"We place strong emphasis on the wellbeing of these four Thai nationals and will engage [Myanmar] through every channel at all levels to bring them back as soon as possible,'' he said.
One fisherman drowned after jumping into the sea during the incident, which happened when Thai boats strayed six to seven kilometres into Myanmar waters on Saturday. A total of 31 crew members, including four Thai citizens, were detained in Myanmar.
One Thai national and one Myanmar citizen were being treated at a hospital in southwestern Ranong province, navy officials said.
Fishery officials in Ranong have issued a warning for all vessels in coastal waters to take precautions when fishing near the Thai-Myanmar border.
The incident highlights ongoing disputes over illegal fishing and maritime boundaries in the Andaman Sea, off the southern point of the 2,400-kilometre land border Thailand shares with Myanmar.
Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said yesterday the local border coordination committee from the two countries had launched talks to solve the problem.
Mr Phumtham, who is also a deputy prime minister, said that all further actions should follow diplomatic protocols before affirming that the Thai military is fully committed to addressing the issue.
The vessels are fishing boats and not armed, which meant the excessive action was not justified, he said.
