Myanmar’s navy opened fire on a group of Thai fishing vessels on Saturday, causing one fisherman to drown. It also detained 31 crew members from one of the boats, a spokesperson for Thailand’s Defence Ministry said.
Two of 15 Thai fishing vessels were fired at after they operated 4-5.7 nautical miles (7.4-10.6 km) inside Myanmar’s territorial waters, spokesperson Thanatip Sawangsang said in a statement.
Three fishermen jumped into the water during the incident, one of whom drowned while two were rescued by the Thai navy, Thanatip said.
Detention
One of the boats, with 31 fishermen on board, was detained by Myanmar’s navy during the encounter, Thanatip said. He added that the Thai navy was in negotiations to secure their release.
As a report in the Bangkok Post, from the 31 crew members, four are Thais and 27 are Burmese . They are believed to have been taken to Yan Cheuk Island in Myanmar.
Vice Adm Suwat Donsakul, a commander in the 3rd Naval Area said that Thai fishing boats have often been warned about operating in Myanmar waters and the warnings have been defied. He added that this is due to Myanmar water having more fish stock than Thai waters.
Thailand’s Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters that the incident was “just a warning shot” and not an attack.
Release Of Fishermen
A spokesperson for the Thai Foreign Ministry, Nikorndej Balankura, said the ministry was also coordinating with authorities in Myanmar to seek the fishermen’s release and evaluating whether any violations of international law had taken place.
The fishery department in Thailand’s southern Ranong province, which shares a maritime border with Myanmar, urged Thai fishing vessels to be careful when traveling near the boundary.
Thailand’s army last week played down local media reports of heightened tensions on the land border with Myanmar in an area where there is a longstanding dispute with the controlling ethnic armed group, saying the reports were exaggerated.
Myanmar’s ruling junta did not immediately respond to a telephone request for comment.
(with inputs from Reuters)
