Thailand to apologize to Myanmar over attack

Thailand to apologize to Myanmar over attack

BANGKOK (Reuter): Thailand plans to apologize to Myanmar over an attack by Thai fishermen on Myanmarese crew in which Myanmarese were tied up, beaten and thrown overboard.

At least two died and 24 were missing, according to a Myanmarese state-run newspaper.

A government official said yesterday that Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa will send a letter of apology to the Myanmarese government with Defense Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who visits Yangon early next month.

According to Myanmarese authorities, Thai fishermen attacked their Myanmarese crewmen after Yangon revoked licenses to fish in Myanmarese waters on Aug. 3.

The Thai boats had been using illegal nets and smuggling their catches back to Thailand, the Myanmarese embassy in Bangkok said.

The Thais blamed the Myanmarese crewmen for tipping off Myanmarese authorities about the illegal fishing which led to the cancellation of the license.

Myanmar said some fishermen were beaten and thrown overboard while others had jumped overboard to escape.

A Myanmarese rescue team had recovered two bodies, their hands tied behind their backs, and was searching for 24 other crewmen listed as missing, the state-run Myanmarese newspaper, the New Light of Myanmar, reported on Saturday.

Banharn told reporters he ordered authorities in the southern Thai province of Ranong to investigate the incident and had also ordered increased Thai patrols in Thai waters in the area to prevent any further incidents.

Banharn said those responsible for the violence would be brought to justice soon.

Many of Thai fishing boats operating out of ports on southern Thailand's Andaman Sea coast employ crewmen from nearby Myanmar.

Authorities in southern Myanmar closed the border checkpoint with Thailand's Ranong province after the attack. It was the last official border crossing point still open.

The attack on the crewmen was the latest in a series of incidents which have strained relations between the two countries since the beginning of the year.

Myanmarese authorities had earlier closed the two other main border checkpoints in the northeastern town of Tachilek and the southeastern town of Myawadi following various disagreements with Thailand.