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.