Myanmar’s military regime on Monday claimed that its firing on a Thai fishing flotilla in the Andaman Sea on Saturday was “in line with rules and regulations” because they invaded Myanmar’s territorial waters.
The attack by several Navy vessels on 15 Thai fishing boats took place some 12 nautical miles (about 22 km) off the coast of Koh Phayam in Ranong around 1.15 a.m. on Saturday.
Junta spokesman Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said a Myanmar Navy patrol boat detected suspicious activities off Kawthoung Township on its radar around 2.40 a.m. on Saturday, identifying fishing trawlers. The Navy signaled them to stop for inspection, but they fled, prompting the Navy to pursue and apprehend them, he said.
“We followed the rules and regulations in handling Thai fishing trawlers fishing in Myanmar waters,” he added.
Zaw Min Tun also claimed his ministry is conducting further investigation after “materials related to revolutionary groups” that were not weapons or ammunition were found on the trawler.
One fisherman drowned after jumping into the sea and two others were injured when the gunboats opened fire, Thai Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said Sunday.
The trawlers were mostly crewed by Myanmar migrant workers, 27 of whom were arrested on one of two boats that were directly fired at, along with four Thais.
The ministry complained that “too many shots” were fired at the trawlers’ gunwales and the reaction was “disproportionate.”
Claims about how far they had strayed into Myanmar’s territorial waters vary. A ministry spokesman initially said 4-5.7 miles, but a later statement said 1 or 2 miles.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Sunday said her government is opposed to the use of violence and is waiting for the result of a probe into the incident.
The Thai Foreign Ministry on Monday called in Myanmar Ambassador Chit Swe, who “expressed his condolences” and said he “would raise the issue with all of those involved, at the highest level of the Myanmar government”, Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said in a video statement.
Maris said he also reached out to his Myanmar counterpart Than Swe urging a full investigation into the incident and the release of the four Thai citizens. Than Swe “responded with his commitment to lend his full support to the Thai side,” Maris added.
The Thai government said it had also told its ambassador in Yangon to raise the issue with Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry in Naypyitaw.
