Govt Says Only So Much It Can Do For 92 Held In Myanmar

[webfact]

THAI-MYANMAR TIES

Govt says only so much it can do for 92 held in Myanmar

ANAPAT DEECHUAY,

PANYA THIEWSANGWAL,

BOONLEUN PROMPRATHANKUL

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Authorities are seeking ways to assist 92 Thais sentenced to jail terms for illegal entry and encroaching on forestland in Myanmar.

They however admitted the extent of any such aid would be up to the local authorities and would have to wait for the completion of initial legal procedures.

The 92 Thais were each sentenced to three years and six months in prison.

Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday that the Thai Embassy had dispatched officials to Koh Song, where the 92 Thais are imprisoned, to monitor the situation.

He said the embassy would contact the Myanmar Foreign Affairs Ministry for information in preparation to provide aid once the case is submitted to the central administration.

The minister said assisting those Thais who were not involved in smuggling drugs or war weapons would be easier. Myanmar President Thein Sein had assured Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra that he would look into this case after initial legal proceedings were complete, Surapong said.

Defence Minister ACM Sukampol Suwannathat yesterday admitted that the extent of any aid provided by the Thai side would be up to Myanmar, because the 92 Thais had encroached on forestland and some had reportedly used war weapons to fight off Myanmar soldiers and grow narcotic plants.

Relatives of the detainees urged Thai authorities to contact their Myanmar counterparts to seek the return of assets seized from the Thais.

Noy Wongdee, a resident of Ranong's La Oon district, said many relatives of the 92 Thais accepted that their loved ones would have to serve time behind bars in Myanmar, as ordered by the court.

However, they hoped the two countries' good relations would encourage Myanmar officials to reduce the punishment. She also urged Thai authorities to contact their Myanmar counterparts to seek the return of 50 seized pieces of equipment including backhoes, tractors, pick-up trucks and motorcycles, as well as some gardening tools, because the families on this side of the border could make use of the assets in farming.

Worried that the Myanmar authorities would destroy the seized vehicles and tools, relatives of the 92 Thais living in Surat Thani, Krabi, Ranong and Chumphon planned to gather to demand Thai authorities help retrieve the items.

The commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment Task Force, Colonel Pornsak Pulsawat, speaking as head of the Township Border Committee in Ranong, said officials would first focus on trying to secure the release and return of the 92, before dealing with the return of the seized equipment.

Pornsak insisted there was still hope for the Thais because President Thein Sein would look into the possibility of pardons for them, adding that he couldn't confirm a rumour that Myanmar would release the first batch of Thais on August 12.

He said the court verdict so far covered only charges of illegal entry and forestland encroachment; investigation of other charges like those relating to war weapons and drugs was ongoing and no one knew how long that would take.

Thai Army officials from the Rattana Rangsan Camp in Ranong yesterday visited and provided some goods to Kra Buri district resident Da Waothong, whose husband Boonchuay and son Decha were arrested and jailed by Myanmar.

She said Boonchuay and Decha took goods via long-tailed boat to shops in the encroached-upon area in exchange for Bt2,000-Bt3,000 per trip, but were among the 92 Thais arrested on July 4. She said she was very worried about the men, who are the family's breadwinners, and urged the government to push Myanmar to release them.

-- The Nation 2012-07-27

[Moruya]

Why on earth would the government assist people who were involved in the drug business when the destination market was almost certainly Thailand?

If they had been caught growing or smuggling here, under Chalerm's terms they'd be 30 days from the noose.

Edited July 26, 2012 by Moruya

[mamypoko]

Why on earth would the government assist people who were involved in the drug business when the destination market was almost certainly Thailand?

If they had been caught growing or smuggling here, under Chalerm's terms they'd be 30 days from the noose.

However distasteful, it's common for governments to assist their citizens in foreign countries. This includes crimes from jaywalking to murder...and yes, drug crimes, too. In this case (OP) just because Myanmar says they're guilty, doesn't make it so.

[Moruya]

Why on earth would the government assist people who were involved in the drug business when the destination market was almost certainly Thailand?

If they had been caught growing or smuggling here, under Chalerm's terms they'd be 30 days from the noose.

However distasteful, it's common for governments to assist their citizens in foreign countries. This includes crimes from jaywalking to murder...and yes, drug crimes, too. In this case (OP) just because Myanmar says they're guilty, doesn't make it so.

But here in Chalermville drug suspects are shot first framed second

[mamypoko]

Why on earth would the government assist people who were involved in the drug business when the destination market was almost certainly Thailand?

If they had been caught growing or smuggling here, under Chalerm's terms they'd be 30 days from the noose.

However distasteful, it's common for governments to assist their citizens in foreign countries. This includes crimes from jaywalking to murder...and yes, drug crimes, too. In this case (OP) just because Myanmar says they're guilty, doesn't make it so.

But here in Chalermville drug suspects are shot first framed second

Based on your first post, I'm guessing you think ex-jud killing is a good thing.

On a separate note, and given it's Friday and I'm hearing it's really hot in my hometown, let me be the first to say: Taksin is bad!

Edited July 27, 2012 by mamypoko

[kawaiimomo]

About the encroachers, I think it's very good that some country in this area is taking action on this, I wish the Thai government would follow the example. Killings, drugs, etc, are bad but in my opinion nothing is as bad a destroying the land, they should pay a high price.

[BirdsandBooze]

The boot`s on the other foot now.

[Chopperboy]

The boot`s on the other foot now.

Burma supplies a large chunk of Thailand's energy needs & as its economy continues to grow expect more of it.

[Moruya]

Why on earth would the government assist people who were involved in the drug business when the destination market was almost certainly Thailand?

If they had been caught growing or smuggling here, under Chalerm's terms they'd be 30 days from the noose.

However distasteful, it's common for governments to assist their citizens in foreign countries. This includes crimes from jaywalking to murder...and yes, drug crimes, too. In this case (OP) just because Myanmar says they're guilty, doesn't make it so.

But here in Chalermville drug suspects are shot first framed second

Based on your first post, I'm guessing you think ex-jud killing is a good thing.

On a separate note, and given it's Friday and I'm hearing it's really hot in my hometown, let me be the first to say: Taksin is bad!

Extrajudicial killing should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Just pointing out the hypocrisy of attempting to liberate them if they were growing and transporting drugs.

[Orac]

About the encroachers, I think it's very good that some country in this area is taking action on this, I wish the Thai government would follow the example. Killings, drugs, etc, are bad but in my opinion nothing is as bad a destroying the land, they should pay a high price.

The Burmese government seems to be acting with restraint arresting these people compared with how the Thai authorities have been alleged to have handled similar situations on the Cambodian border with allegations of villagers being shot and teenager being burnt alive.

[webfact]

92 Thai detainees in Myanmar not yet put on trial on drug charge

BANGKOK, 27 July 2012 (NNT) - Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has disclosed that the Burmese court has not yet tried the 92 detained Thais on additional drug charges. He affirms that everyone of them is safe and sound.

According to the Minister, Foreign Affairs officials have been sent to Kawthaung in Myanmar to visit the Thai detainees, but they are still waiting for Myanmar’s permission for the visit. As far as the officials know, all of the detainees have only been tried for illegal entry and forest encroachment which resulted in their jail term of 3 years and six months.

Mr. Surapong said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will closely monitor the Burmese court’s trial. He added that, in principle, the 92 Thais could appeal their cases and the Ministry would assist them in every step of the way.

He said that the Foreign Ministry was also studying whether it would be possible for them to seek a state pardon.

-- NNT 2012-07-27

[geovalin]

About the encroachers, I think it's very good that some country in this area is taking action on this, I wish the Thai government would follow the example. Killings, drugs, etc, are bad but in my opinion nothing is as bad a destroying the land, they should pay a high price.

The Burmese government seems to be acting with restraint arresting these people compared with how the Thai authorities have been alleged to have handled similar situations on the Cambodian border with allegations of villagers being shot and teenager being burnt alive.

http://www.thaivisa....bodian-loggers/

200% true.

As you know, for the Thai population, an imprisoned Thai is a far more serious issue than a Cambodian shot by army.

It looks that this is the Cambodians duty to be shot by Thais. A kind of natural ecosystem.

:-)

[Moruya]

Muppet surapong!

Why on earth would they seek a pardon if they were growing drugs and armed and encroaching!

Edited July 27, 2012 by Moruya