108 Vietnamese fishermen arrested

The Nation on Sunday

Thai authorities arrest Vietnamese fishermen yesterday after they intruded into Thai territorial waters. Some 108 crewmembers of 10 Vietnamese fishing boats that ventured into waters south of Rayong

RAYONG: -- Naval and other Thai authorities yesterday arrested 108 Vietnamese fishermen aboard 10 foreign trawlers that violated Thailand's territorial waters in the upper Gulf of Thailand.

The three-day and two-night operation, which started on Thursday, was prompted by complaints filed by Thai fishermen that dozens of Vietnamese trawlers had encroached on Thai waters north of Koh Samet to catch giant cuttlefish.

Royal Navy Vice Admiral Chumphol Wongwekin led the operation in conjunction with five other Thai agencies, encircling the foreign trawlers that were scattered over some 20 nautical miles.

On Friday, Thai authorities, with the help of three warships and two combat helicopters, managed to arrest 108 Vietnamese aboard 10 trawlers, while 10 other foreign vessels managed to escape.

-- The Nation 2012-09-16

This will be a running battle for evermore, tit for tat as resources become scarcer. It's time for cool heads, just impound the boats and release the fishermen. The respective governments can then thrash out a deal that saves face on both sides.

We don't need unnecessary tension and flag waving nationalism in the South China Sea / ( Gulf of Thailand ) area, China is causing enough tension as it is. Just sort out the fishing zones and comply with them, and let it be known that the respective governments will come down hard on their own nationals that break the law.

Maybe it was a covert operation that hadn't heard USA not going to retake U-Tapao .

This will be a running battle for evermore, tit for tat as resources become scarcer. It's time for cool heads, just impound the boats and release the fishermen. The respective governments can then thrash out a deal that saves face on both sides.

We don't need unnecessary tension and flag waving nationalism in the South China Sea / ( Gulf of Thailand ) area, China is causing enough tension as it is. Just sort out the fishing zones and comply with them, and let it be known that the respective governments will come down hard on their own nationals that break the law.

Lucky VN guys,normally Thai army shoots everybody who cross the border

Agree with post #2

Put the fishermen on a bus back to Vietnam no charges to be made.

As for the trawlers seized within Thai waters, offer the owners 1 month to purchase them at current market value, after 1 month they will be put up for auction.

I have been noticing that my nam pla is tasting a little watered down. dam_n Vietnamese stealing Thai fish.

Edited September 16, 201213 yr by jaltsc

On Friday, Thai authorities, with the help of three warships and two combat helicopters, managed to arrest 108 Vietnamese aboard 10 trawlers, while 10 other foreign vessels managed to escape.

Will that also happen in 2015?

No.. the worlds coming to an end this year... supposedly!!

I'm disappointed the aircraft carrier was not involved.

This Nation article would have been slightly more informative and probably would have moved up on the scale, from utter rubbish to vaguely interesting, if some key information and background facts were included.

• How far were these boats into Thai water territory?
  
• Did they pass through Cambodian waters?
  
• What is the international waters situation in the Gulf of Thailand?
  
• Has there been a (recent) history of these events?
  

Edited September 16, 201213 yr by Morakot

This Nation article would have been slightly more informative and probably would have moved up on the scale, from utter rubbish to vaguely interesting, if some key information and background facts were included.

• How far were these boats into Thai water territory?
  
• Did they pass through Cambodian waters?
  
• What is the international waters situation in the Gulf of Thailand?
  
• Has there been a (recent) history of these events?
  

They state clearly they were North of Koh Samet - that is well within the Thai waters, thus presumably they had to pass thru Cambodia's waters but Cambodia and VN are close allies. I also agree with the other post - seize the boats and give them a month to buy them back or auction them off. Nothing deters people more than losing money. After all these guys were only along for the ride so to speak.

This Nation article would have been slightly more informative and probably would have moved up on the scale, from utter rubbish to vaguely interesting, if some key information and background facts were included.

• How far were these boats into Thai water territory?
  
• Did they pass through Cambodian waters?
  
• What is the international waters situation in the Gulf of Thailand?
  
• Has there been a (recent) history of these events?
  

They state clearly they were North of Koh Samet - that is well within the Thai waters, thus presumably they had to pass thru Cambodia's waters but Cambodia and VN are close allies. I also agree with the other post - seize the boats and give them a month to buy them back or auction them off. Nothing deters people more than losing money. After all these guys were only along for the ride so to speak.

North of Koh Samet over a stretch of twenty nautical miles.... Hmm, yep, while some were closer to the international maritime borders, some were on land, North of Koh Samet indeed .... Yes, we all love the quality and precision of the Nation articles. And yes, all fishermen will be sent home right away. Apart from the third guy in the second row, who will first receive a hair cut.

Edited September 16, 201213 yr by Morakot

So, for those who didn't get my concern. There is no mentioning of Thailand's Exclusive Economic Zone that would give fishing rights for the entire gulf North of the Malaysian and Cambodian EEZs, regardless of territorial waters (where normally "Innocent passage" to foreign vessels is granted). Or I am missing the point here? Could we have some more background information please.

So, for those who didn't get my concern. There is no mentioning of Thailand's Exclusive Economic Zone that would give fishing rights for the entire gulf North of the Malaysian and Cambodian EEZs, regardless of territorial waters (where normally "Innocent passage" to foreign vessels is granted). Or I am missing the point here? Could we have some more background information please.

Not quite correct, you have forgot about oil/gas field running right down the middle of the gulf, this is all restricted waters even for Thai fishing boats and commercial vessels

This Nation article would have been slightly more informative and probably would have moved up on the scale, from utter rubbish to vaguely interesting, if some key information and background facts were included.

• Did they pass through Cambodian waters?
  

Maybe maybe not...depends were they came out of in Vietnam, if they came out of Vung Tau for example they may have come up the west side of the gulf

This Nation article would have been slightly more informative and probably would have moved up on the scale, from utter rubbish to vaguely interesting, if some key information and background facts were included.

• How far were these boats into Thai water territory?
  
• Did they pass through Cambodian waters?
  
• What is the international waters situation in the Gulf of Thailand?
  
• Has there been a (recent) history of these events?
  

- they came too much far from VN. captured in Samet Island,Rayong

- Yep, they did

- they were in the Thai sea not in the international water. All the countries around the gulf had a consensus mutually.

- there are many similar cases with Thai-Malasian, Thai-Burma, Thai-Vietnam, Thai-Indonesian and Thai-Cambodian.

in a few years AEC will be fully functioning. I wanna laugh. integrating all these countries is a disaster.