Navy rounds up intruding Vietnamese fishing trawlers

KOH HOOD: First Naval Region sent three ships yesterday to round up 10 Vietnamese fishing trawlers that intruded in Thai waters near Trat's Koh Kood area early yesterday morning.

The pre-dawn operation, which stemmed from the Royal Thai Navy's air squadron 101's aircraft's detection of intruding trawlers, however captured only two boats along with 10 crewmembers while the rest withdrew their anchors and fled in time. The suspects and their boats were initially taken to the Royal Thai Fleet's mid-sea port in Chon Buri's Sattahip district and the suspects were transferred to Sattahip Police for legal action later.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Navy-rounds-up-intruding-Vietnamese-fishing-trawle-30274802.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-13

Those fishermen were lucky it was the Navy that nabbed them. Previously Vietnamese fishermen were simply gunned down by trigger happy Thai Marine police.

The gulf of Thailand has over a dozen overlapping claims that have NEVER been resolved. Thais arrest those they say are in their waters, but no one else in ASEAN agrees. Puts a weird spin on ASEAN when they cannot even agree on water rights.

If not illegally positioned why did the other vessels take a runner?

If not illegally positioned why did the other vessels take a runner?

Because no matter if you are legal or not if the Navy/Marine Police think you are in the wrong you will be arrested and your equipment impounded. So better to run than sit and wait. However if the Navy did a better job of interdicting them they would not have had the chance to get away.