The Thai Foreign Ministry has urged opposition MP Viroj Lakkana-adisorn to cancel his planned visit to four Thai fishermen held in Myanmar. Deputy Foreign Minister Ras Chalee Chan warned yesterday that visiting the four fishermen could be seen as putting pressure on the Myanmar military council and could do more harm than good, Thai newspapers reported.
Thai opposition MP Viroj Lakkana-adisorn, who is also the chairman of the House of Representatives’ Military Affairs Committee, is planning to visit Kawthaung to meet the four fishermen in person. The Thai Foreign Ministry has urged that if he does, he should approach them through diplomatic channels.
The Thai fishermen were arrested and sentenced to prison by the Burmese military on November 30 after the Burmese navy fired on them for allegedly poaching fish in Myanmar waters. Despite repeated statements by Thai government officials that the military council will release them soon, they are still in prison. The military council has been charged with illegal fishing and illegal entry into the country. 27 Burmese fishermen have also been arrested with them, and it was previously reported that they are being investigated because they have evidence of terrorist activities.
