Myanmar pardons 4 Thai fishermen expected to be released soon: Thai PM

Myanmar has pardoned four Thai fishermen detained in the country since November 2024 after they allegedly ventured into its territorial waters, Thailand announced on Friday.

One Thai fisherman drowned and two were injured when Myanmar’s navy chased a flotilla of Thai fishing boats in the Andaman Sea during the incident that resulted in the capture of the four Thais. About 27 Myanmar crew also were detained.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said the government was preparing for the four Thai nationals’ return soon. Neither government has said when they will leave Myanmar.

“The minister of foreign affairs has informed me that on March 27, the Myanmar government issued a pardon order for all four Thai fishermen, based on the good relations between Thailand and Myanmar,” Paetongtarn said.

“I have instructed the minister of foreign affairs to expedite all related procedures to bring all four Thai fishermen back to their families as soon as possible. I would like to thank the Myanmar government for this decision,” she said.

Thailand and Myanmar have several disputed areas on their long land border and their maritime border off the southern tip of Myanmar and southwest Thailand, and disagreements occasionally flare up.

The four fishermen were detained on Nov. 30, 2024. One fisherman drowned after he jumped off a Thai boat during gunfire from the Myanmar navy ship, while two others were injured.

Thai navy officials cited their Myanmar counterparts as saying the Thai boats had intruded 5.7 miles (9 km) into Myanmar’s waters.

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On Dec. 16, 2024, the Kawthaung Provincial Court in Myanmar sentenced the four crew members to prison terms ranging from four to six years and fined them for illegal entry and unauthorized fishing.

Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa previously said the crew would not serve prison time and would be pardoned to return to Thailand on Jan. 4.

Media reports said the pardons were issued by Myanmar’s State Administration Council, which also ordered the pardoning of three Filipinos detained in the Kawthaung prison in Myanmar.

The decree was based on international relations and humanitarian principles and was signed by Council Secretary Aung Lin Dwe, reports said.