Thai authorities seize Vietnamese vessels, 48 fishermen
VOV.VN - Thai law enforcement officials on April 3, in what is being described as a rare move, reported they have seized five Vietnamese fishing vessels with 48 crewmembers aboard for allegedly intruding in its waters.
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The vessels were intercepted by the Thai coast guard at about 8:00 am on April 2, said Thailand’s Vice Admiral Rungsarit Sattayanukul.
The fishermen were scheduled to make initial court appearances on April 4 on charges of illegal fishing and entry at a Chon Buri court.
The five vessels involved are coded KG92039TS, CM95018TS, CM91511TS, CM99107TS and CM99667TS.
Thailand’s coast guard often warns and chases Vietnamese fishing boats out of its waters but rarely seizes them.
Vietnam Ambassador to Thailand Nguyen Tat Thanh has taken charge of the situation and has sent emissaries to Chon Buri to investigate and diplomatically resolve the matter.
On occasion, Vietnamese fishermen, lacking sophisticated navigating equipment, lose their bearings in the Gulf of Thailand, resulting in them inadvertently drifting off course and out of Vietnam’s territorial waters, said the Ambassador.
