BANGKOK, March 4 (TNA) — Two missing Thai fishing boats were in the custody of Cambodia and all crews were safe, the spokesman of the navy said.
VAdm Dechadol Phusara said that on March 2, the Fisheries Monitoring Center (FMC) of the Fisheries Department informed VAdm Banjob Phodaeng, commander of the First Naval Area, that two Thai fishing boats named Thai Prasert 12 and Choke Boonmee 9 were heading towards the sea where Thai and Cambodian waters adjoined.
Both ships of Anchalee Sinsakjarungdet reported their departure from Samut Prakan province and the First Naval Area told the Chanthaburi and Trat Border Defense Command to send a patrol boat to search for the fishing boats. The search did not find them.
Later the First Naval Area and the Chanthaburi and Trat Border Defense Command contacted Cambodia and learned that the fishing boats were in Cambodian custody.
VAdm Dechadol said the inaccuracy of communication devices aboard the boats prompted Cambodian authorities to seize them.
“Cambodia does not take any violent action on Thai crews. All of them are safe. At 6.30pm on March 3, the captain of Choke Boonmee 9 boat reported that the boats already entered the Thai waters and will arrive in Samut Prakan on March 5,” the navy spokesman said.
He assured that Thai and Cambodian navies had good ties. (TNA)
