Myanmar Sinks Thai Trawler - The incident took place about 10 nautical miles west of Koh Chang of Ranong province, said Vice-Admiral Tharathorn Kajitsuwan, the Third Naval Area commander.
He said the Myanmar naval patrol craft No. 566 chased the two fishing boats after they intruded 1.5 nautical miles into Myanmar waters. The larger trawler was fired at and sank while the other trawler was towed to a nearby island belonging to Myanmar.
Rwenty crewmen from the boats jumped into the water but the Myanmar navy did not arrest them. They were later rescued by another fishing boat and a Thai naval patrol boat picked them up.
The boats belonged to Warapol Dangkong who owns the Jor Kongsin fish pier in Bang Rin sub-district of Muang Ranong district.
Vice-Adm Tharathorn said the fishermen mistakenly believed that high winds and waves would keep the Myanmar patrol boat ashore, so they decided to take their chances on fishing in Myanmar waters. They went ahead despite a warning from the Third Naval Area commander not to do so.
Authorities are coordinating efforts to salvage the sunken boat but they do not expect the other boat that was towed to be returned to its owner.
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