Vietnamese Embassy protects fishermen detained in Thailand

Earlier, Thailand’s media said 38 Vietnamese fishermen aboard seven vessels have been arrested for “illegal fishing” off Koh Kra, an island 30 nautical miles from the coast of Nakhon Si Thammarat province. They were later handed over to Songkhla police for legal action.

The ambassador told Vietnam News Agency reporters in Bangkok that immediately after learning about the incident, the Embassy contacted Thai relevant agencies, the navy and Songkhla province administration to verify the information.

It was confirmed that the fishing boats, from the Mekong Delta provinces of Kien Giang, Tien Giang and Ca Mau, have been detained and accused of violating Thailand’s waters.

The embassy’s staff set up a hotline with the management board of the prison in Songkhla province, through which they keep contact with the prison and the detained fishermen, he added.

On March 28 afternoon, the embassy sent its officials to the prison to meet all the fishermen, he said.

The same day, the fishermen were handed over to the court for trial, and the judgment is expected to be issued soon.