DPM:Thai detainees should be freed before Myanmar President's visit to Bangkok

BANGKOK, July 10 (TNA) - Deputy Prime Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapa says that he expects 49 Thai nationals who have been detained in Myanmar for allegedly illegal entry and land encroachment should be released before Myanmar President Thein Sein's rescheduled visit to Thailand from July 22-24, 2012. General Yuthasak told reporters before the Cabinet's weekly meeting Tuesday that Myanmar's delay in freeing the 49 Thai people because they were found to grow marijuana and possessed war weapons, but Thai authorities are using local mechanisms to assist the Thai citizens and the 4th Army Area Command chief has been tasked to handle the issue. General Yuthasak acknowledged that the Thai government considers it should be easier for border authorities to negotiate with their Myanmar counterparts for the release of the Thai nationals than solving the problem with high-level mechanisms. According to the deputy premier, the Thai detainees encroached on the Myanmar soil, grew marijuana and possessed war weapons and the offences made it difficult to convince their quick release initially. The deputy prime minister insisted, however, that he believes the Thai detainees will be freed before the Myanmar President's planned visit to Thailand later this month, and that he will also discuss their release with the Myanmar government during his visit to Myanmar on July 13 to discuss preparations for the next Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games). The deputy prime minister noted that the Thai government plans to first negotiate for the release of the 49 Thai nationals and later ask to rent the land plots, where the Thai people already grew palm and rubber trees in the neighbouring country. (TNA)