Myanmar to free Thai children and women first

BANGKOK, July 16 (TNA) - Soldiers have visited Thai detainees in Myanmar and learned that Myanmar authorities will soon free over 10 Thai children and women first. Regarding help for the 92 Thai detainees charged with encroaching Myanmar's territory, Thai Deputy Prime Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapa confirmed on Monday that the Myanmar government has agreed to first release over 10 Thai children and women first; while the rest are to be proven their innocence. General Yuthasak acknowledged that the Myanmar authorities have separated wrongdoers from the innocent and are prosecuting those charged with narcotic production and illegal firearm possession, and that the commander of Thailand's 125 Ad Hoc Unit is also visiting the Thai nationals in Myanmar and will provide them with humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul told journalists that all the 92 Thai detainees are safe and the Myanmar authorities have divided them into three groups, including a group of deceived people, a group of people carrying firearms and a group of people growing marijuana, noting that the group of deceived people should be released before Myanmar President Thein Sein's visit to Thailand on July 22. In response to requests for territorial verification, the Thai foreign minister revealed that the areas, where the Thai people entered, have now been verified not to be the Thai territory and there were clear lines of demarcation. Besides, the brokers who lured some of the Thai people into buying land on the Myanmar side have already admitted to their fraud.(TNA)