28-3-2025 (YANGON) Myanmar’s central government has authorised amnesty for four Thai fishermen and three Filipino nationals who were detained for maritime boundary infringement in Kawthaung Province. The announcement, conveyed through diplomatic channels on 27 March 2025, marks a positive step in Thai-Myanmar bilateral relations.
The Thai maritime workers—identified as Wirot, Sunan, Sompong, and Thaworn—were apprehended alongside Filipino nationals Jason Corp Jaramilla, Sunshine Rivera, and Magdalene Vincente for breaching Myanmar’s territorial waters off Koh Song Province.
The Thai-Myanmar Local Border Committee (TBC) in Ranong received formal notification of the clemency order via their counterparts in Kawthaung. However, the actual release remains contingent upon forthcoming directives from Myanmar’s central administration.
Whilst the precise repatriation point remains unconfirmed, historical precedent suggests the handover may occur at either Pak Nam Ranong Port or the Ranong Lighthouse Pier—both established border checkpoints. These facilities have previously served as transfer points for similar cases.
The Ranong Province security apparatus has already initiated contact with the detainees’ families, briefing them on the developments. Authorities are maintaining close communication with their Myanmar counterparts to facilitate the smooth transfer of all seven individuals once the final executive order is issued.
This gesture of clemency underscores the ongoing diplomatic cooperation between Myanmar and Thailand, particularly in managing maritime boundary issues along their shared waters.
