Thai detainees in Myanmar to be released

Officials said a number of Thai people detained in Myanmar on charges of encroachment will be released soon. An unconfirmed number of Thais were arrested Wednesday by Myanmar forces after allegedly encroaching on 2,400 acres of land in the Kra Buri district, the Bangkok Post reported. Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said he was told the Thai detainees were persuaded by a broker to work in rubber plantations in vacant areas in Myanmar without requesting permission from the Myanmar government. The workers doing so prompted their arrests, which came during raids on the plantations. Lt. Gen. Udomchai Thamsarorach of Thailand said Friday Thailand and Myanmar were coordinating the release of the Thai detainees and the release process had been accelerated for them. Udomchai said there were about 30 Thai detainees being released.