Malaysia releases 33 Thai workers

BANGKOK, December 29 (TNA) - The Malaysian government on Saturday released 33 Thai nationals who had entered and worked in the neighbouring country illegally; so they could join and celebrate the ongoing New Year festival with their families and friends. Thai police said that the freed Thai workers had earlier received jail sentence, ranging from one to six months, for not having passport and working permits in Malaysia. According to the police, the 33 freed Thai workers have already crossed the border to the Thai territory, through the Sadao checkpoint in the southern Songkhla province, with most of them being natives of three violence-plagued southern border Thai provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. Expressing joy after returning to their homeland, the freed workers urged the Thai government to find ways in helping several other Thai migrant workers who have been detained in Malaysia for illegal entry. In another development, Thai Navy Chief Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom told journalists that government forces, now stationing in the three troubled southernmost provinces, have strong determination to restore peace as soon as possible, insisting that the overall situation in the Thai far South has steadily improved. The Thai navy chief's remarks followed those of Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat, assessing that the situation in the Thai deep South should improve in 2013. (TNA)