Authorities seek ways to free last two Thai detainees in Myanmar

BANGKOK, December 1 (TNA) - Authorities concerned are putting efforts to help two last Thai villagers who have still been imprisoned in Myanmar, after seven more Thais were freed by the Myanmar authorities on Friday. Colonel Uthit Anantananond, Deputy Commander of Thailand's special 25th Infantry Regiment task force, told reporters Saturday that the authorities concerned are finding means to assist the last two Thai detainees, a man and a woman imprisoned in Myanmar's Kawthaung province, who are among more than 90 Thai nationals imprisoned in the neighbouring country on charges of illegal entry, forest encroachment and arms possession. Colonel Uthit confirmed that seven more Thais were freed on Friday, bringing the total Thai villagers who have been released by Myanmar to 90 so far. A total of 92 Thai villagers were arrested by Myanmar officials on July 4, 2012 for encroaching into Myanmar. They claimed they were persuaded and duped by a broker to cultivate the land in the area, opposite the Thai border district of Kra Buri in Ranong province in the Thai South, without knowledge that it belongs to Myanmar. (TNA)