Deputy PM believes fishermen will not go on strike

BANGKOK, April 9 (TNA) -- Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon dismissed the speculation that fishermen would go on strike to protest against the government’s strict rules to tackle illegal fishing. Gen Prawit voiced his stance on Monday when he met the delegation of Stefaan Depypere, the European Commission’s Director for International Ocean Governance and Sustainable Fisheries. The meeting discussed Thailand’s solution to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Thailand was complying with the fishing regulations of the European Union, Gen Prawit said. However, fishermen were anchoring their boats in the Pattani river in Pattani province to protest against strict law enforcement. Some of them said it was unfeasible to go on fishing and the strike would continue unless the government lent a helping hand. In Songkhla province, local fishing boats were operated as usual. Suradet Nil-ubol, president of a local fishing association, said the operators of 700 fishing boats in Songkhla would not stage a protest because they were able to adapt to rules. (TNA)