Over 500 Thai fishermen return home from Indonesia

BANGKOK, May 22 (TNA) - A total of 567 Thai fishermen have been assisted and returned home since last October, after they were stranded on Indonesia’s Ambon Island and other islands, thanks to fruitful negotiations and cooperation between the Indonesian and the Thai governments. Thai Deputy Government Spokesman Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd told journalists of the information on Friday, noting that the assisted Thai fishermen have been sent home from October 1, 2014 to May 20, 2015, after Indonesian government officials concluded their investigation on whether the Thai fishermen were human trafficking victims, while the Thai government had to issue a certificate of identity to them so that they could return home. The deputy spokesman denied press reports that the rescued Thai fishermen were assisted by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private-run agencies, stressing that the problem was settled by the Indonesian and Thai governments, taking into account their sound relations and laws of each country. The deputy spokesman praised the Indonesian government for having assisted and facilitated Thailand well, acknowledging that the Indonesian government also lauded Thailand for being a country to take best care of fishermen in terms of facilitations and a quick process in taking the stranded Thai trawlers back home within only about a month, compared with about 5-7 months normally. After their arrivals in Thailand, the deputy spokesman stated, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Department of Consular Affairs, is tasked with cooperating with other agencies concerned, including the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and the Royal Thai Police in seeking jobs and welfare benefits for the rescued Thai fishermen from their former employers. (TNA)