FM believes in Myanmar's justice for Thai detainees

BANGKOK, July 24 (TNA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that Thai authorities have asked the Thai-Myanmar Township Border Committee (TBC) to help 92 Thai detainees in Myanmar and it believes that the Myanmar justice system will treat the Thai nationals fairly. Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Thani Thongpakdi told journalists on Monday that the 92 Thai detainees in Myanmar were set to be brought to a court on July 27 and they will be prosecuted on charges of illegal immigration, weapon possession and involvement with narcotics. Thani, who is also director-general of the ministry's Department of Information, acknowledged that Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has discussed the matter with his Myanmar counterpart during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Cambodia's Siem Reap Province early this month, and that Thai authorities are waiting for a ruling of the Myanmar court on July 27 before planning further actions. Meanwhile, Thailand's Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking hosted a luncheon for visiting Myanmar President Thein Sein on Monday at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok, during which representatives of the Thai private sector thanked the Myanmar President for meeting them and they believe Thai and Myanmar business operators are developing their cooperation well on economic affairs, trade, investment and services. President Thein Sein later met executives of firmly-established Thai firms, including Siam Cement Public Company Limited (SCG), PTT Public Company Limited (PTT) and Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP), at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the Thai capital. (TNA)