Thai detainees in Myanmar suffer depression

RANONG, THAILAND, July 28 (TNA) - Part of 92 Thai detainees in a prison in Myanmar’s Kawthaung township have reportedly begun suffering from depression. According to a Thai-Myanmar dual citizen who recent visited the prison, named Torn, told the Thai News Agency (TNA) Saturday that the Thai detainees are apparently worried over their family members; while those who are civil servants are afraid to lose their jobs, after they were sentenced by a Myanmar court to 3 years and six months in jail earlier this week for illegal entry and land encroachment. Torn said that Myanmar authorities only allow Thai-Myanmar citizens to visit the detainees, and that the Myanmar prison is located about 10 kilometers from the Kawthaung market. It is an old prison surrounded by razor wire fences, 10 meter-wide ditch and several military guard posts. The 92 Thais were arrested early this month near the Kawthaung township, just across the border of Thailand’s southern Ranong province. Meanwhile, the Myanmar court will reportedly rule on the fate of 10 Thai nationals, out of the total 92 detainees, who were additional charged with carrying weapons and involving in cross-border drug trafficking on July 30. (TNA)