Burma frees convicted Thai fisherme (r)

[aliburma@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Burma frees convicted Thai fishermen
11 November 1997
Web posted at: 21:40 JST, Tokyo time (12:40 GMT) 

BANGKOK, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Thai army commander in chief Chetta Tanajaro
said on Tuesday Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC) had released 98 Thai fishermen convicted of violating Burmese laws. 

He said the fishermen, many of them sick, were airlifted out of Rangoon by
a Thai military plane on Tuesday. 

"Bear in mind that you have been released through the auspices of his
majesty the king (Bhumibol Adulyadej)," General Chetta told the freed Thais
at a homecoming ceremony. 

The Thai army chief praised the SLORC for pardoning the fishermen in a
gesture from Rangoon to mark the 70th birthday of King Bhumibol on December
5. 

Hundreds of Thai fishermen are convicted and jailed each year for intruding
into Burmese waters. ^MORE@ 

Copyright 1997 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

http://cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9711/11/RB000374.reut.html