BANGKOK, Oct 10 A meeting of several government agencies with the Thai Overseas Fisheries Association and non-governmental organisations on finding ways to help Thai fishermen facing hardship or lured to work in Indonesia to return home has been held.
Thongchai Chasawath, director-general of the Department of Consular Affairs, told the press late Thursday that participants agreed there is need to help fishermen now facing hardship in Indonesia so they can return to Thailand by ship, saying the government will pay Bt30,000 expenses for each person but they must repay the advance later.
The fishermen must inform their willingness to return to Thailand to Thai immigration officials where they stay to inform the Thai embassy in Jakarta, said Mr Thongchai.
Fishermen who have been lured to work in that country and are victims of human trafficking will be returned home by air for their safety, he said.
The Thai government has saved six Thai fishermen who returned October 1 and plans to save another four and send them home soon, Mr Thongchai said.
Eleven persons have been interviewed and asked whether they wished to return to Thailand.
Some of the remaining 35 fishermen are still suffering in Indonesia, but the Thai embassy and Ministry of Social Development and Human Security officials are determining how many Thai fishermen remain there, Mr Thongchai said.
Wiriya Sirichai-ekawat, president of Thai Overseas Fisheries Association, said the association will seek help from the Thai embassy if it is found that more fishermen are left in Indonesia.
