BANGKOK, 18 September 2012 – Myanmar has released 83 Thai prisoners who have been convicted for illegal entry, drug smuggling, and firearm possession.
83 out of 92 Thai prisoners have been pardoned by Myanmar President Thein Sein. The prisoners were arrested since July for illegal entry, illegal drug smuggling, and unlawful possession of firearms.
According to Col. Pornsak Poonsawat, Chairman of the Thailand-Myanmar Township Border Committee (TBC), the freed prisoners will not be allowed to go home just yet. They will first have to be interrogated by the TBC regarding the issue.
Many prisoners’ relatives were in tears to see that their released loved ones were in good health.
In July, Col. Pornsak led relatives of the prisoners across the border to visit the detainees after they were arrested.
Out of the 92 arrested Thais, 82 were men and the other 10 were women.
