On January 8, members of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), including Vice Party Leader Chakkaj Patthanakitwiboon and other senior figures, held a press conference at Parliament to criticize the government’s handling of the detention of four Thai fishermen by the Myanmar Navy. The fishermen were arrested on December 16, 2024, and sentenced to prison. Despite government assurances that the detainees would return home by January 4, they remain in Myanmar over 40 days later, with no progress or clear communication from authorities. The opposition accused the government of inefficiency and neglecting its duty to protect Thai citizens.
ML Krirkasit Kasemsri highlighted the gravity of the incident, noting that the Myanmar Navy had fired upon Thai fishing boats near Koh Phayam in Ranong Province in November 2024, resulting in injuries and deaths. The four fishermen were subsequently arrested, but the Thai government has failed to clarify the exact location of the incident or defend Thailand's territorial claims. Historical disputes over maritime boundaries were cited, with Krirkasit asserting that the area near Koh Phayam and neighboring islands is part of Thai territory as per historical agreements.
The PPRP leaders criticized the government for its passive response, comparing Myanmar’s aggressive actions to more restrained measures seen in international maritime conflicts, such as water cannons or warning shots. They argued that Myanmar’s use of lethal force violated the 1980 bilateral agreement between the two nations to resolve disputes peacefully.
Chaimongkol Chairob, another PPRP member, called the government’s leadership “deceptive” and ineffective, accusing it of prioritizing political expediency over national dignity. He drew parallels to the swift repatriation of a Chinese actor detained in Myanmar, contrasting it with the lack of urgency in aiding the fishermen, who are ordinary citizens. The PPRP vowed to continue pursuing this issue in and outside of Parliament until the four fishermen are safely returned.