Navy nets Burmese on suspect boat

THALANG: The Royal Thai Navy intercepted a fishing boat off Bang Tao Beach today and found 12 suspected illegal Burmese on board. The Burmese are being held for probable deportation once their status is clarified. The ship’s captain says most of the men were legal workers who had simply changed employers. Lt Cdr Anusorn Sasutham, on a Chao Praya-class warship, boarded the “Bamrong Thepnawa 17” in search of smuggled goods. But the boat’s captain, Phon Chukasipan, 40, said his Phuket-based boat was simply fishing unsuccessfully for shrimp. His crew “are registered at the immigration office, but some have moved to other employers,” he said. Police are continuing inquiries and seeking the owner of the boat, Worasak Wanna, 30, who lives in Ranong.