25/11/2009
Bangkok Post
Fishing industry delegates are seeking help from the Thai and Cambodian armies to urge Koh Kong authorities to speed up concession contracts to Thai trawlers.
The plea comes after reports that four Thai trawlers had been seized by Cambodian authorities and more than 1,000 remained anchored, crippling the industry.
Trat Fisheries Association chairman Thitikorn Lohakupt said his association and representatives from the Fisheries Association of Thailand will submit a letter to the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) which will meet in Pattaya tomorrow.
Thai operators wanted Cambodia to urgently renew the concession contracts, he said.
Mr Thitikorn said he suspected the termination of the concessions was politically motivated as the two countries were now engaged in a diplomatic row.
The Cambodian province of Koh Kong has scrapped all fishing concessions after Bun Lert took over the governorship from Yuth Pouthang on Nov 12.
It is closing its waters until the new concessions are completed.
The decision forces more than 1,000 boats in Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat which rely on fishing in the Cambodian territory to stay anchored. Some trawlers had to fish in Thai waters, but their incomes sharply dropped to 30,000 from 50,000 baht a day. A Thai fishing boat had to pay 60,000 baht for the concession which has been terminated by the new Koh Kong governor.
Kittichai Surasit, a trawler owner at Laem Ngob district in Trat expected to pay 20,000 baht more for each boat in a new contract.
The Fisheries Association in Trat was checking reports about the seizure of the four Thai trawlers by Cambodian authorities.
Virat Vitthayakorn, a marketing operator at Bangkok Trat Hospital in Trat, said Cambodian deputy navy chief Tia Soka had told him that the Cambodian navy based in Koh Kong had seized the ships because they were caught fishing in Cambodian waters without paying concession fees.
The owner of the four trawlers, who lives in Samut Sakhon, had sought Mr Virat's help to arrange talks with Rear Adm Tia Soka for the release of the trawlers, Mr Virat said.
He had been unable to contact Cambodian authorities.
Defence Ministry spokesman Thanathip Sawangsaeng said Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh will jointly chair the two-day GBC meeting.
The spat between the two countries is expected to be raised for discussion during the meeting.
Col Thanathip said the meeting would be a communication channel for the Thai and Cambodian armies to jointly find ways to ease border tension and mend ties between the two countries.
He said the presence of troops along the border would be discussed during the meeting.
He added the military forces of the two countries would jointly patrol the border and live in harmony.
The plea comes after reports that four Thai trawlers had been seized by Cambodian authorities and more than 1,000 remained anchored, crippling the industry.
Trat Fisheries Association chairman Thitikorn Lohakupt said his association and representatives from the Fisheries Association of Thailand will submit a letter to the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) which will meet in Pattaya tomorrow.
Thai operators wanted Cambodia to urgently renew the concession contracts, he said.
Mr Thitikorn said he suspected the termination of the concessions was politically motivated as the two countries were now engaged in a diplomatic row.
The Cambodian province of Koh Kong has scrapped all fishing concessions after Bun Lert took over the governorship from Yuth Pouthang on Nov 12.
It is closing its waters until the new concessions are completed.
The decision forces more than 1,000 boats in Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat which rely on fishing in the Cambodian territory to stay anchored. Some trawlers had to fish in Thai waters, but their incomes sharply dropped to 30,000 from 50,000 baht a day. A Thai fishing boat had to pay 60,000 baht for the concession which has been terminated by the new Koh Kong governor.
Kittichai Surasit, a trawler owner at Laem Ngob district in Trat expected to pay 20,000 baht more for each boat in a new contract.
The Fisheries Association in Trat was checking reports about the seizure of the four Thai trawlers by Cambodian authorities.
Virat Vitthayakorn, a marketing operator at Bangkok Trat Hospital in Trat, said Cambodian deputy navy chief Tia Soka had told him that the Cambodian navy based in Koh Kong had seized the ships because they were caught fishing in Cambodian waters without paying concession fees.
The owner of the four trawlers, who lives in Samut Sakhon, had sought Mr Virat's help to arrange talks with Rear Adm Tia Soka for the release of the trawlers, Mr Virat said.
He had been unable to contact Cambodian authorities.
Defence Ministry spokesman Thanathip Sawangsaeng said Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh will jointly chair the two-day GBC meeting.
The spat between the two countries is expected to be raised for discussion during the meeting.
Col Thanathip said the meeting would be a communication channel for the Thai and Cambodian armies to jointly find ways to ease border tension and mend ties between the two countries.
He said the presence of troops along the border would be discussed during the meeting.
He added the military forces of the two countries would jointly patrol the border and live in harmony.
4 comments:
YEAH TAX ALLL THE FUCKING SIEMS.............STAY OUT OFF OUR WATERS MOTHERFCUKER......FUCK THAILAND
Why allow Thai fish on Khmer water while Thai keep on shooting any Khmer on land border like animal?
They don't care about that 9:25 all they care to make money for their pockets.
Keep them out for good.
There must be a lot of fish in Cambobodian water. I am pretty sure they have overfished in their water.
All they care is to take advantage of Cambodia.
Well, be smart and keep them out!
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