BKK Post / 27 October 1997  
BORDER / DISPUTE SETTLED  
Laos frees six Thais after 19-day ordeal  
Thailand releases a crewman and boats  

By Theerawat Khamthita in Chiang Rai

   Laotian authorities yesterday released five Thai 
immigration police officers and a janitor who were arrested 
early this month for alleged encroachment of territorial 
waters.
   The release followed negotiations between Pol Lt-Col 
Thajutha Somprasong, deputy chief of Pak Khad district 
police of Nong Khai, and Laotian authorities on Saturday.
   Pol Lt-Col Thajutha, on being assigned by police chief 
Gen Pracha Promnok, travelled to Huay Sai in Bokeo province 
and met Soukan Maharath, the Laotian provincial governor 
and discussed the release.
   Governor Vicharn Chaiyanan and Immigration Police 
commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Chidchai Wanprasit yesterday went 
across the Mekong river to Huay Sai where they were met by 
Mr Soukan.
   Citing the good relations between Thailand and Laos, Mr 
Soukan said Laos agreed to return the six Thais, who had 
been in detention for 19 days, without condition together 
with three guns, two mobile telephones and two 
communications radios.
   Mr Vicharn reiterated the need for the two countries to 
further cooperate in the future including border 
demarcation and crime suppression.
   The Thai side agreed to release one Lao crewman, Adul 
Boonthawee, and two boats captured by Thai authorities on 
October 7, and to repair one of the Laotian boats damaged 
during the shooting incident.
   The six Thais - Pol Capt Sudkhet Vetthayanond, deputy 
inspector at the Chiang Saen immigration office, Pol Sgt-
Maj Decha Thiamthad, Pol Sgt-Maj Manee Uswessamanond, Pol 
Sgt-Maj Somchai Pravesprempree, acting Pol Sub-Lt Somporn 
Pattanachan and immigration office janitor Boonmee Kawee - 
were brought back to Chiang Khong in the afternoon.
   They were arrested after an incident on October 7 when 
two Thai naval vessels intercepted six Laotian vessels 
allegedly carrying contraband in the Mae Kok river.
   However, while the six Laotian boats were being escorted 
to the Chiang Saen patrol station four of the vessels broke 
away and sped off towards the Laotian side of the Mekong 
with the six Thai officials on board. The Thais were 
subsequently arrested and charged with violating the 
Laotian territorial waters.