Thailand arrests fishermen suspected of killing Indonesian naval personnel who boarded boat

Hat Yai ☆ Police in Thailand said Friday that they have arrested four more Thai fishermen allegedly involved in the killings of two Indonesian naval personnel aboard a fishing boat in Indonesian waters last month.

News reports have said the Indonesians were killed March 9 after boarding the Thai fishing boat as part of checks of vessels in Indonesian waters. Their bodies have not been found.

The case has strained relations between Thailand and Indonesia and put pressure on Thailand's fishing industry, which fishes heavily in Indonesian waters. Thai newspapers have reported that Indonesia has kracked down on Thai trawlers by more rigorously enforcing regulations on fishing in its waters.

Thai Police Lt. Gen. Chakthip Chaijinda said four fishermen suspected in the killings were found Thursday on a boat in waters near Thailand's southern Narathiwat province. Three other suspects out of 12 for whom arrest warrants have been issued were arrested last month.

Chakthip said the newly arrested men confessed but insisted they were ordered to act by the ship's captain, who remains at large. He said police found hammers and knives believed to be used in the killings.

  ★ Canada