Myanmar Navy fires warning shots at trespassing Bangladeshi fishing boats

By Thiha 12 Apr 2020

Thiha | DMG
April 12, Sittwe

The Office of the Commander-in-Chief stated on April 11 that Tatmadaw Navy vessels fired warning shots at six Bangladeshi fishing boats that entered Myanmar’s territorial waters illegally last week.

The statement said the six boats encroached northwest of Sittwe, the Arakan State capital, at around 10:30 pm on April 7. Tatmadaw naval personnel attempted to stop them to conduct checks on the vessels first by show of flashlight and through radio and loudspeaker communications.

The Tatmadaw said its soldiers eventually fired warning shots because the boats did not stop and instead motored back toward Bangladesh’s territorial waters.

The statement also said the Tatmadaw contacted Colonel Lsar of the Bangladeshi naval vessel BNS-Somudra Avijan (F-29) regarding the boats, and the Bangladesh navy responded that they would contact the fishing boats and question them about the incident.

Bangladeshi media reported on April 8 and 9 that a boat called FB Sania was slightly damaged and six fishermen were injured after being fired upon by the Myanmar Navy.

The reports said the injured were brought to Chattogram by Border Guard Bangladesh vessels.