BANGKOK, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Thai navy has towed a floating dwelling in the Andaman Sea to shore in Phuket and vowed to take legal action against the alleged occupants or owners.
According to Deputy Third Naval Area Commander Rear Adm. Vithanarat Khochaseni, the octagon dwelling and its floating caisson were towed to shore on Monday after they had been spotted 14 nautical miles from Phuket.
Directed by HTMS Sriracha, two navy boats towed the illegal floating dwelling and caisson to shore while the alleged occupants, known as a couple of seasteaders, remain at large, Rear Adm. Vithanarat said.
The admiral said the floating dwelling has jeopardized Thailand's territorial sovereignty as it has been situated within its exclusive economic zone.
He said the authorities will certainly take legal action against the alleged occupants, who carried a non-immigrant visa and were believed to be in hiding somewhere in this country.
