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Published on December 24, 2007

Police said they could not spare the manpower for the search, because they were busy with the election.

Ranong marine police inspector Major Samran Mingraksa said police had asked fishermen to report any sightings of bodies.

Police searched for five hours on Saturday. No bodies were found. Yesterday, all available officers were on election duty. Last week police retrieved the bodies of 11 men, seven women and four boys after reports of corpses in the water off Koh Chang.

A government source said the victims were among 50 passengers aboard a boat that departed Burma's Koh Song on Thursday night.

The vessel sank as a result of overloading just one hour into its voyage.

The source said a human trafficker known as Po Sor was responsible for the transport of illegal workers.

He is suspected to be hiding in Ranong.

The victims have been processed for identification and buried at Ban Hin Dad cemetery.

The Nation

RANONG