BANGKOK, Feb 13: Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has admitted that the kingdom’s authorities towed boat people from Myanmar out to sea, following weeks of allegations of cruelty against the migrants.

Abhisit told CNN in an interview broadcast on Friday that it was not yet clear who had approved the practice of setting minority Muslim Rohingya migrants adrift, but added that he was trying to find out.

“All the authorities say that it’s not their policy but I have reason to believe that some instances of this have happened,” Abhisit told CNN when asked who was behind the policy of towing them out into the open ocean.

“And if I can have the evidence as to exactly who did this I will certainly bring them to account,” he said.

Hundreds of Rohingya have been rescued in Indian and Indonesian waters in recent weeks, some covered with welts.

They have said they were detained and beaten before being set adrift with few supplies by Thai security forces.

Rights groups fear scores may have perished. A photograph apparently showing the Thai army towing refugees out to sea has been published in the media and similar images were shown by CNN on Friday.—AFP