Indonesian authorities found some 200 refugees from Myanmar early Tuesday off of the country's west coast who said they had been drifting in a wooden boat for three weeks. "There are about 198 Myanmar refugees who washed up on the shores of Lhoksemawe. The Navy guard found them around 4 am this morning," said Sabang Region Navy First Sergeant Suprianto. Navy rescuers said the group told them that three weeks ago they were towed out to sea and set adrift by Thai military forces who had found them, according to Suprianto. The discovery comes after allegations arose one month ago that a group of Myanmar's Rohingya minority -- who have been fleeing their homeland for years, saying they are persecuted by its military government -- had been dumped at sea by Thai military authorities. It is not known if the group found Tuesday was that same group. A recent CNN investigation found evidence of such activity. Photos obtained by CNN include one that shows the Thai army towing a boatload of some 190 refugees. CNN also interviewed a refugee who said he was one of the few who had survived after a group of six rickety boats was towed back to sea and abandoned by Thai authorities earlier this month. The Thai government has launched an inquiry. The Thai army has denied the allegations. But after extensive questioning by CNN, one source in the Thai military confirmed that the Thai army was operating a dump-at-sea policy.
