Thailand denies shooting at Rohingya boat people fleeing Myanmar strife

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand on Wednesday denied accusations its sailors shot Rohingya boat people fleeing sectarian strife in Myanmar, after a rights group urged a probe into the alleged deaths of at least two migrants.

Survivors of the alleged incident on February 22 told Human Rights Watch that sailors opened fire on around 20 Rohingya migrants, killing two of them, as they jumped overboard to escape custody after drifting into Thai waters.

But the incident near a pier in Kuraburi district, southern Phang Nga province, was strenuously denied by Thai officials.

"The Thai navy commander responsible for that area has rejected the report," said foreign ministry spokesman Manasvi Srisodapol, adding there is "no reason to shoot or hurt" Rohingya.