Thailand to bar Horta's entry

Thailand to bar Horta's entry

BANGKOK (Reuter): Thailand has rejected an appeal by Thai human rights and pro-democracy groups to allow East Timor resistance leader Jose Ramos-Horta to enter the country during the Asian-European Summit in March, the Nation newspaper said yesterday.

The paper quoted Forum Asia spokeswoman Chalida Tajaroensuk as saying Thailand's decision stemmed from concern that Ramos- Horta's presence here during the March 1-2 summit could provoke an Indonesian protest and withdrawal of participation by President Soeharto.

Foreign ministry officials were not immediately available for comment. Thai human rights groups had sought foreign ministry approval to let Ramos-Horta lecture at a month-long diplomacy training program of Thammasat University here.