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.