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Thai activists urge Clinton to disc



Thai activists urge Clinton to discuss Myanmar 
01:55 a.m. Mar 10, 1998 Eastern 
BANGKOK, March 10 (Reuters) - A group of activists staged a protest outside
the U.S. Embassy on Tuesday and delivered a letter urging President Bill
Clinton to discuss human rights in Myanmar (Burma) with the Thai premier
during his visit to Washington. 

A group of about 20 people, led by the Thai Action Committee for Democracy
in Burma, staged a play outside the embassy with a man dressed as a member
of an ethnic minority group from Myanmar. His legs were chained and he was
beaten by a man dressed as a Myanmar soldier. 

The group, which later delivered its letter to a U.S. political officer,
said it was trying to draw attention to the human rights abuses in Myanmar
and urged the U.S. president to show concern over the situation. 

``The Prime Minister of Thailand (Chuan Leekpai) will (soon) visit the U.S.
government,'' the letter said. ``This will be a good opportunity for Your
Excellency to express strong concern on human rights violations in Burma.'' 

It urged Clinton, who has already approved economic sanctions on Myanmar
which prevent new investment, to pressure U.S. businesses to withdraw their
investments from Myanmar. 

It also urged him to state Washington's position to Chuan regarding a
controversial gas pipeline between Myanmar and Thailand that is currently
being built. 

Rights activists say the Myanmar military regime used forced labour and
committed human rights abuses to build the pipeline. REUTERS