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SLORC gags Thai Press



Thursday May 15 2:57 AM EDT 

Burma junta gags Thai press

BANGKOK, May 15 (UPI) _ The Burmese government is reported to have told
reporters
accompanying the Thai prime minister to Rangoon to stay away from opposition
leader and Nobel
Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. 

The Bangkok Post says today the restrictions on reporters covering the visit
of Prime Minister
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh (CHA-WA-LIT YONG-CHAI- YUT) this weekend were set out in a
letter from the Burmese government to the Thai Foreign Ministry. 

Chavalit is scheduled to arrive in Rangoon on Friday for a two-day visit
accompanied by 42
government representatives and 15 reporters. 

The letter says the 15 reporters would be watched by the Burmese Information
Ministry to make
sure they do not go to Suu Kyi's home in Rangoon. 

Burma's ruling military junta keeps a tight rein on the local press and
prohibits foreign journalists
from being based in the country. 

The Thai prime minister has been a staunch backer of the Burmese military
government since his
days as an army general. 

During talks with junta leaders, Chavalit is expected to reaffirm his
backing for Burma's early entry
as a full member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. 

He also is expected to voice his opposition to American sanctions against
Rangoon, which were
imposed last month by President Clinton to punish the junta for human rights
abuses.