Reuters-Thai police hold 16 to end

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Thai police hold 16 to end Myanmar embassy protest 
06:59 a.m. Aug 26, 1998 Eastern 

BANGKOK, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Thai police detained 16 Myanmar dissidents on
Wednesday to end a three-week protest outside the Myanmar embassy in
Bangkok, police said. 

The detentions followed complaints from the embassy that the protesters,
who were demonstrating against military rule in Myanmar, were blocking
access to the compound. 

``We have already cleared them out,'' a police spokesman said. 

In recent days many other protesters were either detained or urged to leave
the scene. 

Police said the 16 protesters were being detained at Bangkok's immigration
jail for identification. The spokesman said those considered persons of
concern by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees would be sent
back to a holding centre south of Bangkok. 

Those not recognised by the UNHCR could be charged with illegal entry and
deported, he said. 

He said about 200 Myanmar students in exile recognised by the UNHCR had
been allowed to live in a holding centre in Rachaburi province, south of
Bangkok since 1995. 

Fourteen Myanmar dissidents picked up from the protest site on Monday had
already returned to the centre, he said.