AFP-Thailand FM meets relatives of

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Thailand FM meets relatives of foreigners detained in Myanmar
Fri 14 Aug 98 - 08:39 GMT 

BANGKOK, Aug 14 (AFP) - Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan Friday met
relatives of several of the 18 foreigners detained in Myanmar for allegedly
inciting unrest.

Following the meeting, Surin said he was optimistic that a Myanmar court,
which began deliberating the foreigners' case Friday morning, would reach
its verdict the same day. 

"Justice delayed, justice denied," Surin told reporters after meeting
relatives from the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia at the
foreign ministry.

He said Thai embassy officials in Yangon were attending the hearing and he
was regularly consulting his Association of Southeast Asian
Nationscounterparts to resolve the detention issue.

"The Thai government is very concerned and is sparing no effort to help
resolve the matter," Surin aded.

In addition to Thailand and Myanmar, ASEAN includes Brunei, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

The activists were rounded up Sunday while handing out pamphlets in Yangon
urging people to remember the 10th anniversary of a bloody military
crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators on August 8, 1988. 

The detainees are six US nationals, three Thais, three Malaysians, three
Indonesians, two Filipinos and one Australian. Ten are male and eight
female. Diplomats have visited them.

Before the meeting with Surin, families of detainees held a press
conference at which they demanded their immediate release.

US congressman Chris Smith, a Republican from New Jersey who arrived in
Bangkok late Thursday on a mission to release the American detainees, said
he hoped to travel to Myanmar shortly. However diplomats thought it was
unlikely he would be granted a visa.