News In Brief
| Bangkok, Thailand
Thais want US official ousted; author tried in slur on King
About 100 protesters from the National Labor Union marched to the US Embassy Tuesday to demand that John Sloan, an American labor representative, be told to leave Thailand. They consider him to be a spy. Mr. Sloan is director of the Asian-American Free Labor Institute. An embassy spokesman said only that Sloan was not attached to the mission.
Meanwhile Sulak Sivaraksa, a leading Thai author, went on trial on charges of insulting the King. Bangkok's criminal court ordered that the case be held behind closed doors. Mr. Sulak is alleged to have defamed King Bhumiphol Adulyadej in his book ''Unmasking Thai Society'' and in interviews. He has denied the charges.
