BANGKOK, May 23 (AFP) - Thailand warned on Sunday that labour rights issues should not be used to block its candidate from taking the helm of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) into the new millennium. The warning follows Bangkok's abrupt decision to ban an international trade union meeting here on human rights, including forced labour, in neighbouring Myanmar, a move seen as a blow to Deputy Premier Supachai Panitchpakdi's battle for the the WTO's top post. "We disagree with using labour problems as a trade condition, that is a trade barrier," government spokesman Akapol Sorasuchart said. "I don't belive it will affect Supachai's candidacy for the WTO post because we have expressed our clear position that we will give equality to all workers," he added. Supachai is locked in a bitter battle for the WTO director-generalship with former New Zealand premier Mike Moore, a conflict which has divided the international trade body. Key WTO members such as the United States and France are known to be concerned about Thailand's commitment to labour rights and have thrown their weight behind the New Zealand candidate. Thailand has said the union meeting scheduled to start Monday may have had "negative effects" on Bangkok's relations with Myanmar, a fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member. "Using Thailand as a base to distribute information to violate another country, we cannot allow that," the spokesman said. Myanmar is accused of gross human rights abuses including widespread use of forced labour, sometimes involving torture and rape. The junta in Yangon has denied the allegations. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) said the meeting, which had been planned months in advance with 130 participants from around the world expected to attend, was to coincide with delicate talks in Bangkok between the European Union and ASEAN. The meeting was to be attended by the head of Myanmar's government in exile, Sein Win. The ASEAN-EU officials' meeting was to be the first between the two blocs since Myanmer joined in July 1997 despite the protestations of many western nations including the United States and EU members. EU-ASEAN ties have been strained by Myanmar's human rights record and the military's refusal to recognise the results of 1990 elections won in a landslide by democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. "We have clear position about including Myanmar in ASEAN-EU meetings and the meeting's problems have been talked about," Akapol said. The Singapore-based ICFTU late Friday said Thailand had shown its true colours on human rights in banning the meeting and that the ban reflected badly on Supachai's bid to become the next boss of the WTO. "The international trade union movement has to take serious note of (Supachai's) candidacy for the ... World Trade Organisation." Michel Caillouet, head of the European Commission's delegation in Thailand, told reporters Friday he was not aware of the ICFTU meeting but said "of course we would not be happy" if it was banned.  