BANGKOK, March 9 (AFP) - A Thai English-language daily Sunday slammed South African President Nelson Mandela as a "disappointment" who had turned his back on the pro-democracy forces which supported him in prison.

In an editorial entitled "Mandela a disappointment to forces of freedom," The Nation criticized Mandela for recent comments that Burma's admission to ASEAN would not affect South African ties with the region.

"We are willing to deal with any region irrespective of the internal policies of those regions," Mandela said during the Singapore leg of his southeast Asian tour.

"It seems he has bitten the hand that liberated, fed and nurtured him," The Nation commented.

Mandela, a prisoner of conscience for 27 years, was freed in February 1990 after persistent international pressure for his release, which was hailed as a victory for human rights.

The paper outlined arguments against Burma's military regime and the prevailing human and political rights situation and recalled that pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi had urged foreign investors to stay out of Burma in order to promote political change.

"Mandela is indeed a disappointment, and it will come as no surprise, in the near future, if he also says Tibet is a part of China judging from the way South Africa is veering towards Beijing," the editorial said.