readers to write to Bermuda's Premier in protest of the Island's "archaic anti-sodomy laws''.

The plea comes as a result of a request for help from an "underground network'' of Bermudian human rights activists, a spokesman for the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

"They have requested that an international letter-writing campaign be combined with their efforts to expose the situation and support their position,'' he said.

The plea for help appears in the IGLHRC's January/February Emergency Response Network newsletter under the headline "Bermudian Human Rights Activists Push for Anti-Sodomy Law Repeal''.

It was disclosed in the newsletter that the local group was preparing a complaint to be filed with the United Nations Human Rights Commission. Readers are asked to write to both Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan and British Foreign Secretary the Hon. Douglas Hurd.

Addresses for both are provided as well as a model letter which ends, "...I (We) am (are) shocked that the Government of Bermuda, representing a country respected for its human rights record in general, has failed to take even this small step on behalf of its gay and lesbian citizens.

"Laws such as Section 175 are a violation of fundamental human rights, and this has been recognised worldwide. We urge you to remedy this grievous situation on behalf of all citizens of Bermuda, and thereby strengthen the principles of justice and freedom for all members of society.'' The newsletter said the "underground network'' of Bermudians had already circulated a petition calling for the repeal of Section 175 of the Criminal Code -- which makes homosexual relations between consenting males an offence carrying a ten-year maximum sentence. Copies were forwarded to Sir John and the British Foreign Secretary.

The spokesman said the newsletter was mailed to hundreds of organisations on every continent as well as some 2,500 American activists, human rights organisations and appointed officials.

The IGLHRC is the Action Secretariat of the International Gay and Lesbian Association. Its offices are in San Francisco, California.