INFORMATION SHEET NO.A -0283(I)

[OKKAR66127@xxxxxxx]

                             INFORMATION SHEET
                NO.A -0283(I)	 14th  January   1998

(1)		Japanese Buddhist Missionary Donates Cash for State Pariyatti Sasana
Tekkatho (Yangon)
		A cash donation ceremony of State Pariyatti Sasana Tekkatho (Yangon) was
held at the office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs on 13 January.
Visiting Japanese Buddhist Missionary presented Ks. 1 million for the State
Pariyatti Tekkatho?s fund to Minister for Religious Affairs who offered Buddha
images and pictures to donors.

(2)		Myanmar-Japan Children?s Art Exhibition at Dagon BEHS1 
		Myanmar-Japan Children?s Art Exhibition jointly sponsored by the Basic
Education Department of the Ministry of Education and the International Kids
Art Association of Japan was staged in the Dagon Thiri Hall of the Basic
Education High School 1 in Dagon Township on 13 January.  Paintings on Myanmar
New year Festival created by pupils of BEHS 1 in Dagon Township and BEHS 2 in
Latha Township and those on Japanese New Year drawn by Japanese children
totalling more than 100 were exhibited.

(3)		Medical Equipment for Children?s Hospital
		Pediatrician U Htut Saing and Daw Tin Tin Oo, temporarily residing in Hong
Kong, donated medical equipment to the Children?s Hospital on Pyidaunghsu
Yeiktha Road on 13 January.

(4)		112 French Tourists Arrive by Air
		Hec Pub group comprising 112 French tourists of Havas communication Voyage
arrived Yangon by Thai Airways on 13 January.  The trip was jointly arranged
by the Myanmar Hotels and Tourism Services of the Ministry of Hotels and
Tourism and Exotissimo Travel Co Ltd.

(5)		Over 25,000 Acres of Poppy Plantations Destroyed in Shan State
		As the government is expediting narcotic drugs eradication drive, members of
the Defence Services Intelligence Units and those of Myanmar Police Force led
by Military columns carrying out security duty manually destroyed more than
25,000 illicit poppy plantations in northern, southern and eastern Shan State
from 6 November 1997 to 5 January 1998. They did so in cooperation with the
local people. In the North-East command area, 4,363 acres of poppy plantations
were destroyed in Hsenwi Township, 6,863.914 acres in Kutkai Township, 4,363
acres in Namtu Township, 27.25 acres in Lashio Township, 42 acres in Muse
Township, 557 acres in Mongkoe area, 200 acres in Namhkham Township, 1,645.77
acres in Hopang Township, 100 acres in Hsipaw Township, 2,162.08 acres in
Laukkai area and 3,406.7 acres in Tangyan Township.  Twenty acres of poppy
plantations were destroyed at Monhtaw/Monhta area in the Triangle Region
Command area and 419.51 acres in Pinlaung Township in the Eastern Shan Command
area.  Altogether 25,560.224 acres of illicit poppy plantations were
destroyed.  Military columns continue to expose and destroy illicit poppy
plantations.

OFFICE CALLS IN YANGON ON 13 JANUARY
(A)		Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt
received Chairman and Chief Editor Mr Henry O. Darmann of Leaders? magazine of
New York at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence.
(B)		Secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission Brig-Gen Maung Maung received
General Manager Mr Toshiro Takayama and party of Sumitomo Corporation (Yangon
Branch) at the Commission Office.  The Minister also received Regional
Director Mr Nappadon Prapinpunt and party of ? International Herald Tribune?,
Bangkok  branch.

News Reporter Deported for Failing to Follow Proper Regulations
		Mr Fujita Satoris, Manila based bureau chief of Mainichi Shimbun came into
Myanmar illegally on 12 December from Bangkok by Thai Airways flight.  In
Yangon he was found to have falsely stated his occupation in the airport
arrival document and also lied when questioned by relevant officials.  Mr
Satoris also was found to have failed to apply for the proper standard
journalist visa and came into the country using an improper way of entry.
		Due to the fact that Mr. F. Satoris had intentionally breached the
regulations governing visa?s and for stating false information in the airport
arrival document he was deported the next day on the Thai Airways flight.
		Mainichi Shinbun has been issued visa to come into Myanmar in the past but
due to its extreme bias and too much focus on sensational reportings it has
been currently denied entry into Myanmar.

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