BBC-Japan defends visit by Burmese

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Subject: BBC-Japan defends visit by Burmese official

World: Asia-Pacific

Japan defends visit by Burmese official

The Japanese government has defended its decision to host a visit by one of
Burma's top military intelligence officials, Brigadier-General Kyaw Win.

The prime minister's spokesman, Sadaki Numata, told the BBC that Japan
wanted to maintain contact with both the Burmese military authorities and
the opposition National League for Democracy, Mr Numata said the visiting
Brigadier-General would be exposed to a variety of views during his ten-day
visit, including criticisms of Burma's human rights record.

>From the newsroom of the BBC World Service