INFORMATION SHEET NO.A-0343(I)

[OKKAR66127@xxxxxxx]

                               INFORMATION SHEET
                     NO.A-0343(I)	           9th  March   1998

(1)		Myanmar Women Enjoying Status Equal to Men 
		A ceremony to observe the International Women?s Day was held at the
International Business Centre on 8 March. The Myanmar National Working 
Committee for Women?s Affairs formulated and is implementing the Myanmar 
National Action Plan for the Advancement of Women, with a view to speeding up
efforts for the implementation of future tasks in line with the objectives of
the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the fourth World
Conference on Women, the policy of the State and the political, economic and
social objectives. The Myanmar National Working committee for Women?s Affairs,
subcommittee and state-, division-, district- and township-level working
committees were formed, and endeavours are being made for the development of
women.  
		In a bid to strive to increase family income, assistance has been provided
for vocational training of women and for the establishment of small-scale
cooperative societies, and loans are extended to poor families to be able to
run small-scale 
businesses.  Research on elimination of all forms of violence and abuse
against women and their rehabilitation is being done, and talks on culture are
being held and religious courses conducted to guard against penetration of
alien culture.

(2)		Hussain of Pakistan Champ in London-Myanmar Open
		Taimur Hussain of Pakistan emerged champ with a total of 280 strokes in the
four day London-Myanmar Open on 8 March winning $ 36,337.50.  
Runner-up Zhang Lianwei of China with a total of 281 won $ 25,042.50. Ted
Purdy of the United States was third with a total of 282 winning $ 13,950,
Vivek Bhandari of India fourth with 284 winning $ 11,250, Christian Chenrnock
of the United States and Thammanoon Sriroj of Thailand fifth each scoring 285
and winning $ 84,37.50, Brad Andrews of Australia, Carlos Espinosa of Mexico
and Ed Fryatt of England sixth with 286 each and winning $ 5,797.50, Chen
Liang Hsi of Taiwan, Arjun Singh of India, Charlie Wi of Korea, Greg Hanrahan
of the United States and Gaurav Ghei of India seventh with 287 each and
winning $ 3,910.50 P Gunasegaran of Malaysia and defending champ Boonchu
Ruangkit of Thailand eighth each with 288 and winning $ 3,240, Takeshi Ohyama
of Japan, Paul Foley of Australia, Namyoung Woo of Korea and Jyoti Randhaiva
of India ninth each with 289 and winning $ 2,857.50, and Shaun Michael and
Aaron Meeks of the United States tenth each scoring 290 and winning $
2,598.75.
		Myanmar golfers who advanced to the final-day play were Win Naing Tun with
total of 291 and won $ 2,328.75, Soe Kyaw Naing and Myint Thaung each with 296
and winning $ 1,247.50, Win Aung with 300 and winning $ 163.64 and Win Zaw Oo
scoring 311 and winning $ 163.64.

(3)		Myanma Gems Emporium Central Committee Presents Gifts to 
		Foreign Gem Merchants
		Myanma Gems Emporium Central Committee  presented gifts to the gem merchants
attending the 35th Myanma Gem Emporium at the Ministry of Mines on 
8 March. On behalf of the Patron of the Central Committee and Minister for
Mines, Chairman of the Central Committee Deputy Minister for Mines presented
gifts to Mr Kichiro Ichonose of Japan who attended the emporium 25 consecutive
times.  
		Members of the Central Committee also presented gifts to Mr Cham Kwok Man of
Hong Kong who attended 20 consecutive times, 10 from Hong Kong who attended 15
consecutive times and seven from Hong Kong who attended 10 times.  Secretary
of the Central Committee presented gifts to the company which bought a
8,250-kilo jade at US $ 181,818.

(4)		Assistant Librarian Leaves for Malaysia
		Assistant Librarian of National Library, Cultural Institute Department of
Ministry of Culture, left Yangon by air for Malaysia on 8 March to attend the
Seminar on Library to be held from 9 to 12 March.

(5)		University for Distance Education?s 13th Convocation Continues
		The 13th Convocation of the University for Distance Education was held at
the Yangon University Convocation Hall for the third day on 8 March.  Rector
of University for Distance Education conferred BA on 1,141 and BSc on 368.	

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