E/CN.4/1995/91/Add.1 page 48 24. Books on religion such as the Koran that have been imported from abroad have been examined in accordance with the law and allowed to be distributed. For example: (a) One thousand copies of the Koran sent by the Muslim World League at Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to Amin Hawa Waqf at No. 18, 26th Street, Yangon have been passed by the board of authorities. The Minister for Religious Affairs himself attended the donating ceremony of the Koran. (b) In 1992, the Pakistan Embassy in Yangon was allowed to donate copies of the Koran to Suriti mosque. (c) One hundred copies of the Koran imported without permit by Moulvi U Thein Myint from the Islamic Scholars’ Association in Yangon were passed by the Ministry for Religious Affairs. 25. The Government makes a donation of 100,000 kyats every year for the promotion and propagation of the Islamic faith. Some portion of the donation is used to translate the Koran into Myanmar which is then to be distributed to the people of Islamic faith in Myanmar. 26. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has taken the responsibility of bringing into Myanmar X-ray equipment and hospital equipment as well as medicines donated by Singapore for the hospital for Muslims at Mahabandoola Road, Yangon, and then transferred them to the hospital. In view of the foregoing, the allegation that books and articles on Islam are not available in Myanmar is totally false. 27. The Government has also made possible Haj pilgrimages to Mecca, one of the five tenets of the Islamic faith. Since the year 1980, 100 Hajis have gone on the pilgrimage every year. After the State Law and Order Restoration Council took over State power, the Hajis were sent as follows: Year No. of Hajis 1991 150 1992 200 1993 200 28. Since the year 1992, the Government has made arrangements with the Finance Ministry as well as with the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank for each Haji to have US$ 1,000 for expenditure abroad and US$ 1,000 for air fare. Altogether US$ 400,000 are expended every year on 200 Hajis. 29. The candidates for Haj pilgrimages are chosen by the Selection Board of Hajis made up of representatives of Muslims and Muslim organizations from 14 States and Divisions. Haj candidates are chosen by lot by the Selection Board. Still there are complaints by those who have misgivings over the selection procedure. These cases have to be handled by the authorities often.