Reference is made to your article "Japan's Pesticide Package May Hit More Than

Bugs" in the Jan. 15-20 edition. In this article Mr. Chan Tong Yves of the Ministry

of Agriculture in SOC was quoted as saying that WCC (World Council of Churches) has

been cooperating with the Ministry of Agriculture in the use of pesticides "they

have been working with diazinon since 1987 or 1988 for vegetable production in Kien

Svay district near Phnom Penh."

This is not correct because WCC does not have any project or activities in Kien Svay.

Our past involvement with agricultural assistance in this country was limited to

the Tonle Bati district where we assisted in the setting up of the Agricultural Training

Centre and an irrigation project.

In discussing this matter with Mr Chan Tong Yves, he was surprised about this and

mentioned that either he was misquoted or that he had indeed mixed up the name of

World Council of Churches with that of another organization.

- Imalia Komalo, Representative WCC