CNI News

18 August 2023

Collective force of the ASEAN members which have owned powerful weapons including Vietnam and Myanmar that have military experience is remarkably reliable for the world, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC). 

He said that in his video message sent to the 11th Moscow Conference on International Security in 2023 (MCIS-2023) held on 15th August in Moscow, Russia.

"Although ASEAN is not a military alliance, the combined defense force of the member countries is huge.  Collective strength of the consolidation between Vietnam and Myanmar with military experiences and other ASEAN countries possessing powerful weapons is remarkably reliable for the world." he said. 

MICS conference was being held on 15th August 2023

"The ASEAN plays a key role in meetings between ASEAN and its partner countries such as East ASIA Summits and ASEAN+3 summits in relations with other powerhouse countries in Asia-Pacific region. Moreover, the association influences over the regional cooperation and helps strengthen mutual cooperation to enhance peaceful relation measures." he added.

"The SAC has been able to have performed to stabilize political, economic and security measures in most of the country except some areas. Myanmar is striving for ensuring security, peace and stability, rule of law and economic development of the nation so as to hold a free and fair multi-party democratic general elections and to hand over the State responsibilities to the elected political party under the democratic norms." he said. 

MICS conference was being held on 15th August 2023

Myanmar civil war started three months after Myanmar gained her independence on 4th January 1948 and it has not stopped up to now.

The Tatmadaw toppled down the NLD government on 1st February 2021 after saying that NLD was trying to form a government without solving the ballot dispute that took place in the 2020 general election and has declared the state of emergency up to now.

Starting from that political landscape, NLD MPs and party members, some EAOs and democracy activists are striving to oust the Tatmadaw and battles are breaking out in Sagaing, Magway, Tanintharyi Regions, Chin, Kayin and Kayah States.

Although the Tatmadaw has military experience, it has been unable to achieve the peace, stability and the rule of law, which should be aware of, pointed out the political community.

CNI News

18 August 2023

 Inle Phaung Daw Oo Festival and Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held again this year, according to Shan State Ministry of Hotel and Tourism. 

The Inle Phaung Daw Oo Festival and Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Hot Air Balloon Festival have not been held for three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

These festivals will be re-held so that domestic travellers can re-enter, said U Htin Aung Naing, director of the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism of the Shan State, to CNI News.

Inle Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival

" We weren't able to hold the Inle Phaung Daw Oo Festival before the Covid-19 pandemic and during the Covid-19. But this year, we will re-hold this festival. In the same way, Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Hot Air Balloon Festival will be re-held. Although the festival was held last year, to tell you the truth, we weren't able to fully hold it. It was just for one day. We weren't able to send many hot air balloons up in the sky. Fireworks also were not involved. We will hold the festival for five days like before with fireworks. Our main intention is to make lots of domestic travellers come to the festival. We are performing the festival to be more attractive."he said.

The ceremony of Phaung Daw Oo Buddhist images' procession to receive respect and veneration that has been suspended for three years since the Covid-19 pandemic started will be held from 15th October to 1st November. Moreover, Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held from 21st November, 2023 to 27th November, 2023 reportedly.

As there is no territorial stability at present, it is necessary to be stable and most hotels in Shan State have suspended their services. Besides,  the number of hotel staff is not sufficient for the time being. 

A hotel at the Inle Lake

So, There would be a challenge in service if a lot of travellers came, said U Thet Lwin Toe, managing director of the Myanmar Voyages International Tourism to CNI News.  

"Because it's been repeated only after over 3 years, Myanmar tourists will surely come, but regional peace is also important. There  are many hotels tha8t have been closed in Inle. About 80 percent have been closed. In this open season we pray that every hotel can reopen and be busy. If the guests come, we need to give them full service. To the best of my knowledge, many staff have already resigned. They have changed careers. Some of them have gone abroad to work. So, We might need a lot of hotel staff. If the guests really come, we need to have good service quality. But We can't provide this at once. This might be a challenge for the tourism world." he said.  

The State Administration Council led and held the Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Hot Air Balloon Festival on 7th November for one day only last year. 

This year, many different kinds of hot air balloons including animal shaped ones and The detailed programs will be released only when it draws near to hold the festival reportedly.

CNI News

18 August 2023

Due to the battle that broke out at the Lekkhat mountain in Myawady, Kayin State on the 15th of August, Thailand has tightened security in Maesot at the Thai- Myanmar border since 16th August, said Maesot residents to CNI News. 
Joint forces including Thai border police and special forces have increasingly inspected at the border areas rather than in Maesot, said Ko Thar Gyi to CNI News.

" Thailand is checking the border entry and exit roads more than before. More checking points have been deployed on the road going from the Mae Pa side of Mae Sot to Mae La Refugee Camp. The roads and villages that can easily go to the Thaung Yin River are checked more.  Myanmar nationals from all walks of life are taking refuge In Thailand especially in Maesot, security is more worrisome. Politicians and Myanmar migrant workers without evidence should take care of their security." he said.

Thai authorities checking for security

Whenever battles broke out on the Myanmar side, Thailand tended to deploy security forces for its territory and people. 
But Thailand has deployed its security forces at the gates where Myanmar nationals can easily go through reportedly.
Myanmar nationals should watch their steps and Myanmar people should take their evidence with them when they go or come.

As Thai authorities have tightened security at the border area around Maesot, Myanmar people who are going to sneak in should take more care, said U Aung Kyaw, an official from the Labor Rights Foundation to CNI News.

Thai authorities patrolling for security

"There are also many people here who are insulting their own citizens. They are pursuing their own self-interest without having sympathy. Some of Myanmar people are telling their acquaintances or friends that they can come to Thailand, "You can come. You can register here." Such a thing shouldn't be done at all. When the application of registration is completed, the workers who have registered in the name list have been allowed to go on staying and working. Before any statement relating to migrant workers is issued, at a time like this, if they sneak in, they will be arrested." he said.

The process of registering in the name list was completed at the end of July. Only the workers who have registered in the name list have been allowed to stay until the end of September.

Those who want to come to Thailand should decide whether they should come to or not after thinking thoroughly without trusting what brokers say, suggested the people helping migrant workers.

CNI News

17 August 2023

Myanmar migrant workers who registered in the name list in the end of July have not been officially allowed to change employers and workplaces, said the people helping Myanmar migrant workers, to CNI News. 

At present, those who have registered in the name list have been allowed to stay and work until September and they are not allowed to change employers and workplace before employee identification cards are issued for new employees reportedly.

" According to the law, employees are allowed to work with current employers. But they are not allowed to go work beyond the designated area. The current Thai government has extended the rights to work for the workers who have registered in the name list until September. These workers are not allowed to go and work beyond the designated area. If a migrant worker even has necessary documents, he can't go to another employer if the employer accepts. They both are guilty" said Ko Naing Aung Aung, director of the Arakan Workers Organization.

Migrant workers waiting in line to make labor cards at the Thai border

However, the workers can change their employers and workplace in some provinces reportedly. But some migrant workers who have registered in the name list till the end of July do not have employers. 

So, they ask brokers and agents to be their employers nominally. When registering in the name list, if the employer and the workplace were the same, it would be better, said U Min Oo, in charge of workers affairs from FED to CNI News.

So, when employers need workers, they call workers from the agents and according to the situation, migrant workers tend to change employers and workplaces reportedly.

A factory's workshop in Thailand

Employers who have connected with the agencies might ask the number of workers they want. Agencies will send the workers because they get service charge. 
So, those workers can work there. But the name of their employer is their agency. You can't change your employer obviously at a time like this. Authorities can take actions against those who illegally have change their employers if they inspect and find that.

Only when a new Thai government has been formed already, those have registered can start taking new employer identification cards and the rights to work for those who registered in the name list probable will be extended one month after another reportedly.

CNI News
17 August 2023

Myanmar was included in the countries that allowed Chinese nationals to travel in group, which Chinese ministry of culture and tourism had stated. 

So, Myanmar should re-grant Chinese tourists visa on arrival that was granted before, said tourism operators. 

As there are only three Myanmar embassies in China, visa is inconvenient for Chinese tourists when they come to Myanmar. So, Chinese tourists should be granted visa on arrival and the government should lay down the travelling policy  after negotiating with tour guides, said U Thet Lwin Toe, managing director of the Myanmar Voyages International Tourism to CNI News.

" If Chinese tourists are granted visa on arrival, it will be convenient. Discussion to grant visa on arrival are under way. Like that India and China were granted visa on arrival in the past, they should be re-granted that we have told officials because China is very spacious. Myanmar embassies are in Nanning, Kumin an Peking only. So, it's not easy for Chinese tourists to go and take visas in Myanmar embassies. And airlines are expanding their business. Tourists who come are connected with tour agents and they will travel with tours and tour guides. It will be better if they go with our policies." he said.

Pilgrims who arrive at Bagan

The Chinese government suspended to allow travelling abroad in group starting from January 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the Chinese government has allowed travelling abroad in group now. 

Most Chinese tourists come to Mandalay from which they tend to go to Bagan, Shan State and beach areas reportedly. Because stability is weak in Myanmar currently, it is not convenient to go to Bagan from Mandalay.

 So, it would be convenient for tourists to go to Bagan from Mandalay by flight, said U Zaw Weik, chairman of of the Association of Hotel Operators (Pagan Zone) to CNI News.

security forces deployed in front of a hotel in Naypyidaw

" The problem is that any plane doesn't come to Bagan. So, tourists will come to Bagan from Mandalay by road. But motor roads are not convenient because they have to go through Myingyan and Nahtogyi where fighting takes place very often. So, if small planes fly between Mandalay and Bagan, it will be convenient. I don't think authorities will do so. The minister doesn't know anything about this field. Because he doesn't even have a guesthouse of his own, he doesn't know about tourism. The tourists will arrive in Mandalay. But the tourists want to come to Bagan. It will not be convenient to go to Bagan or Kalaw by car. If the plane flies to Bagan from Mandalay four times a week, it will be convenient. If so, the tourists can sleep one or two nights at Bagan. If there's anything wrong on the motor road, relevant people will get into trouble." he said.

Because the number of tourists who enter Myanmar have decreased lately, if the Chinese tourists come in group, it will be beneficial to the regional people, said U Tin Aung Naing, director of the Shan State Ministry of Hotel and Tourism to CNI News.

" There are two official trade gates in Shan State. One is Muse and the other is Chinshwehaw. We don't know yet which gate will be allowed. Chinese tourists can enter as a package tour. They will come to Lashio. And they will come to Inlay. In any case, when a lot of tourists don't come, if tourists come, it will be beneficial to the regions they will come to." he said.

Tourists are forbidden to come to northern Shan State by flight, they can come to Yangon and Mandalay by flight and through border gates, said travel operators.

CNI News

17 August 2023 

After battles broke out around the Naypyidaw council territory, military and political analysts are discussing about if there is a concern in Naypyidaw.

Apart from the villages around Naypyidaw/Pyinmana township, Boma Thantaung army camp of the Tatmadaw was attacked by the PDF reportedly. 

There is less chance of severe battles to break out in Naypyidaw and the most severe battles could break out in Yangon, said U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political analyst, to CNI News.

Yangon-Naypyidaw Road

" Such a situation has not yet arrived. People think that there will be fierce battles in Naypyidaw because senior officials of the military council live there. According to our international experience, the places, such as Naypyidaw, where military dictators live does not tend to be the last battle." he said.

As part of "All Roads to Naypyidaw" Operation, the access to the roads in Bago Region and Mon State had been restricted, said in a statement released by the southern regional sub-command under the NUG Ministry of Defense on 1st July. 
The construction of their military sub-regions in and around Naypyidaw had been completed and there has been already insecurity in Naypyidaw where the State Administration Council (SAC) is based, said Yebaw Yar Kyaw, the battalion commander of the Naypyidaw PDF, to the Spring Voice news agency.

Naypyidaw security forces (Frontier)

"Taungdwin Myothit and Natmauk on the west side of Naypyidaw, Meiktila and Pyaw Bwe on the north side and Tatkon and Yamethin on the east side _ areas around Naypyidaw are grouped and we built the Naypyidaw Military Sub-region and we tried to be able to exist up to now." he said.

The organizations that are taking part in the armed conflict were doing more propaganda and there has been no prospect of decisive battles yet, said Col. Khun Okka, a leader of an ethnic armed organization to CNI News.

"I don't want to criticize that matter. I had ever taken part in the jungle military for about 40 years. I had ever been deeply involved in the revolution. I have also fought with a group of troops. I used to fight with a group. We had tried variously forming northern joint army group, southern joint army group and middle joint army group. To judge by appearances, there are many forms like James Bond or Rambo. It's not like a real operation. They use more propaganda. There will be no decisive battles in the near future." he said.

At present, battles are breaking out between the Tatmadaw and some EADs/PDF joint forces in Kayin, Kayah, Chin States, Sagaing and Magway Regions.

CNI News

16 August 2023

A landslide occurred on the new Asia road between Myawady and Kawkareik a few days ago and some parts of the road were damaged. 

So, Myawady mountain old road was allowed to be used to go to Myawady. 

However, it is inconvenient for trucks to go from the old road, reportedly. Although one day up and one day down are set when using the old road, it is inconvenient for trucks and family cars and small buses only can go, said traders. 

Because there were some damages on the new Asia road between Myawady and awkareik, some trucks going to Myawady were stranded on the way and perishable goods such as potato and onion had to be sold at the place where they were, said U Kyin Thein, chairman of Myanmar Highway Freight Transportation Services Association, to CNI News.

Myawady Trade Zone

" The old road is very dangerous. In some places, the road is very narrow. There are big canyons on the side of the road. And it is rainy season as well. They were building a detour on 10th August on the new road. If the weather permitted, it would be finished in a month. But if it got much rain there, it wouldn't be convenient. Perishable goods such as potato and onion in the trucks that are stranded had to be sold at the place where they were." he said.

Although a temporary bridge is being built at the place damaged on the new Asia road, it is estimated that it might take about one month. 

At present, because it is not easy to go to Myawady, traders are considering to send their exports to Thailand through Maw Taung border trade route. 

Myawady-Kawkareik road

But traders are finding it difficult because costs will rise if they transport their goods through Maw Taung border trade route. 

At present, the prices of corn seeds being exported to Thailand are falling, said U Thant Zin Tun, vice chairman of the Myanmar Corn Industry Association, to CNI News.

" At the moment we don't know from where to go. We are still trying to go through Maw Taung. The road seems to be good again in about four days. A bailey bridge is being built. 

Going around the collapsed area, a new route is being built. There are three Myawady mountain roads. But largely, the old road going through Kawkareik are used. We have to buy corn after thinking a lot to export through Myawady. The cost has risen a lot. And the prices are also falling." he said.

Because some places on the road are damaged, the trucks that have arrived in Myawady are inconvenient to go back to Yangon and other townships, said freight businessmen said. 

Cargo shipments to Myawady have been suspended at present and they are waiting until the road has been repaired already reportedly.

CNI News

16 August 2023

Myanmar citizens have increasingly bought and rented condos in Bangkok more than last year, said Bangkok condo operators to CNI News. 

If there were condo  sales fairs, condos were sold more and if there were no condo sales fairs, condos are regularly sold, said a Bangkok condo seller to CNI News. 

" In comparison with the last year, buying and renting condos have increased this year. We didn't have to sell many condos during a month last year. But this year, we could sell about five condo apartments a month if there's not any condo sales fairs. If there are condo sales fairs, we can sell about 15 condo apartments. Prices are from about 2,500 lakhs to 8,000 lakhs.   This year, buying condos has increased a lot starting from June. Bangkok condos probably are sold a lot is because the value of Myanmar kyat is falling." he said.

If the value of Myanmar kyat fall any more, there will be more investment in buying condos, said Bangkok condo sellers.

Those who come and study condo showrooms

At present, some companies has increased buying condos and others don't buy many condos. 

The companies that don't buy many condos have turned to renting condos reportedly. 

Among the condo renters, there are more Myanmar and Chinese nationals, said an official from Bangkok-Myanmar Property and Life Style, to CNI News.

" I have turned to renting condos recently. I don't rarely sell because the money transfer fee has risen. You can't rent monthly. But you can rent at least 6 months or one year. Myanmar nationals bought many condos earlier because their children would study here. Now they are renting condos. There are different rents from 8,000 bahts to 35,000-40,000-60,000-100,000 bahts. About three people regularly come and rent condos a month. Nobody has rented a house as yet." she said.

The condo apartment that is paid eight thousand baht is as spacious as a room. 

Because most of Myanmar nationals come and stay with their families, they tend to rent condos that is paid at least 15,000 bahts and above reportedly. Myanmar nationals bought 188 apartments in Chinmai alone in Thailand in 2022 and in terms of value, it was 1.34 billion bahts mentioned in the Thai Enquirer.

CNI News

16 August 2023

There was no reason to invalidate the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), said Col. Khun Okka, patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization, to CNI News. 

There are organizations that do not follow the points in the NCA.

But liaison offices that were established in accordance with the NCA are still operating, said Col. Khun Okka.

" Because someone has told that the NCA has been void, it can't be void. The speech that NCA had been void was intended to respond to what the chairman of the SAC had said that there are organizations that do not follow the NCA. It's like a debate. In practice, there is no reason to be void because liaison offices in Pha-an and Myawady would be closed if the NCA was void. But now liaison offices are open and working." he said.

Leaders of the PNLO, RCSS, KNU and KNU/KNLA Peace Council who signed the NCA on 15th October 2015

Pado Sawtw Do Hmu said that the NCA had been void at the 100th day press conference held on the 10th of August after the Karen National Union (KNU)'s 17th congress. 

The NCA was signed by KNU, PNLO, the Restoration Council f Shan State (RCSS), the Chin National Front (CNF), the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), KNU/KNLA Peace Council, the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU).

KNU, RCSS, CNF, ABSDF and NMSP resigned from the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) which is made up of 10 NCA signatories and reduced their cooperation levels after the Tatmadaw took power on the first of February, 2021. According to the NCA, humanitarian aids were being provided, but there was no more of ability to perform the political sector, said Col. Khun Okka.

An NCA signing ceremony was being held on 15th October, 2015

"There are 7 chapters in the NCA, including the introduction. And it has 33 provisions. Like what KNU leader said, some organizations violated basic principles. The Tatmadaw violated some principles and so did some NCA signatories. There are also some provisions that we can engage. For example, there are provisions that we protect the civilians and that we must collaborate with international organizations to provide humanitarian aids. If we follow the NCA, we can work with these provisions. Among the 10 NCA signatories, three organizations are fighting against the Tatmadaw. The rest seven organizations have kept the ceasefire accordance with the NCA and are carrying out to provide humanitarian aids to the people in our territories and are collaborating with international organizations. We find it difficult a little to perform the political sector. But that the NCA has been void is not possible."he said.

At present, battles are breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the three NCA signatories _ KNU, CNF and ABSDF.