CNI News

8 August 2023

While there have been increasingly unstable in Thailand due to political turmoil and protests there, Myanmar workers had better not change their workplaces, those who are helping Myanmar migrant workers said to CNI News. 

Although a general election was held in Thailand in May, a Prime Minister and a new government have not yet been appointed up to now. Moreover, Thai people's protest against the Pheu Thai Party is also strong.

Not knowing how the current situation would be changed, Myanmar migrant workers had better not change their workplaces before a new Thai government was formed, said U Aung Kyaw, an official from the Labor Rights Foundation to CNI News.

Demonstrations relating to the position of Prime Minister were being held in Thailand (photo-Getty Images)

" Thai economy is not doing very well right now. If you apply for a new job, it will not be accepted easily. A lot of workers are not needed there. So, it may be difficult if a new job is applied. At a time when Thailand's political situation is complicated, Myanmar workers will need to go on working in their current workplaces, that I want to advice. Because the employers are working with existing workers without much change at present, workers shouldn't think about changing their jobs at all." he said.

Although the election of a Thai Prime Minister by vote was scheduled to hold on 4th August, Wan  Muhamad Noor Matha, Speaker of the House of Representatives canceled the schedule on 3rd August. 

The parliament's ban on the nomination of Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party that won the most seats in the election for the post of Prime Minister - whether it is constitutional or not will be considered. 

So, the election of a Prime Minister has been put off. Moreover, the Pheu Thai Party that won second most seats in the election parted way with the MFP and  expelled the MFP from the coalition on 2nd August, which the MFP supporters were not satisfied with and protested against it.

Although not changing workplace was the best for these reasons, if there were rights violations in workplace, the workplace should be changed, said Ko Naing Naing Aung, director of the Arakan Workers Organization to CNI News.

Some members of the Pheu Thai Party (photo-Getty Images)

" You need to look back at the documents you have hold whether you can change your job or not. If you can, you must go to a better place. It's no problem. If your rights were violated, not safe and dangerous to your life at the place where you are working, it would be the best for you to change your workplace." he said.  

Illegal migrant workers in Thailand were asked to nominate until the end of July and those who have been nominated are allowed to live until the end of August reportedly. Because the policies relating to migrant workers can be laid down only when a new government is formed, Thai businessmen are also expecting the stakeholders to form a new government as soon as possible. 

There are demands to form the government within a month. There are over two million migrant workers including Myanmar workers in Thailand until February 2023 and several million illegal migrant workers there reportedly.

CNI News

8 August 2023

This year, in Myanmar the rate of corn planting has decreased than previous years and other crops that are sugarcane, ginger, chili and bean said corn peasants. 

Because the price of corn was currently low, peasant have planted other crops that are more beneficial to them, said U Thant Zin Tun, vice chairman of the Myanmar Corn Industry Association to CNI News.

 Corn seeds

" At present, rain-fed corn is planed in Shan State, Kayah state. Mountain corn has been all planted already and the plants are quite big now. The places where corn can be planted only, corn will be just planted. The places where other crops can be planted_ on the mountain peasants have planted sugarcane, ginger and so on instead of corn. In Ayeyarwady Region, the corn price is 1,250 kyats a viss (3.6lb) and 36,000 to 37,500 kyats a bag (30 viss). Do the peasants make profits? They don't make much profits. So, the peasants who planted corn before have planted chili and bean or pea instead. The peasants have planted other crops more than last year because the cost for an acre of corn planting is about 1,500,000 kyats. Only when pests and weather don't damage, peasants can earn 2,000,000 to 2,500,000 kyats. They can plant corn for a season only. At present, they can't grow corn  in the rainy season when the river rises, corn cannot be planted. Because the peasant earn 500,000 to 1,000,000 only for an acre, they don't make a lot of profits according to the current situation. So, they have turned to chili and bean that don't cost them so much. At present, the price of broken rice is far higher than corn." he said.

Although the cost for an acre of chili planting is about 5,000,000 kyats, because the profit is 40 to 50 lakh kyats, the peasants have planted more beneficial crops, said corn peasants. 

Although peasants planted corn on seven acres out of 10 acres and other crops were planted on the rest acres in the past, this year corn is planted only on five acres and other crops are planted on the rest five acres, said Ko Min Khaing, a corn peasant from Ayeyarwady Region to CNI News.

A corn peasant

" Corn planting will surely decrease this year because the peasants grow more chilli and bean instead of planting corn. Corn planting is costlier. It doesn't make a loss. But it makes a little profit. If the cost for an acre of chili planting is about 50 lakh kyats, a peasant can get about 100 lakh kyats from selling chili. So, he can make a profit of about 50 lakh kyats. If he grow corn, he can earn about 10 lakh kyats only as a profit. So, many peasants have turned to chili. And bean is not as busy as corn, but the profit is not too different from corn. So, corn planting is reduced by one third." he said.

Corn is grown mostly in Shan State, Kayah State, Ayeyarwady Region, Bago Region, Kachin State and Mandalay Region and annual corn yield is about 21 million tons reportedly.

40 percent of corn production is consumed by local food factories and 60 percent is exported to foreign countries.

CNI News

8 August 2023

Because it was very late to discuss ending local armed conflicts, it was necessary to discuss about it as soon as possible, said Daw Saw Mya Raza Lin, chairperson of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) to CNI News.

And it was necessary that leaders of ethnic armed organizations who can make a decision involved in the discussions and it was needed to reach a situation that can be decided, she added.

"Discussions are being made. But it is very important to hold more serious discussions. It is necessary to be frank. When the discussions are held, it is necessary to enable leaders who can decide not only from the government but also from EAOs to involve. It is needed to discuss to reach a situation that can decide. When there are different views, a day is off. And then it will go on discussing next day. We want to discuss until we reach agreements. It is very late to discuss effectively, I think." she said.

Daw Saw Mya Raza Lin and Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council

Some EAOs including ALP and the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) are currently discussing based on the 2008 constitution, she said.

The armed conflicts have been going on for more than 70 years in order to win equal rights since 1948 when Myanmar gained her independence. Due to political changes that started in February,2021, armed conflicts have been taking place in many parts of the country. She wanted peace among the ethnic groups that have lived together in the country, said Daw Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein from the Federal Democratic Party to CNI News.

"I'm not happy to know the armed conflicts have been taking place between the Tatmadaw and EAOs. Shan, Chin, Kachin, Kayah and Bamar are being killed and they are all our nationalities only. To tell you the truth, I want there is peace among them all. At present, we have no authority." she said.

The country is in various crises including politics, economy, health and education. Organizations including some EAOs, ASEAN and some international organizations are trying to solve the conflicts.

CNI News

7 August 2023

The State Administration Council should create a good education system for child labors, said human rights groups.
The SAC should create an education system for poor children, children who lives by asking people for money or food and children and children who have to sell goods, Lway Chi Sangar, secretary of the Ta,ang Human Rights Network to CNI News.

"An accessible education system for the children like that should be introduced. Some people open self-supporting schools. Others, monastic education schools. But not every child can go to these schools. The Education like this can be provided the children working at workplaces or selling goods on streets. Many children have lost their their rights including education. At the time, a child must be learning, he can't.S0, If the authorities can create monastic schools or the schools like the self-supporting schools or charity schools that are accessible to the children like this, it's more convenient." he said.

Children learning their lessons

The children who earn money by begging had increased double than before in Myanmar mainly because of the economic crisis, said Ko Phyo, founder of the Yay Gyan Zin Charity educating children with a self-supporting system to CNI News.

" That the children like this become more is mainly because the country's economy is declining. We are proud of ourselves to teach them. We founded the Yay Gyan Zin Charity with a sense of responsibility for the society. At first, we were worried that they were afraid of learning and didn't dare come to us. But in practice, they want to learn so much. They tend to be waiting for us who will teach them. We started a streetside class with four or five children. But as there are so many children who want to learn, the number of children is about 180 children now." he said.

Children have lost their rights because of their parents' request or demand and their employers' demand and the country's economic crisis. The government was responsible for the people's economic security, said U Myat Tun, director of Arakan Human Rights Protection and Promotion Organization to CNI News.

Children learning their lessons

" It's mainly related to parents. If the parents demanded their child to be a beggar, they would violate the convention on the rights of the child (CRC). Some employers ask the children under age. And there are children serving in the military, which violate the CRC. Social welfare organizations should perform to make children behave well and reach on the right track. It depends on the government as well.Now the country is in chaos. Commodity prices are going up.The price of rice also is high. All the prices are going up." The parents can eat a day if only they can work a day. The livelihood is not convenient. So, they have to ask their children to beg. It is mainly related to the government. The government is responsible for the people's livelihood. We want the government to solve the problem" he said.

The children begging on buses and streets are found and also in the retail and wholesale markets in Yangon Region. And The children selling flowers on streets, ones selling purified drinking water, ones collecting garbage are found most in Hlain Thaya, Shwe Pyi Thar, Kamayut and Dala townships, said philanthropists.

There are over one million children at the age of 5 to 17 who are working in Myanmar, said ILO, adding that parents have to be depending on their children because of crises in politics, economy, social and education.

CNI News

7 August 2023

The State Administration Council (SAC) reported on 3rd August that it has reshuffled the union government.

In this reshuffle, Lt.Gen Yar Pyae, chairman of the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee becomes the Minister for Home Affairs and Daw Thet Thet Khaing will take responsibility as the Minister for Hotel and Tourism. 

General Tin Aung San will take responsibility as Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Defense. U Than Swe will be Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

CNI News

6 August 2023

The State Administration Council (SAC) doesn't care about pressure and sanction, said Col. Khun Okka, an ethnic armed leader who is well-experienced in revolution, to CNI News. 

The European Union imposed sanctions on three minister of the SAC, six individuals and No.2 Mining Industry on 20th July, 2023. The SAC would continue to go on its way without caring about sanctions, said Col.Khun Okka.

" The SAC seems to intend to hold a peace conference and an election if it gets local unity to an extent. It doesn't care about pressure or sanctions. But it seems to re-negotiate with the leaders who have been punished to make the path that it wants to go more straight." he said. 
After the SAC took power on the first of February 2021, western countries imposed sanctions on members of the SAC and some businessmen. Moreover, Switzerland imposed sanctions on No.2 Mining Industry and six individuals on 3rd August, 2023.

Nolin Heza, UN representative for Myanmar meeting with Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing in August 2022

 The Tatmadaw involved in human rights violations and oppressions on the public, said in the statement released by the Switzerland government. 

Western countries' sanctions on the SAC was just a little impact and because the SAC had relations with some ASEAN members including China and Russia, it had an exit, said U Li Paw Reh, chairman of the Lisu National Development Party (Dulei Party) to CNI News.

Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Vice-Senior General Soe Win 

" Sanction is a kind of politics of the western countries. US and European countries will use sanction. Their sanctions has a little impact on the SAC. But China, Russia and ASEAN countries don't treat us harshly. We have an exit. We depend on Asia rather than western countries. The Sanctions have a little impact on the SAC but not much, I think." he said.

After the SAC took power, US,EU,UK, Switzerland and Japan have imposed sanctions on the SAC's ministers, businesses and businessmen related to the SAC. 

Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Vice-Senior General Soe Win has said that they wouldn't take care of the sanctions and they had other friends.

CNI News

5 August 2023

The Ministry of Labor is scrutinizing to protect nominal foreign employment agencies and ones that are not operating rightly and to enable agencies that can really invest and operate to apply for licenses, according to the business coordination meeting of the Ministry of Labor held on 2nd August, 2023.
When the ministry scrutinizes agencies' license applications, it included a rule that agencies must fully protect the workers they sent if the workers experience any problem in foreign countries, said the ministry.

The ministry mainly needed to free from corruption when it issued new licenses to foreign employment agencies. said U Ba Yi, worker in charge of the Migrant Workers Rights Network (MWRN) to CNI News.

Office of the OWIC

To tell you frankly, the Ministry of Labor mainly must be free from corruption. It needs to take action against the agencies that don't perform rightly. When the MoU workers are sent abroad, officials need to supervise the agencies. Because the ministry effectively didn't take action against the agencies that broke the law, these agencies changed their names one after another. The problems like that have been existing since 10 years ago. So, the Ministry of Labor should abstain from corruption and if the ministry supervise the agencies systematically for the benefit of the working class, the problems will decrease, I think." he said.        

The ministry are taking action against some foreign employment agencies and permanently closed the business licenses of 25 foreign employment agencies which broke the rules in the last week of July, it announced. However, because these agencies tend to re-apply for new licenses after changing the names of entrepreneurs and agencies, the ministry should scrutinize carefully, said the people helping migrant workers.

A labor office

" We've found that a list of blacklisted agencies published every three months or six months. But an agency that was blacklisted re-apply for a new license after changing the names. The authorities concerned also know that. In fact, the agencies that broke the rules must be taken action against. If they are really punished, better agencies that can take responsibilities will arise" said U Min Oo, worker in charge of the FED.

The ministry should carefully check whether the agencies send the workers to right workplaces and employments in accordance with the contracts with the workers, those who are helping migrant workers said. 
The agencies that take responsibility make sure to solve if a worker that they sent finds something inconvenient. But the agencies that don't take any responsibility don't solve any problems reportedly.

CNI News

5 August 2023

Nwe Yi Palei Sugar factory in northern Shan State started opening price at 110,000 kyats per ton in this sugarcane season. The price of sugarcane a ton was only 95,000 kyats last year. 

Because the price of sugar a viss (3.6 lb) is 3,000 kyats at present, sugar factories have increased the purchase price, said sugarcane peasants.
Because the cost of agriculture, fee for cutting sugarcane, labor cost are rising, the peasants are expecting to sell their sugarcane at over 120,000 kyats a ton, said U Maung Swe, a sugarcane peasant to CNI News.

A person selling sugarcane juice

" Nwe Yi Palei has opened the price at 110,000 kyats a ton. Because the current price of sugar is over 3,000 kyats a viss, peasants think they should get 125,000 kyats a ton. Every price is going up now. Fee for cutting sugarcane, diesel price, labor cost and so on are rising. So, peasants have expected to get 125,000 kyats a ton at least." he said.  

The current price of sugar is 3,300 to 4,000 kyats a viss. 110,000 kyats a ton is the price paid by delivery, which is the highest price in all sugarcane seasons, said peasants. The current sugarcane price was just starting to open price and later, the price would be higher, said U Win Htay, vice chairman of the Myanmar Sugar & Cane Related Products Association to CNI News.

Sugarcane

" Sugarcane peasants probably will get 120,000 kyats a ton. Factories seem to raise the price. They largely raise the price later. I've heard that some factories will even pay 130,000 kyats a ton. But I don't think it's the final decision." he said. Locally-produced sugar is mainly exported to Vietnam and local consumption also has increased reportedly. There are more than 400,000 acres of sugarcane cultivation all over the country and sugarcane is grown in Shan State, upper Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Bago Region, Magway Region and Okkan Township, Yangon Region. 

CNI News

August 4, 2023

Although security measures of the State Administration Council had improved, the economy was still out of control, said Dr. Aung Myo, a Myanmar politic analyst to CNI News. 

Although security measures had improved, high commodity prices the public was facing and poor economy were still out of control, he said.

" The government's security measures have improved a lot in comparison with last year, but it hasn't been good at all. Those who are feeling heart disease like me have to spend a lot of money on medicine and I earn the money from the military pension, but I find it difficult to make ends meet. I'm not grunting. This is what everybody knows." he said.

selling medicines at low prices

Due to the violence between February and July in 2023, more than 800 people, including monks, nunscivil servants and innocent people, were killed, according to the statement of the meeting of the National Defense and Security Council on 31st July, 2023.

The SAC formed the union committee for stabilizing commodity prices on 27th July, aiming to make the people's livelihood okay. 

some foodstuffs

Most of the goods used in the country are imported from abroad and only when they can be produced in local, rising commodity prices can be controlled, said U Htay Aung Kyi, an economic analysts to CNI News.

"If we want to grow the economy, we must be able to export. To tell you roughly, there are two policies to grow the economy. One is to replace imports and the other is to promote exports. To promote exports is very important to a country. We have to buy most of the goods from abroad. So, demand is high and supply is low. So, as usual, the prices go up. We have to import by dollar. So, this problem will exist for long" he said.

Due to the political changes that have taken place since February 2021 in Myanmar, there have been territorial instabilities and weak securities and at the same time, economic decline, monetary inflation and high commodity prices are taking place.