CNI News

21 December 2023

The Central Bank of Myanmar sold 9.72 million US dollars to the companies that import fuel on 18th December. 

So, difficulty in purchasing fuel in the domestic market will be resolved to an extent, said businessmen. 

There were difficulties purchasing fuel in Regions and States including Yangon Region last week and incidents of fuel shortages also occurred.

Necessary foreign currency to import fuel is being sold at the exchange rate designated by the Central Bank reportedly. However, businessmen who import fuel and the government need to honest so as not to make waiting in line to buy fuel and fuel shortage, U Thet Zaw, an economist analyst, told CNI News.

" I know the Central Bank sold over 9 million US dollars but I don't know exactly for diesel or gasoline. To the best of my knowledge, the bank sold for 35 percent of fuel imported. You must find US dollars by yourself for 65 percent. Businessmen need to be honest. At the same time, the government needs to carry out decidedly. Otherwise, people have to wait in line to buy fuel again. Moreover, a social class that wait in line to re-sell fuel will arise." he said.

While fuel is being filled in the fuel tank of cars

Although fuel can be regularly bought in Yangon Region, Mon State and some regions and states at present, fuel can be bought in a limited amount in Ayeyarwady Region. Moreover, the price of fuel is also going up and diesel is paid 4,000 kyats per liter reportedly.

Moreover, it was convenient to buy fuel for agricultural reasons if a letter of recommendation could be shown, U Thein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association, told CNI News.

" A few days ago, it was difficult to buy fuel. Now, it's more convenient. But it's still a little difficult. But if you have a letter of recommendation, you can buy fuel more easily. Those who are really in need of fuel for the agriculture are given priority. But sometimes, there is a short of fuel. Sometimes, fuel stations sell fuel worth 3,000 kyats and sometimes, worth 5,000 kyats> Some stations sell fuel worth 5,000 kyats each day. If you have a letter of recommendation, you can buy a gallon of gasoline. If you buy with a letter of recommendation, you can buy 10 gallons of diesel at some stations. But some stations sell five gallons. In comparison with a few days ago, it's more convenient. But we are still waiting to get fuel." said U Thein Aung.

While fuel is being filled in the fuel tank of cars

Singapore is exporting about 5 metric tons of fuel necessary for Myanmar every month and negotiations have been made to import 27 oil tankers this month, according to the working committee for fuel import, storage and distribution. 

At present, in Yangon, diesel price is 2,185 kyats per liter, and premium diesel, 2,240 kyats per liter, and 92 gasoline price is 2,245 kyats per liter and 95 gasoline, 2,545 kyats per liter.

The fuel prices in other regions and states are more expensive than those in Yangon.

CNI News

21 December 2023

Myanmar will conduct a familiarization trip or FAM trip to resolve Chinese misunderstanding of Myanmar to an extent, according to the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism. 

The FAM trip has been planned to start in January 2024 and the tourism companies in Yunnan Province, Chinese media, influencers and bloggers have been invited, U Aung Aye Han, deputy director of the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism told CNI News.

" For the time being, No More Bets film is being shown in China and it has been filmed about online fraud gangs in Myanmar and Cambodia. It's kind of a bit propaganda. Chinese people have been afraid a bit to come to Myanmar. It's not like that. See for yourselves. We have invited Chinese famous influencers, media and bloggers to see the reality when they visit here" he said.

No More Bets film poster

The Chinese film called No More Bets has filmed about online fraud gangs in Myanmar and Cambodia and it was shown for the first time in China on 8th August 2023 and it was terribly popular among the Chinese people.

Due to this film, agitations widely emerged not to go to Myanmar and it damaged the image of Myanmar, Myanmar Consulate General in Nanning told the director of the Office of Foreign Affairs in Guanxijun Autonomous Region.

The Chinese tourists included in the FAM trip will be sent to Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and beach areas to persuade the Chinese tourists more reportedly. 

If the FAM trip was really implemented, it would be more convenient, said tourism entrepreneurs and hotel operators.

While welcoming Chinese tourists arriving at Yangon Airport

However, in addition to the destinations known as the image of Myanmar, other destinations also should be sent and shown, U Zaw Zaw, chairman of the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association (northern Shan State), told CNI News.

 " The trips to beach areas, Bagan, Inle, cities and so on are mainly sent. In my opinion, a tourist who has ever been to a place doesn't want to go there again. So, to persuade tourists any more, we should find places, I think. For example, in the cold season, you should make trips to the icy mountains. There are so beautiful mountains in our country. We have to make mountain trips. If so, it won't be boring." he said.

In the tourism season of the 2023-2024 year, tourist arrivals probably will increase than the last year, which people have estimated and tourist arrivals from abroad will likely increase, said tourism entrepreneurs and hotel operators.

CNI News

21 December 2023

The monastery in Narmaw Village where IDPs from Naung Pu Aung Village, Homalin Township in Sagaing Region, were taking refuge was burned down and a novice there died in the fire, said a resident of Naung Pu Aung. 
He said it burned through the kitchen about 1:00 a.m on 20th December 2023.

" The monastery in Narmaw Village has been burned down. We have been in Narmaw. It was not burned due to the battle. It's not known yet why it burned. But a novice in the monastery died in the fire. The fire started around 1:30 a.m. All IDPs from Naung Pu Aung came and stayed in the monastery in Narmaw Village. Now that the monastery has been burned down, we still don't know what to do." a resident of Naung Pu Aung told CNI News.

While the battles were breaking out between the Shanni Nationalities and the KIA/PDF joint forces in November at Hwazingon Village, locals from nearby villages including ones from Naung Pu Aung came to Narmaw Village to flee the battle reportedly.

The Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA)

The KIA/PDF joint forces attacked Hlwazingon Village, Far Nine Village and Shwe Pyi Aye Town at the same time on 21st November and the KIA/PDF joint forces have controlled Shwe Pyi Aye reportedly.

There have been no battles at Hlwazingon and Far Nine at present. However, the battles are taking place at Thaungthut, Ohbokatauk and Tonhe regions along the Chindwin River between Tamu and Homalin, said a local. 

"There are no battles near Uru  Creek for the time being. Along the Chindwin River, the battles are severely taking place. The Tatmadaw is shooting by heavy weapons. But the KIA/PDF joint forces are capturing one village after another and approaching to Homalin. Ohbokatauk, Thaungthut, Tonhe and so on along the Chindwin River on the road to Tamu from Homalin have been captured by the KIA/PDF joint forces. They have already reached Tilaung Village." he said to CNI News.

The People's Defense Force (PDF)

Due to the current battles, over 2,000 locals from Shwe Pyi Aye Town, Myintha, Ngopin, Mezali, Zeebintha, Naung San Kyin, Hlwazingon and Naung Pu Aung Villages fled to Homalin reportedly.

The IDPs are taking refuge in the monasteries in Homalin and they are finding it difficult to get enough basic food because the roads and waterways have been blocked reportedly.

CNI News

21 December 2023

There are reviews and discussions among Myanmar political circles whether there is a new template to solve Myanmar political problems. Myanmar is facing crises and deteriorating from all sides.

Despite efforts to resolve these crises through dialogue, they are not working. On the other hand, revolutionary forces are waging battles to topple down the Tatmadaw, saying there is no reason to discuss the blood debt. 

However, in order to be able to solve the political problems, discussions can be conducted while fighting and if reliable individuals or organizations mediate, the path that can solve the problem might be opened, Sao Khun Seng, a person who is taking part in the peace process, told CNI News.

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, Commander in Chief of the Defense Services

" The voice saying 'no discussion for the blood debt' is very loud. So, the prospect of swaying towards discussion is less likely. But if we can study international incidents, we can find that they are discussing while fighting. There may be publicly-known discussions There may be closed door discussions. Moreover, there may be discussions through an intermediary. It is necessary to use both ways. 'I must fight. I won't discuss it.' This idea cannot be taken for granted. In the same way, 'I must discuss. I don't fight.' This idea also cannot be taken for granted. In fact, we can discuss while we are fighting. But I understand  it's difficult to do so at present. Some leaders also understand that. But we need to make the people in the organizations understand. So, shouldn't we start discussing through trusted organizations or reliable individuals? But we don't have to discuss them publicly. The road to peace might gradually open." he said.

Due to the current domestic armed conflicts, civilians are being killed, houses and buildings are being set on fire and damaged, and the people are fleeing to safety.

the organization currently in power should carry out to solve the political problem, Naing Than Shwe, spokesperson of the Mon Unity Party, told CNI News.

While seeing the people fleeing to safety

" It's a little difficult to say what a new way is. Only if all the stakeholders solved the problem, could a new one be found. It would be very difficult if only one organization created a new template that can solve the problem. If we study the period of late 2010, it was the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) then in power that created a new political template. The council planned and held elections. And then, U Thein Sein who emerged from the new political template came to power. In the same way, will the current government create a new political template? If possible, after all the stakeholders meet and discuss, how will we go as a new template? It's better to have a format that everyone agrees on." he said.

If the armed conflict could not be solved, the people would suffer from worse economic crises and territorial insecurities, he added. 

Due to the current battles,Myanmar's politics, peace, economy, education, health, social and so on are facing crises.

CNI News

20 December 2023

Illegal cross-border gold trade and exports decreased due to domestic armed conflicts reportedly. Mainly, Myanmar gold often is illegally exported to India. 

Moreover, Myanmar gold is illegally exported to Thailand, Bangladesh and other countries. As the border path that goes to India is not stable for the time being, many illegal gold exports have been suspended, Ko Nay Khant, a gold market analyst, CNI News.

" All the border paths have been closed mainly because of the civil war. So, there is no path to export gold. But there are gold exports but not as many as in the past. Mainly, the gold was being exported to India. But now, the path to India is not good. Any gold trader doesn't use the path. Worse, there is a problem with fuel. So, many merchants have stopped exporting gold. You'll have to take a lot of risk if you use the path." said Ko Nay Khant.  

While seeing people who have held arms

It is estimated that cross-border gold export was about 10 visses and above at the time when it was peaceful. Because the gold export has been suspended, the gold price is stable locally.

However, it was less likely that the gold price would decline, U Kyaw Min, a gold trader from Mandalay, told CNI News.

" Because the gold doesn't go out from the border, it is stagnant. So, the price has been stable. But it doesn't decline because the Yangon Gold Entrepreneurs Association (YGEA) has officially set the reference price over 3.20 million kyats per tical" he said.

Myanmar-India border

Because the Gold Entrepreneurs Association is giving the courses on gold and anti-money laundry free of charge each month, cross-border gold trade and price speculation would die out at all in the market, said the Yangon Region Gold Entrepreneurs Association.

However, it was not right that illegal gold export was reduced due to the courses. But the gold export declined due to unstable border trade routes. If the routes were safe again, illegal gold export would resume again through the border.

CNI News

20 December 2023

The Naga Traditional New Year Festival is held on 15th January every year,But not to hold the coming festival and if the festival was held, the security of the festival would not be guaranteed, the Naga People's Defense Force (NPDF) warned in its statement released on 18th December. 

Preparations are being made to hold the festival in the Naga Self-Administered Zone of Sagaing Region.

The Naga Traditional New Year Festival is a festival celebrating the Nagas' friendship, unity, traditional custom and the great history and tradition of the Nagas. 

However, because of the current political situations, it should be considered that celebrating festivals would be become a black mark for Nagas in the history of the future, said in the NPDF's statement.

Year Festival held on 15th January 2023

" While ethnic brothers living in other parts of the country are suffering from the effects of war, if Naga people will be holding the festival, they will not sympathize with ethnic brothers who are suffering from war and disagreements may occur." said in the statement. 

Moreover, the NPDF requested responsible Naga elders and Naga nationalities not to hold the festival after inviting Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing or any senior official of the State Administration Council.

If SAC officials were invited and the festival was held, the NPDF would not guarantee the security of the festival and individuals who organized the festival must be fully responsible for damages, said in the statement released by the NPDF.

While seeing the statement released by the NPDF

The festival is often attended by heads of state and tourists from local and abroad. The Naga Traditional New Year Festival that was held in Lahe Town on 15th January 2023 was attended by Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC.

There are Naga armed groups namely the National Socialist Council of Nagaland Khaplang Yung Aung (NSCN-K-YA), the National Socialist Council of Nagaland Khaplang Ang Mai (NSCN-K/AM), the Eastern Naga National Organization (ENNO)/ the Eastern Naga Defense Army (ENDA) and the Naga People's Defense Force (NPDF).

CNI News

20 December 2023

Extremist exiled politicians in collaboration with some EAOs that don't want the peace are taking support of some foreign countries and fighting against the Tatmadaw to disintegrate the sovereignty of the country and the national solidarity, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, Commander in Chief of the Defense Services and the chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC). 

He said the above at the Cadet Course No. 24 graduation ceremony of the Tatmadaw Medical University that was held on 18th December 2023.

" Extremist exiled politicians are working together with some ethnic armed groups that don't want peace and carrying out terrorist attacks, taking supports of some foreign countries in order to disintegrate the sovereignty of the country and national solidarity." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. When they did so, they were irrationally and purposefully fighting against the non-military health sector, he added.

The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), the National Unity Government (NUG) and the People's Defense Force (PDF) which have been declared terrorist organizations by the law have persuaded, pressured and threatened to the physicians, nurses and health staff to stop the state's health care system from operating, said the chairman of the SAC.

As the terrorist attacks, bombing attacks and damage to the health sector have emerged only after the Tatmadaw toppled down the civilian government, the Tatmadaw also is responsible, pointed out political commentators.

At present, armed conflicts are widely taking place in Myanmar and there are over one million IDPs. 

Moreover,tens of thousands of houses and buildings were set on fire and destroyed.

CNI News

19 December 2023

Labor wages have been designated on 9th December to raise from 2 to 16 bahts in Thailand starting from 1st January 2024, The Bangkok Post reported. 

Because the amount of wage that was raised was quite small, the Thai Prime Minister held a meeting with the tripartite committee on setting the minimum wage on 11th December. 

But anything confirmed has not released yet, according to the people who are helping in the affairs of migrant workers.

However, labor wages more probably will be raised from 2 to 16 bahts and rather than not raising wage at all, raising the wages like that will be supportive a bit to the workers, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs of the Foundation for Education and Development (FED), told CNI News.

Migrant workers

" In fact, the amount that is raised is not supportive a lot to the workers. But rather than raising nothing, raising by 16 bahts is supportive a bit. The cabinet meeting finally might confirm to raise from 2 to 16 bahts depending the provinces. The cabinet will have to make a decision. I'm not sure what will happen." he said.

According the currently designated rate, labor wages are raised from 354 to 361 bahts in Chon Buri Province where Myanmar workers are working, and from 335 to 345 bahts in Kanchanaburi Province, and from 332 to 345 bahts.in Tak Province.

However, there are still many workers who have not been fully paid at the rate that was previously raised, Ko Thargyi, a person helping migrant workers, told CNI News.

" In Thailand, wages are not uniformly paid. One province is different from another in paying wages. 300 bahts is set as a daily wages in Mae Sot. In other places, 320, 323 and 333 bahts are designated differently, according to the law. But in 80 percent of some places, 220 to 250 bahts only is paid. The factories that pay wages in accordance with the law are very few. Without solving these problems, the announcement that will raise wages has no effect on the majority of the Myanmar workers.” he said.

Migrant workers in Thailand

Although Thai PM said that the minimum wages should be around 400 bahts, the committee responded that the current rates were decided based on the proposals by the province sub-committees and it would be necessary to ask the province sub-committees to re-arrange if the rates were changed and it would take about two to three months.

Of the 46 manufacturing industries in Thailand, 50 percent are using manual workers and the majority of industries are seafood and garment industries.

If what the prime minister was implemented, the number of labors must be reduced and the productivity probably would decline, pointed out the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI)
So, if there was no further change about wages until the end of 2023, labor wages would be raised from 2 to 16 bahts, depending on the provinces.

CNI News

19 December 2023

The people should be careful when travelling in Yangon where explosions often takes place, U Thet Zaw, a businessman, told CNI News. 

Most people were facing with crises and it was necessary not to hurt the people because of explosions, he said.

" The people should be careful. Especially, I want the people not to hold unknown things. If possible, report the officials concerned. At at a time like this when the people are poorer, if you open curiously to know what is inside something, it may explode. If a poor person was injured due to an explosion, he will spend money to receive treatment. He'll wait some time to recover. He must have a lot of responsibilities for his family. So, we don't want to encourage explosions like that. In any case, I don't want anything to hurt the people's livelihoods." said U Thet Zaw to CNI News.

While seeing somewhere in Yangon

Revolutionary forces have released a statement urging the people not to pick up or hold things that have nothing to do with them. Two civilians were injured when they  picked up and tested a Bluetooth speaker that was attached to mines on 15th and 16th December.

If the people went out, they'd better take care and they should exchange news and information, Mai Oke Khine, a Palaung politician, told CNI News.

" The people should take care of themselves when travelling at a time like this. And before travelling, they should inquire some news. And they should go out only after informing of one another. If you find something doubtful, you need to be careful." he said.

At present, there are killings and exploding mines in the cities including Yangon and Mandalay, and some civilians are injured or killed.