CNI News

31 January 2024

A staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State Administration Council attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat held in Laos reportedly. 

The meeting started to be held on 29th January 2024. Myanmar and South China Sea issues would be mainly discussed, said Lao Foreign Minister Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith.

He said that sending a senior staff for the first time by the leaders of the Tatmadaw  who took the State power on 1st February 2021 to attend the ASEAN meeting that was being held in Luang Prabang, a Lao historic city, was a good sign, AP reported.

While seeing Myanmar delegate at the meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers on 29th January 2024

“This time we feel a little bit optimistic that the engagement may work, although we have to admit that the issues that are happening in Myanmar will not resolve overnight,” said Kommasith.

Myanmar has been barred from sending Foreign Minister or a political representative to ASEAN summit talks since the end of 2021.

However, Myanmar sent an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Daw Marlar Than Htike, to the meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers held in Laos, AP reported.

However, the SAC did not report about who was sent as a delegate to the meeting of ASEAN FMs.

CNI News

31 January 2024

The State Administration Council (SAC) was not a political government, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC at the meeting of the union government held on 29th January. 

The SAC was a government that was made up mostly of civil servants and free from politics. Moreover, only civil servants are assigned according to level in states and regions, he said.

" Civil servants have to serve their duties free from party politics and for the interests of the country but not for individuals. So, they need to carry out in accordance with the rules and regulations designated so as not to make weak administration and security incidents emerge. The SAC is free from politics and is not a political government. And the SAC is made up mostly of civil servants and only civil servants are assigned according to level in states and regions." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

While seeing the union government

Saying that the NLD was trying to form a government without solving vote list dispute in the 2020 general election, the Tatmadaw toppled down the NLD government on 1st February 2021 and has taken power after announcing the state of emergency.

Although the SAC did not represent any political party, it was doing politics, U Than Soe Naing, Myanmar political commentator told CNI News.

" It is that he has admitted partly. The military council doesn't represent any party. But it's participating in politics. The SAC is trying for the longevity of military dictatorship, holding the 2008 constitution. So, the SAC is not a political party. But it is doing political work. They are working to take census and to hold election. What they said that the SAC is not a political government is nothing short of admitting that it is the military council that came up as a coup government." he said.

While seeing the chief ministers of the states and regions

Myanmar Tatmadaw will have taken power already for three years on 1st February 2024. Saying that the SAC was not a political government was not enough and a government that contained politicians should be formed, U Thet Zaw, a political commentator, told CNI News.

" It's right. If it's a political party, it's not a political government. A political government means an elected government. Only an elected government will become a government that can speak internationally. Only if a government was formed with elected individuals, will international community accept it. Foreign Investments will enter and so will international aids. Sanctions will be lifted. Saying that it's not a political government is not enough. A government that contains real politicians should be formed." he said.

Six months were extended to the state of emergency for the second time at the meeting of the National Defense and Security Council held on 31st July 2023 under the Section 425 of the Constitution and its period will expire on 31st January 2024.

CNI News

31 January 2024

If the rice target alone could be met, the country's economy would improve a lot, said chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) at the meeting of the union government. 

However, businessmen pointed out that Myanmar should not depend on rice alone because there are many agricultural products in Myanmar.

Foreign currency earned from rice is less than that earned from coffee and oil crops. So, Myanmar should not depend on rice alone, U Thet Zaw, an economic commentator, told CNI News.

" In fact, there are many agricultural products that can earn more foreign currency than rice. Only if we export one ton of rice, will we get about 400 dollars. How much can we get even if we export rice by the million tons. It's not a very rich amount of money. There are not many countries that become rice from exporting rice Not many countries get rich from rice exports. Largely, various kinds of products have to be exported. There are products that earn more foreign currency than rice as well. We can earn a lot of foreign currency from exporting coffee, for example. If we can export a lot of coffee, we can earn more foreign currency than rice. In the same way, there are also many oil crops that can earn foreign currency. We should not depend on rice alone, I think." he said.

Farmers grew more rice this year because they received agricultural loans and other aids from the government and relevant businessmen. Moreover, because rice could be sold at a profitable price, farmers made a profit reportedly. 

While bags of rice are being loaded onto a container car

If the markets for agricultural products could be created, cultivation could increase and agricultural products could be exported more, said farmers.

However, if the national income has declined, it would be difficult to maintain by the rice sector alone, U THein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association, told CNI News.

" What is the most important is that it is necessary to link the agricultural products with good, markets. If we could produce three tons of rice and three tons of bean in the previous years, we will be able to produce five to six tons of rice this year, I think. But if the national income has declined, We can't maintain by rice alone. In fact, the income of people working abroad is actually foreign income for this country. But it's necessary to use them systematically." he said.

In comparison with neighboring countries, Myanmar was still weak in technology and businessmen who would invest in rice cultivation were also needed, said farmers.

Vacant or virgin soil should be allowed to be used again for cultivation and inputs such as fuel and fertilizer should be able to be bought easily. 

Moreover, shallow irrigation should be repaired and the government needed to support farmers in buying agricultural machines, said farmers.

CNI News

30 January 2024

The Myanmar-Laos Friendship which has been closed for four years due to the Covid-19 pandemic reopened on 25th January 2024 reportedly. The products from Myanmar could be exported to China and Thailand through the bridge, said traders.

However, if the products from Myanmar were exported to China and Thailand through Laos, the cost would be higher. As the permit for the Myanmar corns which are being exported to China has expired, corn exporters could no longer use the bridge, Ko Sai Kham, a corn trader from Tachileik, told CNI News.

" If you go from the Kenglat Bridge or Friendship Bridge which has reopened now as well, your goods have to be sold to China. During the validity period of the permit, exporters will go from Myla or Kengtung. If you go from Laos, it will cost you more. But because the bridge has reopened, nearby people from the two countries will benefit. Visits or trading local products can be conducted." he said.

Because of the re-opening of the Myanmar-Laos friendship bridge, it can help the tourism industry a lot although there is a little trade between Myanmar and Laos reportedly.

Vehicles passing on the Myanmar-Laos Friendship Bridge

Because the flow of goods between Laos and Myanmar was just a little, it was possible to carry out bilateral communication issues, U Thet Zaw, an economic commentator, told CNI News.

" There is a little trade through the bridge between Laos and Myanmar. The bridge had been closed in the past. There may be expectations ahead. It has reopened so as not to cut the bilateral communication for the time being, I think." he said.

Myanmar-Laos Friendship Bridge has been built to link Xieng Kok in Laos with Kenglat Town, Tachileik District in eastern Shan State, Myanmar, which opened on 20 November 2018. However, the trade through the bridge was suspended after 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic reportedly.

Myanmar-Laos trade value was only 0.411 million dollars in the 2019-2020 fiscal year and there was no import from Laos, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

CNI News

30 January 2024

The problems of Myanmar could be solved only when a federal democratic union could be built, the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS/SSA) stated on 29th January 2024.

It was said in the statement of the annual meeting of the RCSS held in Loi Tai Leng, its headquarters from 26th to 28th January 2024 and it would make an effort to resolve the political problem by meeting and negotiating with relevant organizations, said in the statement.

General Yawd Serk, chairman of the RCSS/SSA

Myanmar is deteriorating in all sectors including politics, economy, peace, social, education, health and so on while armed conflicts are widely taking place within the country due to political changes after 1st February 2021.

Although the statement of the RCSS was right, it was necessary to obtain the opinion of ethnic groups and citizens relating to what kind of federal structure would be built, Mai Ohn Khine, a Palaung politician, told CNI News.

" It's right. The political problem can be solved only when a federal union can be built. I haven't found out the detail of the statement. There are various kinds of federal structure. It will be the best only after obtaining the opinion of ethnic groups and citizens." he said.

While the NCA's 8th anniversary celebration was being held

Moreover, the statement has urged the ASEAN to intervene in order that Myanmar political problem could be solved. Efforts would be made to strengthen the long-term national unity of Shan State and Anti-narcotics, anti-online scams and anti-human trafficking activities would be carried out in its controlled area, said in the statement.

The RCSS/SSA is an ethnic armed organization that has signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).

CNI News

29 January 2024

The Ministry of Labor of the National Unity Government could not do anything to help in the affairs of Myanmar migrant workers but only nominally, Ko Thar Gyi who is helping migrant workers, told CNI News. 

Although Myanmar migrant workers don't like the State Administration Council (SAC), they have to apply for evidence documents because they are allowed to work only if they have necessary documents and the NUG's Ministry of Labor does not know how to do in the affairs of the labors because they did not know thoroughly about the affairs of the labors, he said.

" Even though we don't like the Tatmadaw, we have to compulsorily apply for the CI books because if we, Myanmar nationals, don't have evidence documents, we'll be arrested here in Thailand. The NUG's ministry does not know how to work. It can't do anything to help more than 5 million Myanmar people in Thailand. The Tatmadaw's ministries ask money in various ways." said Ko Thar Gyi.

CI books will be issued to about 900,000 undocumented Myanmar workers according to the agreement between Myanmar and Thailand.

Although a migrant worker must pay about 300 bahts for a CI book, the workers have to pay more than the fixed rate due to other unspecified costs. Brokers or agencies ask brokerage depending these costs, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the FED, told CNI News.

" Negotiations between the one stop service center and the agencies as regards the evidence documents were not convenient during December 2023. Myanmar government legally asks 310 bahts for a CI book. But one year ago, the cost for it was over 700 bahts. But in 2023, the cost was about 1,000 bahts. When CI books are applied just now, whether the cost will be more than 1,000 or not has not been clear. There are a service department in the one stop service center and agencies under the department. Depending on them, the costs may be more or less. The cost here can be said to be around 15,000 bahts." he said.

The period designated for providing service to credentials will expire in middle of February 2024. After that period, there might ba an increase in arresting undocumented workers, said the people who are helping migrant workers.

Myanmar migrant workers who have been included in the name list might be arrested if they were late for permit process beyond the designated period, they said.

CNI News

29 January 2024

Most of the hotels in Myanmar are in a deficit situation where the expenses are more than profits because the electricity is not regularly available, according to hoteliers. 

Some hotels where lots of guests don't come are not in a situation to accept guests due to irregular electricity availability. 

So, it is necessary to find a solution to difficulties hotels are experiencing, U Thet Lwin Toe, managing director of the Myanmar Voyages International Tourism, told CNI News.

" There are even some hotels that cannot accept guests because the cost has become higher with irregular electricity availability. The prices are also high. Moreover, if the service is poor as well, it will get worse. Ministries and those involved in tourism collaboratively must find a way to solve these difficulties." he said.

Just a few tourists are entering during the current non-festival period and electricity is also not available full time reportedly. Since electricity is not available regularly, the hotels in Bagan are providing electricity with generators. 

Due to higher.cost, the hotels are providing electricity only part-time by using generators depending on the number of visitors who enter, U Zaw Weik, chairman of the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association (Bagan Zone), told CNI News.

" It's not been convenient. The electricity is not available regularly. We have to improvise so as not to lose. We have to provide electricity part-time only. The electricity is never available all day long." he said. 
The hotels in beach and mountain areas are okay because there has been an increase in the number of tourists entering at present reportedly.

The hotels in Bago Region have to use generators for a short period of time because there are few guests who put up although a lot of tourists enter the region reportedly.

CNI News

29 January 2024

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council said that the public security system involving the public was highly effective when he met with political parties, Dr.Aye Maung, chainman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP) told CNI News.

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing said that in early January and it would be better if the political parties participated in the system because the peace and stability were wanted, he added.

" In other words, the public security system involving the public can protect you from falling into danger when you inform the security organization for the security of your home, your family and your neighborhood. The people who know that came to participate in the public security. He said with an example that the public security is highly effective. Moreover, he said that parties were built, believing a federal democratic system. Parties are composed of many party members who are guided by their parties. So, it would be better if party members participated in the public security which he said. He didn't mean that party members must participate in it." said Dr.Aye Maung.

Due to political changes after 1st February 2021, the country is facing crises and experiencing economic downturns In the same way, the people are struggling for their livelihood everyday and facing general crises including insecurity and high commodity prices. In addition, they are also facing the dangers of assassinations and landmines.

If the two armed groups contended, unexpected fighting might emerge, U Thet Zaw, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

" The other side is the People's Defense Force and this side formed the Public Security Force. When the two groups contend, unexpected battles might break out. Killings may arise. In fact, the public security force is a necessary organization as well, I think." he said.

Due to domestic armed conflicts, many people were killed and so many houses were burned and damaged. Moreover, most locals are fleeing to safety.

Although some EAOs, political parties, ASEAN and international organizations are trying to solve the armed conflicts, the problem is still not resolved.