CNI News

3 Octobe 2024

Efforts were made to make the Naypyidaw Council Territory develop and in the same way, Meiktila was being made to become a model city, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC). 

He said the above during his meeting with departmental officials and elders in Meiktila District on 29th September 2024.

Meiktila has roads going to east, west, south and north and is a city that is pivotal regarding commerce. The area of Meiktila is just a little different from that of Naypyidaw Council Territory and there are over 900,000 people in Meiktila while over one million, in Naypyidaw, said chairman of the SAC.

" Efforts were made to enable Naypyidaw Council Territory to develop and in the same way, Meiktila is being made to enable it to develop as a model place. Geographically, Meiktila is located in the middle part of the country and pivotal in commerce. It is a district where there are universities and colleges as well. Besides, as it has a geographical situation where there is a smooth transportation, it is convenient to do businesses." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Sr-Gen Than Shwe (retired) built the Naypyidaw Council Territory in 2006 and designated it as the capital of Myanmar.

Eight lane streets and 16 lane streets have been built in Naypyidaw and Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing built the Mara Wizaya Pagoda, the highest in Southeast Asia. 

Weapons for the Tatmadaw are produced in Meiktila and conferences of military commanders are held in the city. Besides, it is well-known as Tat Myo (military city) as well.

CNI News

3 October 2024

Thailand has announced that anyone could complain to the authorities if they found illegal migrant workers and the Thai employers were asked to hire documented migrant workers only and to carry out emphatically so as to hurt the job opportunities of the Thai citizens. 
In the past, the Thai government had announced so as well.

However, because dissatisfactions between some Thai citizens and Myanmar migrant workers have emerged at present, it was necessary for Myanmar migrant workers, to take more care of this period, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development (FED), told CNI News.

While the Thai authorities are arresting illegal migrant workers

" Those who can possibly complain may not be getting on well with you or your environment. Next, employers may be as well. Moreover, Myanmar people can also complain their compatriots. For example, when documented Myanmar citizens versus undocumented are rivals in business, the documented complain. Unscrupulous employers also tend to complain to the police when they are about to pay wages to undocumented migrants workers. Myanmar migrant workers should take more care of themselves at a time like this because they are seeing or hearing pieces of news regarding to the problems of Myanmar citizens. Narrow-minded employers can change their mind." he said.

Undocumented workers and those without work permit can be fined from 5,000 to 50,000 baht. Also, they can be imprisoned and be sent to their native countries. At present, as some Thai citizens are considering Myanmar citizens are robbing their market shares, they are demonstrating, complaining and demanding. 

While seeing migrant workers

However, as Thailand is driving its economy with migrant workers only, complaints couldn't increase, U Aung Kyaw from the Labor Right Foundation (LBR), told CNI News.

" Demonstrations or complaints are just the attitudes of the minority. In fact, Thailand is depending on migrant workers to manufacture the products that are exported which are accepted by most Thai citizens. There is no reason that demonstrations or complaints will increase." he said.

Thailand has been taking actions against illegal migrant workers more strictly since the middle of 2024 under the 120-day plan.

The Thai authorities concerned went and inspected 718 factories from 5 to 19th September and 1,830 migrant workers were taken action against. So, Myanmar citizens should take more care of themselves than before and keep a low profile without boasting, suggested those helping migrant workers.

CNI news

2 October 2024

The basic military training course graduation ceremony opened by the Pa-O National Organization (PNO/PNA) was held in Yankin military region of the Special Region-6 in southern Shan State on 30th September 2024 and the PNO showed over 20,000 troops there. 

These troops are for the security of the Pa-O region, an official from the PNO told CNI News. 

"Showing our military strength like this is to protect our region" he said.

The PNO/PNA was to expand its military strength and has intended to deploy its troops in the entire Pa-O region. However, its troops reportedly would not go to other regions. 

At present, two military commands have been divided and they are Myintmo Command and Tatthar Command, said the PNO/PNA. Although they didn't have enough arms and ammunition, they were maintaining supplies, an official from the PNO/PNA told CNI News.

" We still don't have enough arms and ammunition. I'm not at liberty to say on detail how we are maintaining supplies." he said.

The PNO/PNA held military training graduation ceremony for 10,000 troops for the defense of Naungtaya region in August. 

After the PNO/PNA made peace with the Tatmadaw in 1991, the Pa-O region was designated as the Special Region-6. After the political landscape changed, because the PDF waged battles in the Pa-O region and near its border, the PNO/PNA has been building up its military strength.

CNI News

2 October 2024

Although the State Administration Council would start conducting census-taking, political circles is keeping a close watch on how the SAC would conduct census-taking while the people were facing flood disaster and military danger.

The SAC would conduct census-taking in the places where it could and it could not conduct census-taking in the regions where some EAOs have controlled, chairman of the Tailai (Shanni) National Development Party (TNDP) Sai Htay Aung told CNI News.

" The SAC seems to conduct census-taking in the places where it can. The Ministry of Home Affairs of the SAC has had facts and information about census-taking. They won't conduct census-taking in some places. They can't get exact information if they conduct census-taking now. How can they conduct census-taking in the regions controlled by the TNLA or the MNDAA? There are about ten towns that have been controlled by the TNLA. But the SAC will attempt to leave a record." he said.

While seeing some immigration staff

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing has said that the SAC will attempt to be able to hold a general election in 2025 and so, census-taking would be conducted so as to make the vote list correct. 

He was keeping a close watch on how the SAC would conduct census-taking and it was necessary to take more care of security, U Thein Tun Oo, Director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies told CNI News.

" We are keeping a close watch on how the SAC will carry out in detail. It's necessary to take more care of security. We have to watch whether the SAC will leave the dangerous regions." he said. 

The SAC would hold a general election because it wanted to use the election as a political exit. It would destroy the election without fail, said the National Unity Government (NUG).

Resettlement of the flood-hit people must be carried out as soon as possible, said Vice Senior General Soe Win, vice chairman of the SAC. The SAC has announced that it would conduct census-taking from 1st to 15th October.

CNI News

2 October 2024

An explosion took place inside a bag of rice donated to the flood victims at the office of the Setsan Ward Administrator, on the Strand Road, Kyimyindaing Township, Yangon Region on the night of 30th September. 

Due to the explosion, among the people making UID smart cards in the office, ten people were hurt.

It has not been clear which organization or individual exploded the bomb inside the bag of rice that was to be donated to the flood victims. Because it was raining heavily from 9th to 15th September as a result of Typhoon Yagi, 56 townships were flooded and more than 200,000 people were flood-hit.

Artists, some people, the rich and philanthropists including the SAC are helping flood-hit people and carrying out for their reconstruction.

CNI News

2 October 2024

As there are discussions relating to politics, military and trade between the State Administration Council (SAC) and its neighboring countries, economic analysts are discussing whether border trades could be restarted or not. 

Owing to China's pressure on some EAOs in northern Shan State, discussion between the SAC and India to use local currencies and Thailand's plan to fix the Asia Highway on the Thai-Myanmar border, these reviews have emerged.

Although neighboring countries were making attempts to re-open the border gates for their interests, if the country was unstable, the border trades could not be restarted, U Htay Aung Kyi, a banking expert, told CNI News.

" If the border trades couldn't be restarted, not only Myanmar but also its neighboring countries would suffer. They want to be convenient. But there are battles in the border areas. Armed groups have their circles concerned while the attitudes and opinions of local people are relevant with the situation as well. If you can't use the roads to the borders, you can't conduct the border trade. Mainly, it's necessary to solve the political problem. Lashio, for example, is a Shan territory. The MNDAA has captured Lashio, which leaders of the SAC receive and whether they will restarted the border trade depends on their attitude." he said.

While seeing a truck on the Yangon-Myawaddy Road, part of the Asia Highway in Kawkareik Township

Currently, because all the border trades have almost stopped, illegal border trades are reportedly emerging. Moreover, because almost all the territories where border trades are located have been controlled by EAOs, it was questionable how to negotiate with them, Ko Zaw Min Naing, an agricultural and economic advisor, told CNI News.

No matter how good economy was, if the country was unstable, difficulties could be faced in some way, he added. 

" I wonder how the SAC will negotiate with EAOs because  all the border trade routes have been controlled by EAOs. There are KNU troops in Myawaddy and Shan EAOs in Shan State and the KIA in Kachin State, and northern allies including the MNDAA in northern Shan State. If the SAC can't sign the ceasefire agreements with these EAOs, it won't be easy to open legal routes. If the country is unstable, you can do nothing. How good the economy is, you can face something or another difficult." he said.

The SAC has urged EAOs and PDFs to take part in party politics and run the election as well as to solve the political problem by means of politics after abandoning armed policy a few days ago.

Depending on the attitude of international community, neighboring countries and EAOs, it could changed into something good or bad, revied some people.

CNI News
29 September 2024

Questions are emerging among the members of the public regarding which groups or individuals are making profits or losses while there are monetary instability in Myanmar.

Only those who have monetary power could play the foreign currency market and they only were making profits while there were monetary instability, an economic analyst told CNI News.

The monetary market has been in turmoil because authorities had no capacity and monetary strength to control them, he said.

" Those who can play the parcel game make profits. They pushed up the prices of land lots as able as they could. They dropped when the prices reached at the highest point. At that time, those who were able to play the market or those who have financial strength made profits. You need to have financial power to control the market.  The Central Bank had enough foreign currencies, for example. When the prices of foreign currencies go up, if it sell out foreign currencies, designating a price level it wants to keep, the prices will be stable. In the same way, if the Central Bank has enough reserve gold, the price can be made stable if it sell out gold when the price goes up quite a bit." he said to CNI News.

While Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing was meeting with businessmen

Because the Central Bank didn't sell out dollars to all the entrepreneurs, some of them had to buy dollars at the market price and as there has been an increase in the number of the people who want to go abroad, the demand for dollar has been high, pointed out some people.

Moreover, as some SMEs were not able to go on operating their enterprises due to unstable monetary market reportedly.

Although those who were in need of dollars found it difficult, because businessmen who had to buy dollars at the market price raised the prices and sold the products, they didn't make a loss, Ko Zaw Min Naing, an agricultural and economic advisor, told CNI News.

While seeing a goods seller within the country

" For example, daily income of basic class or blue collars is designated 10,000 kyat. But they don't get that amount in practice. Many consumer goods used in Myanmar come from abroad. They are imported. The products are sold again depending on the price of dollar. For example if you had to pay 2,000 kyats for a product, now you have to pay 8,000 or 10,000 kyats for that product. But income of blue collars hasn't increased. Basic class mainly suffer that. Secondly, middle class.  Most people are finding it difficult for their livelihood because their incomes haven't increased yet. Some people have to living on the money they had saved." he said.

Currently, the price of dollar has declined from over 5,000 kyats per dollar to around 4,900 kyats per dollar on 27th September. It was likely because the global price of dollar declined, pointed out economic analysts.

Moreover, they reviewed that the price of foreign currency has been stable for the time being because the banks increase the rates of interests and the Central Bank has sold out much foreign currencies.

CNI News

28 September 2024

Although there were demonstrations and demands in Thailand regarding Myanmar migrant workers, employers in Thailand would not stop recruiting Myanmar workers, those helping migrant workers told CNI News.

Some Thai citizens and Thai nationalist organizations have demonstrated regarding Myanmar migrant workers and demanded the Thai government to tighten the workers for the time being.

Because of the demonstrations, although they could impact on migrant workers a bit, because migrant workers only could do hard labor, employers in Thailand could not stop recruiting Myanmar migrant workers, U Min Oo, In Charge of Labor Affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development, told CNI News.

" The employers in Thailand need migrant workers. Impact can't be great. That's why, in my opinion, the employers could not stop recruiting migrant workers because most Thai citizens can't work hard labor and some jobs. But there might be a little impact." he said.

In the demand of three Thai nationalist organizations were included that the validity of a work permit should be 90 days and if the work permit expired, a migrant worker whose work permit expired should return to his native country and re-enter Thailand; migrant women should not be allowed to be pregnant; if they were pregnant, they should be sent to their native countries.

Moreover, the mayor of Bangkok City announced a few days ago that selling goods on roadside must be conducted by only the Thai citizens and helpers must be the Thai citizens as well. 

While Thai citizens were demonstrating in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand

The situations like this have emerged because Myanmar citizens had no discipline and if discriminative Thai officials were on duty at the border gates, Myanmar citizens could find it difficult.

Although the Myanmar citizens have been doing the forbidden jobs since before, the Thai authorities including the Thai citizens have allowed them with understanding. 

However, later Myanmar citizens have obviously done businesses online, because they are impacting on the businesses of the Thai citizens, the Thai citizens are complaining, U Aung Kyaw from the Labor Right Foundation (LRF) told CNI News.

" The Thai authorities and the Thai citizens are seeing Myanmar migrant workers are doing forbidden jobs. But the Thai government didn't arrest these workers. But later the Thai people officially complained the migrant workers to the Thai government. So, the Thai government take some actions." he said.

There are over seven million Myanmar citizens in Thailand and many of them are doing forbidden jobs such as brokers, selling products on 'Live', selling goods on roadside, opening barber shop and so on.

So, the Myanmar citizens should be careful in other countries that they could not do what they like as in Myanmar, pointed out some people.

CNI News

28 September 2024

The State Administration Council (SAC) invited EAOs and the PDF and other insurgent organizations in order to get in touch and perform for the ability to solve the political problem by a political means, stated the SAC on the night of 26th September.

The census-taking which would support to make the vote list correct for a multi-party democratic general election would be started on 1st October and this period was the time when the preparations were being made with might and main for the election, said in the statement.

Taking into consideration of the losses and sufferings that took place in the country due to the armed way and the terrorist way, in order to carry out the everlasting peace and development hand in hand with the people, EAOs, the PDF and insurgent organizations which are fighting against the government are offered and invited to get in touch and perform so as to solve the political problem by a political means, abandoning armed policy, stated the SAC.

After saying that the NLD government was trying to form a government without solving the vote list disputes in the 2020 general election, the Myanmar Tatmadaw overthrew the NLD government on 1st February 2021 and took the State power.

After that, some members of the Hluttaw and democratic elements including some leaders of the NLD armed and are fighting to overthrow the SAC and the Myanmar Tatmadaw after forming the National Unity Government, the CRPH and the PDF in collaboration with some EAOs.

Due to these attacks, battles are severely breaking out in Sagaing, Magway, Bago, Tanintharyi, Mandalay Regions, Kachin, Chin, Shan, Karen, Mon, Rakhine and Kayah States.

Due to these battles, the number of IDPs is over one million and building were damaged by many tens of thousands. 

The SAC would conduct census-taking from 1st to 15th October and hold a general election after which the State power would be handed over to the winning party, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC.