CNI News
6 January 2024

The special representative of the chairman of the ASEAN and Myanmar political parties enlisted by the Union Election Commission will meet on 12th January, 2024.

The current political situations and the ability to hold a free and fair general election will be discussed at the meeting.

However, inviting the ASEAN Special Representative to meet with Myanmar political parties has been wrong according to the procedure, pointed out the local politicians.    

" Although it's right that the UEC is responsible to hold a free and fair general election, that the UEC invites the ASEAN special representative to meet with the political parties is none of its business which might make other people misunderstand. The UEC has kind of controlled the parties. In fact, the office of the ASEAN Special Representative should invite the parties. It has sort of affected the State Administration Council rather than strengthen the institution of the SAC." said a political analyst.

while seeing some political party representatives and the UEC chairman U Thein Soe

It is also said that the recommendation document for the successful holding of a multi-party democratic general election must be submitted to the UEC by the political parties after they meet with the special representative on 12th January.

If it is a party that will compete nationwide, it must submit a recommendation document relating to the nationwide and if it is a party that will compete in a region or a state, particulars relating to a state or a region must be submitted to the UEC, according to the political parties.

After the new enactment of the Political Parties Re-Registration Act, there are 45 political parties that are registered by the UEC on 31st January, 2024.

CNI News

5 January 2024

The present time is an important period for the restoration of Special Region (1), said U Pheung Daxun on 1st January 2024 in his New Year Message.

U Pheung Daxun has taken responsibilities as general secretary of the Myanmar National Truth and Justice Party, as the Commander in Chief of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and as the chairman of the Shan State Special Region (1) Administrative Committee.

" Regaining power of the Special Region-1 of Shan State, Myanmar is just the first step in our national process. We have made preparations for party, administrative committee, military construction system, political system, administrative system and cadre training. But our forces have to inherit the frugal tradition of old revolutionists and their ways to do and must work hard all out together with the people for the regional development on the basis of the constitution of the Special Region-1." said U Pheung Daxun.

While seeing the MNDAA force

After that, however hard the future of Kokang region was, the special region administrative committee would not allow online gambling and narcotic drug industries. 

The people should not be oppressed. Corruption and bad habits that arose during the period when the puppet organization ruled would be absolutely eradicated, he said.

" What I can responsibly tell all the soldiers and civilians within the special region-1, the Myanmar National Truth and Justice Party (MNTJP), the MNDAA and the Special Region-1 Administrative Committee promise to make the special regional-1 peacefully develop. Because the present time is important for the restoration of the Special Region-1, if all the forces are able to overcome the final difficulties, the final success will arrive in the hands of the people, which I believe fully." said U Pheung Taxun.

It was strange that U Pheung Taxun's 2024 New Year Message did not contain anything about the federal charter and the NUG. The main objective of the Operation-1027 was to regain the Special Region-1 of the MNDAA and the operation was not obviously related to the NUG's Spring Revolution, pointed out political commentators.

While raising the flag of MNDAA in a town occupied by MNDAA

Even though U Pheung Daxun said that he would rebuild the Special Region (1), he did not reveal which regions would be consolidated and rebuilt as Special Region (1).  

The Kokang force led by U Pheung Kya-shin, father of U Pheung Daxun, made peace with the State Peace and Development Council in 1989 and Laukkai and Kon Kyan regions designated as the Special Region (1) after which the Kokang force was allowed to rule.

However, when the Tatmadaw pressured the Kokang force to convert to militia or border guard force in 2009, the battles broke out between the Tatmadaw and the Kokang force. And then, the Kokang force had to leave the Special Region (1). 

The MNDAA launched the Operation-1027 on 27th October 2023 and waging battles to capture the Tatmadaw camps and towns. The MNDAA has captured Konkyan, Phaung Sai, Chin Shwe Haw, Mong Ko, Hsenni and is launching an offensive in order to capture Kutkai and Laukkai. 

According to the Section-56(e) of the 2008 Constitution, Konkyan and Laukkai Townships have been designated as the Special Region (1).

CNI News

5 January 2024

The economic growth of a country can assessed by looking the development of its Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and at present, MSMEs within Myanmar have needed market and technology support, businessmen told CNI News.

Although successive governments helped MSMEs by issuing loans, the development of MSMEs is still low. 

Without receiving market and technology support, getting loans alone would not be convenient for MSME businessmen, U Thet Zaw, an economic commentator told CNI News.

" Frankly speaking, SMEs need market and technology support. Market and raw materials must be supported and it's necessary to better the production processes so that SMEs can improve. Lending money alone alone won't produce any good result. In due course, a lot of debts will be left with borrowers." he said.

MSMEs are important to economically underdeveloped countries like Myanmar. However, most of MSMEs do not have market at present. So, their productivities have been reduced and some MSMEs have stopped.

While seeing the glazed earthen jar industry

Such a reduction in growth is directly related to the country's economic decline. 99 percent of businesses in Myanmar are MSMEs and their growth and decline will be directly related to the country's economy.

Although loans are being lent to MSMEs, some enterprises have not got the loans. As a consequence of the current lack of territorial stability, due to the difficulty of transportation, the rate of production and the rate of consumption were not equal, an official from Kyi Pyar egg poultry farming business in Mandalay Region told CNI News.

" Some businessmen don't get the loans. Loans are not issued to some micro and small enterprises. Mainly, there are no markets. There are still production places. But to send the products to places where there are consumers, routes are being closed. Next, people don't have enough money to buy and eat. So, consumption is decreasing. Moreover, because the transportation is difficult between the production places and consumer places, products are piling at the production places. So, the prices have gone up at the places where there are no products. As the production places are stable, production can be regularly conducted." he said.

Moreover, there are difficulties to get import licenses for some MSMEs to get raw materials from abroad.

Successive governments were not able to make MSMEs successful. Myanmar has no ability to compete with regional countries in MSMEs. In fact, MSMEs in Myanmar are finding it difficult to exist anymore.

The long-term sustainability of MSMEs should be taken into account in order to revive the country's economy, pointed out businessmen.

CNI News
4 January  2024

The National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) and the three brotherhood northern alliance (MNDAA, TNLA and AA) will meet for the third time in Kumming, China, according to individuals close to both sides.

The meeting will be held on from 7th to 9th January. The first meeting was held during the first week of December in 2023, and the second, on 23rd and 24th December, 2023.

It was reported that the meeting was ten minutes long only and no agreement was reached from the meeting. However, the meetings lasted more than 50 minutes and at the first meeting, both sides agreed to temporary ceasefire and at the second meeting, discussion was conducted about demanding territories, individuals close to both sides told CNI News.

" The two times of meeting have been conducted and the third meeting is to be held. The two meetings lasted over 50 minutes. The first time was to cease fire and the Three Brotherhood Alliance signed." they said.

While seeing leaders from the Three Brotherhood Alliance

In cooperation with the Bamar People Liberation Army (BPLA), the People's Liberation Army (PLA), PDFs led by Bo Nagar, Mandalay People's Defense Force (MDY-PDF) and the Karenni National Defense Force (KNDF), the Three Brotherhood Alliance launched the Operation-1027 on 27th October 2023.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance and its allies have captured the Tatmadaw camps in Namkham, Thibaw, Hsenni, Chin Shwe Haw, Kyukote, Nangsan, Mang Ton, Namtu, Laukkai, Kutkai, Mong Ngor, Phaung Sai, Mong Ko Townships and controlled some townships.

The NSPNC and the Three Brotherhood Alliance will meet in China on from 7th to 9th January, 2024 for the third time for the cessation of the battles and for the regional stability.

CNI News
4 January 2024

U Pheung Daxun, Commander in Chief of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), released a New Year Message on 1st January, 2024 and explained about the objectives to the MNDAA forces.

He talked about cracking down on online gambling, reconstruction of the Special Region-1, situation relating to the ability to capture the Tatmadaw camps and how to govern the Special Region-1 after it was reconstructed.

However, he did not say anything about building a federal union which everyone wanted to build, the federal charter laid down by the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), an advisory body of the National Unity Government and the Spring Revolution.

" Regaining power of the Special Region-1 of Shan State, Myanmar is just the first step in our national process. We have made preparations for party, administrative committee, military construction system, political system, administrative system and cadre training. But our forces have to inherit the frugal tradition of old revolutionists and their ways to do and must work hard all out together with the people for the regional development on the basis of the constitution of the Special Region-1." said U Pheung Daxun.

While seeing the MNDAA forces

After that, however hard the future of Kokang region was, the special region administrative committee would not allow online gambling and narcotic drug industries. The people should not be oppressed. Corruption and bad habits that arose during the period when the puppet organization ruled would be absolutely eradicated, he said.

" What I can responsibly tell all the soldiers and civilians within the special region-1, the Myanmar National Truth and Justice Party (MNTJP), the MNDAA and the Special Region-1 Administrative Committee promise to make the special regional-1 peacefully develop. Because the present time is important for the restoration of the Special Region-1, if all the forces are able to overcome the final difficulties, the final success will arrive in the hands of the people, which I believe fully." said U Pheung Taxun.

While seeing the PDF forces

It was strange that U Pheung Taxun's 2024 New Year Message did not contain anything about the federal charter and the NUG.

The main objective of the Operation-1027 was to regain the Special Region-1 of the MNDAA and the operation was not obviously related to the NUG's Spring Revolution, pointed out political commentators.

CNI News
4 January  2024

Conclusions and discussions are widely arisen among the political and diplomatic circles in relation to the question whether Daw Aung San Suu Kyi could be released soon after the Independence Day.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's release depended on a compromise with the State Administration Council, Col.Khun Okka, an EAO leader, told CNI News.

DASSK, leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) who has been detained in Naypyidaw - her release depended on a compromise with the State Administration Council, Col.Khun Okka, an EAO leader, told CNI News.

" A review of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's current situation and her ability to participate, a compromise based on these things has some problems, I think. If the problems were solved, she would be able to participate in the restoration of the country. If the compromise was not convenient, the current position would go on, I think." he said.

DASSK was serving 33 years in prison for 19 cases. However, she was pardoned for five years of amnesty for five cases on 1st August 2023.

So, she still has 27 years to serve in prison. Although they hoped to release her, she might find it difficult to re-enter the Myanmar political world, U Myo Kyaw, spokesperson of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), told CNI News.

" In my opinion, a lot of challenges will be waiting for her if she re-enter the political world. If a very old woman like her re-enter the political world, she will find it difficult at a time like this. Even if she was released, she shouldn't re-enter the political world. If she re-entered the political world, would her policy be consistent with that of the National Unity Government/CRPH? If the problems arose among them, her dignity could be affected, I think." he said.

While seeing the NUG and PDF troops

Pieces of news saying that DASSK could be released after the Independence Day or she could be sent back to house arrest are arising among diplomatic circles local and abroad.

Because of political changes that arose on 1st February 2021, some members of the NLD party including the NLD leaders, DASSK and U Win Myint have been detained.

On the other hand, NLD MPs and those who are demanding democracy are fighting against the Tatmadaw to overthrow the SAC after forming the NUG and the People's Defense Forces.

CNI News

3 January  2024

The statement released by the National Unity Government that it would go on supporting the one China policy would not produce a good result in the diplomatic relations with the democratic countries, pointed out Myanmar politicians.

There have been historically close relations between Myanmar and China, and China is a powerful country which is an important country especially to Myanmar, the NUG stated on 1st January 2024.

" Myanmar and China share a border that is more than 2,000 kilometers long and they are neighboring countries that will have to live together as long as the world exists and Myanmar will build a kinship relation between the two countries. And Myanmar will always strive to stand as a good neighboring country for China and will go on supporting the one China policy." said the NUG.

While seeing the statement released by the NUG

The NUG's announcement that it would continue supporting the one China policy would not produce a good result, U Myo Kyaw, spokesperson of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) told CNI News.

" It doesn't matter if the NUG didn't reveal that at a time like this. Because while we are fighting against the military dictator, our common enemy, democratic countries are standing as our allies. While we are collecting strength from western democratic countries, putting a point in the statement that goes against Taiwan, a friend of these democratic countries as the fourt point won't produce a good result for us, I think." he said.

Moreover, looking forwards to the interest development for the people from the two countries, the Chinese investment and other social economic industries would be protected, said in the statement.

While seeing the NUG's People's Defense Force

Successive Myanmar governments supported the one China policy, U Kyi Myint, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

" Successive Myanmar governments supported the one China policy. At present, the State Administration Council supports the one China policy. But the SAC has a trade relations with Taiwan. The trade value is by the US billion dollars like under the NLD government. The US also has recognized the policy that Taiwan is under China. But the US is demanding China to recognize that Taiwan is going with a democratic system. Myanmar doesn't demand like that. But under the current military council, the relation between Myanmar and Taiwan has even increased more." he said.

While the NUG is striving to overthrow the Tatmadaw government, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang Province, China are also trying to liberate their regions.

CNI News

3 January 2024

When issuing certificates of identity (CI) to 900,000 Myanmar people who have been enlisted in the name list in Thailand, the role of brokers could be bigger, those who are helping in the affairs of migrant workers told CNI. 

The eight camps would be open on 4th January to issue CI to about 900,000 Myanmar people who have been enlisted in the name list by Thai employers, Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok has stated.

" Agents who are related to labor officers work as brokers at every camp. Outsiders are not allowed to enter the camp. If you work with brokers, CI book will be easily issued to you. CI books will be issued to 900,000 people during the designated period. Some workers have to go back to work all of a sudden because of their livelihood difficulties. Some workers have to spend a lot of money to register in the name list. If they don't have enough money for the time being to get CI books, it might take them long to get it." said Ko Thar Gyi who is helping in the affairs of migrant workers.

Those who are waiting in line to take CI (old photo)

Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, Chonburi, Patong Thani, Surat Thani, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Sawan and Songkhla Mobile Camps will be open to issue CI. 

However, compared to the population, the number of camps was still few, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) told CNI News.

" 80 or 90n percent of the workers might work with brokers to get CI. Brokers work both on that side and on this side relating to each other. If a migrant worker wants to get a CI alone, he has to make a package deal with brokers. Because many employers ask their workers to work with brokers. So, it will cost workers more. Brokers and agents are essential for the time being." he said.

A camp that issues CI

Thai government allowed undocumented foreigners to enlist them in the name list in July, 2023. However, those who apply for CI would pay the income tax, the people who are helping in the affairs of migrant workers told CNI News.

Because the income tax must be paid to the Myanmar government for the six months, there might be Myanmar migrant workers who will accept themselves as illegal workers. On the other hand, there are workers who want to pay the income tax because they did not want to be illegal workers, they said.

CNI News

2 January, 2024

It would be supporting the one China policy, the National Unity Government stated its position on 1st January 2024, saying it was the NUG's attitude relating to China. 

" Myanmar and the People's Republic of China share a border of more than two thousand kilometers. They must live together as long as the world exists as neighboring countries and the NUG will build the kinship relationship. Myanmar will always strive to stand up as a good neighbor to China." said in the statement.

Moreover, the NUG would be supporting the one China policy and it would protect the Chinese economic investment and other social economic industries, looking forward to the development of the interests of the people of the two countries, said in the statement. 

And any organizations that are threatening the security of the neighnoring countries would not be allowed to set foot in the territory of Myanmar, the NUG stated.

Those who are serving in the NUG are taking refuge in the US and European countries that are rivals of China and they are taking aids from these countries. However, as as the NUG had issued an attitude of its that will satisfy China, it probably would fail in the diplomatic relations, pointed out political analysts.

When the diplomatic relation was tense between China and the US/Japan because of the Taiwan issue, supporting China instead of Taiwan shows a lack of tact in diplomatic relations, they pointed out.