CNI News

17 June 2023

There are different opinions among military experts wondering if there is a competition between AA and SAC in administration when they perform reconstructional tasks at periods after Cyclone Mocha entered Rakhine State.

While AA and SAC are competing in reconstruction activities, after SAC restricted travlling in Rakhine State on 8th June, relation between the two sides has become tense, reviewed some people.

He thought that AA and SAC were performing traffic and camp matters with understanding in the past. Now they have come back to tense relation, said U Pe Than, a Rakhine politician to CNI." The action of SAC is nothing more than breaking the agreement with AA.

Ceasefire between AA and SAC is just for the sake of humanitarian aids. SAC's restriction of travelling is nothing more than banning international aids for cyclone-hit people. AA demanded not ban the aids, but the SAC didn't recognize it. We still bon't know if there will be give and take in the near future.If tensions were relaxed, Confidence building again can be ruined. Up to now we haven't heard any fighting between them." he said.

FNPNC is handing over donations to AA for the cyclone-hit peopl

According to the current situation,  there is no condition leading to the conflict, but if AA moves in the form of raising its flags in schools, there probably would be armed conflict between the two sides, U Thien Tun Oo, director of Grand Strategies Studies told CNI.

" Sometimes although a written order has been issued, it's hard to say surely whether implementation is performed on the ground. We have to watch the sutuation.We haven't seen anything leading to a bad situation for the time being. but if AA raised its flags in schools, armed conflicts probably would arise" he said.

SAC and AA are currently competing in administration, legislation and udiciary. There is no collaboration between SAC and AA at in Rakhine State at the time after the cyclone Mocha.The riler easily did not permit people from other regions to help IDPs, U Ye Tun, Myanmar politics analyst, told CNI.

SAC is handing over 70,000 lakh Kyats to cyclone-hit people    

" when the tatmadaw captured a military camp of armed Rohingya organization or AA, they found the foodstuff aided by UNHCR, they reported. They want to tell that they will perform humanitary aids. The government will carry out. They will help the refugee camps near to them.They are worried that the aids wiil reach the armed organization fighting against them. They seem to cut the food for the armed organization fighting against them." he said.    

The ceasefire between AA and the Tatmadaw was nearly two years long and but battles took place again in August 2022.But taking into account of the loss of the local, the community, the two sides agreed to cease battles on 26th November 2022.

CNI News

17 June 2023

Over 300,000 tourists entered Myanmar from January to May this year, U Aung Aye Han, deputy director general of ministry of hotel and tourism told CNI.

The tourists entered Myanmar through border gates and airlines and most of tourists are from China and Thailand, according to the ministry.

" Totally 319248 tourists entered. At a time like this in 2022, over 60,000 tourists only entered.Because people were worried about Covid-19 till 2022. Now that it is considered as a normal dicease, the number of tourists has increased." he said.

tourists on U Pain Bridge

But tourist arrival fell to zero percent in northern Shan State starting from May this year, said Northern Shan State Hotel Operator Association.

The reason why it fell like this is because tourists have not been allowed to enter the country through airlines, U Zaw Zaw, chairperson of Northern Shan State Hotel Operator Association told CNI.

" Tourism had risen to 100 percent for over a year here. Now that tourists don't come, hotel rooms are empty.Hotel business are badly affacted, especially small hotels  find it difficult to go on existing" he said.

Tourist arrival tend to decrease in the rainy esason, said the hotel operator association.
To make more tourists enter when it's open season, discussions about visas in addition to other tourism sectors are underway, said U Aung Aye Han.

  the Shwedagon Pagoda

"We are coordinating and having discussions with relevant ministries in relation to visa exemption that had been given in the past and visa on arrival. I hope tourism will be better in the coming open season in comparison with previous years." he said.

Most of the tourists who entered in the first months this year went to the landmarks such as Yangon, Mandalay, Inlay and Pagan. Short term travellers went to around Yangon and Bago only.

CNI News

17 June 2023

Ships are needed to trade inside Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project area that has been built from Sittwe in Rakhine State to Mizoran Province in India, said officials of Rakhine State Inductrial Entrepreneurs Association, to CNI.

The Kaladan River all-round project is one inside whose area ships go and come back to trade and but due to the lack of ships, trade activities are still not possible
to perform, said U Tin Aung Oo, chairperson of Rakhine State Industrial Entrepreneurs Association, to CNI.

 port bridge built opposie Paletwa

"For the India-Kaladan all-round project, opening ceremony has been held at Sittwe Port. But according to the current situation, trade has not been able to start because trade can start only when there are ships that go and come back as a regular service between Sittwe in Rakhine and Kolkata in India. The company that operated the port has said the port is ready. But for the time being it cannot operate. It's hard to say when the trade can start. It is important that we need to have shipping lines." he said.

Although there is no trade in the project area at present, over 2,500 tons of rice were exported to Bangladesh from Sittwe Port as the first batch, said U Tin Aung Oo.

Although Sittwe deep water port and Paletwa deep water port which consist of the project have been built already, because road and bridges to be built from Palatva to India have not been completely built, trade has not been able to operate, said U Khin Aung, from Paletwa Township Chamber of Commerce to CNI.

Kaladan river bridge (from Paletwa township to India) construction signboard

"We can't operate the trade in Paletwa.There is no India-Myanmar motorway. So ships can't go yet. There is a government-sponsored ship that leave on Saturday and come back on Sunday. That's all. The rest have no traffic.

The routes will also be good if it's politically stable. If it's politically stable, this road will have been built in a year or two. We hope we can count on this project very much becuase the goods will reach Paletwa only for the first time.Many people in Paletwa will get jobs. Lower class will be convenient to make a living. Guests will get here as well. But because it's not politically stable, you can't travel, you can't build road" he said.

India-Myanmar Kaladan all-round development project was started in 2011. Then, Sittwe Port was built and finished in 2017. It was open on 9th May 2023.

CNI News
16 June 2023

Rakhine State, which was affected by Cyclone Mocha, has almost returned to its original state just now, said U Hla Thein, Attorney General of the state and spokesperson of the Rakhine State Administration Council, to CNI.

The cyclone entered the Rakhine State on 14th May and because it has been a month on 14th June since the cyclone hit the state, he answered as above what CNI asked in relation to reconstruction of the state.  

" When it's been a month since the cyclone hit the state, Sittwe has almost returned to normal situation because everybody can go on the streets. Every street has been cleared. 
Electricity has been available already. We have been able to use the electrity from the national grid. We have been able to use mobile phones. Wi-Fi has not been available as yet. But private companies are carrying out to be able to use Wi-Fi. And All the shops are open in Sittwe and so are schools.Hospitals are normally operating.

To say the least, everything has almost returned to their original situation in a month after the cyclone hit the state. I have been busy since the cyclone hit the state. I have been managing. Meetings have been held to make decisions. We have to present decisions to Naypyidaw" he saud to CNI.

They were able to reach normal situation quickly due to the collaboration of social organizations and the people. Moreover, rescue and reconstruction are being conducted without stopping as streets and roads have been open, he added.

bamboo houses and huts destroyed by Cyclone Mocha

Aids, rescue and reconstruction tasks reach the wards in cities and towns only and rarely get to the rural areas, said incharges from IDP camps.

At present, due to unclean environment in the IDP camps, older people there are feeling unhealthy, said Ma Myint, incharge of an IDP camp in Kyauk Taw, to CNI.

"All the houses collapsed. All the toilets collapsed.All the foods were wet. We don't have enough water. Bamboos are scarce. But we still have a very small building where we live, we cook and we sleep. Because camps were made of bamboos, all collapsed. When we take a bath, we are allergic very much. I don't know why.

We smell bad so much near where we live. Older people's blood pressures quickly rise and fall. And we are short of monthly use napkins for women" she said.

Now that the rainy season has reached, those who lost their houses are trying to take shelter from the rain,according to philanthropic teams. There are still many people who are finding it difficult to get rian-proof houses.

Moreover local people are suffering from insufficient water and foodstuff's prices are going up after cyclone, said a responsible person from a prahita youth team in Yathetaung to CNI.

SAC is donating 70,000 lakh Kyats to cyclone-hit people

"After Cyclone Mocha, food prices rocketed.The main is rice here. We paid about 90,000 Kyats for a bag of rice ( about 105 lb), but now we have to pay 140,000 Kyats.The food is very difficult for lower class." he said.

SAC spent 70,000 lakh Kyats to carry out tasks for aids and reconstruction in cyclone-hit Rakhine State and  aids, rescue and logistics are being performed.

Moreover, ULA/AA formed a committee for emergency rescue and reconstruction (ERRCA) led by Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Nyo Tun Aung. ERRCA is performing aid and rescue tasks.
The Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) and United Wa State Army (UWSA) donated 10,000 lakh Kyats to the people in cyclone-hit Rakhnine state
NUG released a statement that it had delivered donated 2,300 lakh Kyats to the refugee camps in Rakhine, Chin States, Sagaing, Magway and Yangon Regions,India border and Bangladesh starting from sometime befor the cyclone to 2nd June

CNI News

16 June 2023

Discussions are underway among political community in relation to civilian deaths during armed conflicts. 

Battles are taking place between the Tatmadaw and PDFs as well as between the Tatmadaw and ethnic armed groups in Myanmar.As time go on, mutual accusationa, killings, and arrestings have increased An non-aligned organization should intervene the civilian death problem, said U Sein Win, former member of the Pyithu Hluttaw to CNI.

five PDFs and a civilian seen after being killed in southern part of Myaing

" Because I have a desire to solve the problem,I have alarmed former members of Hluttaw. As soon as we have formed an organisaion and drawn a plan, we will present our plan to SAC after asking permission to meet.If SAC accepts our plan, we will contact to other side. I'd like to mediate to make both sides negotiate.But according to current situations, it's hard to start even in local" he said.

Li Li Naing Kyaw, a singer, was shot outside her apartment on the night of 30th May and died on 6th June.

Li Li Naing Kyaw was killed by Kaung Zarni Hein (B) La Pyayt and Kyaw Thura (B) E.T and Kaung Zarni Hein's mother and elder sister also were killed.

With the political landscape that has changed after 1st February, 2021, armed conflicts have intensified and all over the country many civilians are being killed with accusations of espionag. Moreover,with the accusations of being an advocate of violence, many civilians are being killed Civilians are being killed.

The reason why civilians are victims of armed conflicts  is due to the consequences of not implementing the Panglong contract, said U Kwan Kayaung Aung Kham, a Kachin politician, to CNI.

some local PDFs seen somewhere in the forest (Indaw PDF)

"Once there is a war, the people are victims. Civilians were killed in Cambodia and so were in Yugoslavia. It is unavoidable. But people don't like that civilians are killed. But who began the war? It depends on who made war? I there is no war, it is better. There has been war in our country for over 70 years. if we are able to implement the Panglong Agreement, then the war will stop.After implementng the Panglong Agreement, if we can build a true federal union, we will be peaceful" he said.

Due to the political landscape that has changed after 1st February, 2021, At least, 8,640 civilians were killed within two years. 748 civilians were killed within first five months of 2023 due to armed conflicts, according to ISP Myanmar.

CNI News

16 June 2023

Maj-Gen Than Htike, commander of northwestern command, who was reported to have been arrested, gave the rewards to eleven PDFs who surrendered with their weapons.
  
Eleven men, members of PDF from Pakokku township, Magway Region, and from Kalay township and Sagaing township, Sagaing Region came and surrendered with five self-propelled guns, and a pistol and they handed over the weapons to commander Maj-Gen Than htike and U Myat Kyaw, chief minister of Sagaing Region on 14th June.

U Myat Kyaw, chief minister of Sagaing Region, giving rewards to PDFs

Each of five men who surrendered with five self-propelled guns was given 50 lakh Kyats and a man with a pistol , 25 kakh Kyats and five men without any weapons, 20 lakh Kyats each.

The men who surrendered were handed over to their parents after being asked to sign confessions.

SAC issued a news released that it would give rewards to those who would re-enter the legal framework with weapons from various organizations, including PDF, fighting against SAC from 9th to 16th May.

Maj-Gen Than Htike who gave reward to 11 members of PDF who surrended was arrested during an emergency visit to Nay Pyi Taw which some media reported on 13th June.

CNI News

15 June 2023

In relation to why India is getting more involved in the Myanmar issue, discussions among Myanmar political community are underway.

Workshops on federalism sponsored by India were held in Yangon and Naypyidaw where SAC's National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) and seven NCA signatories met Indian federal experts and Indian ambassador on 6th and 8th June.  

Sr.Gen Min Aung Hlaing and Indian Ambassador

It appeared after the peace talk in Myla, eastern Shan State where Northern Alliance (AA,MNDAA,and TNLA) and NSPNC met on 1st and 2nd June.

" India is friendly to both the government and opposition elements. It seems to deal with both sides fairly" said Daw Saw Mya Yarzar Lin, chairperson of Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) to CNI.

" India is one of Myanmar's neigbouring countries and it is a country that has always worked with Myanmar for many years. It is friendly to not only the government but also opposition elements. After 1988 as well, it has dealed with both sides fairly. So, when we held the meeting, so Indian ambassador himself came to the meeting" she said.

Since State Administration Council (SAC) took power, India has had more re,lations with SAC and organizations formed by SAC and it is getting more involved in Myanmar's politics, peace and economy.  

India delivered humanitarian aids to Rakhine State where there was damage caused by Cyclone Mocha that entered  through Rakhine coastline on 14th May.

 India donates cyclone Mocha-hit people

India government is trying to restart Kaladan River Project and collaborating with Myanmar Tatmadaw for peace and stability of the border area.

Armed conflicts that are taking place in Myanmar impact on India, said U Li Paw Reh, chairman of Lisu National Developent Party to CNI.

" Armed conflicts here impact on India because refugees from Myanmar got to India. To tell you frankly, there are economically dealing paths between the countries. But some paths have not been open. They want Myanmar to get on well. So, Maybe they are trying, I think." he said.

Due to current armed conflicts that are taking place in Chin State, over 50,000 Myanmar IDPs fled to Mizoran Provence in India.

India and Myanmar share a border of about 1,000 miles. Along the border are Chin National Front (CNF), Arakan Army (AA), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), local PDFs,Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) and (Manipur and Naga) rebels that are fighting against India government.

CNI News

15 June 2023 

In order to export more rice and broken rice to the Philippines, Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) and eight Philippine companies buying agricultural products including Myanmar rice met and  MRF and International Trade Corporation under Philippine ministry of trade and industry signed an MoU, according to MRF.

 a rice shop

Due to the fact that the current price of rice in Myanmar is higher than international rice price,it is currently not convenient to export Myanmar rice to the Philippines.Myanmar rice can be exported to the Philippines only when it can be sold in comparison with international rice price, said an official of MRF to CNI.

" We signed an MoU with Philippine International Trade Corporation (PITC). We've got a new market. If we can sell, we'll export. We also discussed with the importers in the Philippines. We can't export at the current price. Our rice prices are higher than those in Vietnam and Thailand, so they can't buy as well. We can export our rice to the Philippines only when we can sell in comparison with international price price” he said.

Myanmar was able to export 110,000 tons of rice and broken rice through border and maritime in April and May during current fiscal year 2023-2024.

In order to be able to export more rice and broken rice, Myanmar delegation containing chairperson of MRF, businesspeople and traders went to the Philippines and trade issues were discussed with Philippine officials from 6th to 9th June.

While the prices of inputs are going up, MRF was able to sign an MoU to export more rice and broken rice and got a new market, which was hailed by U Thein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association.

a rice warehouse

"Because an MoU was signed and they will surely buy the rice from here. Demand has increased. While the prices of inputs are going up, on the other hand, if the market is opened, it is more convenient for manifacturers. We must hail it.' he said to CNI. 
 
Because rice prices are going up in Myanmar at present, rice exporters do not make a profit from exporting rice and broken rice. So, most of traders have stopped exporting rice and broken rice and they are exporting for existing orders only, said Myanmar rice traders.

Myanmar is exporting its rice and broken rice to 25 countries including China, Malaysia, Spain,Belgium, France, Netherland, and Bulgaria through marinetime and border routes.

CNI News

14 June  2023

When tenant residents who committed terrorism are takem action against, apartments or houses rented by terrorists will be seized as evidence, which was issued by Combating Terrorism Center on 13th June 2023.

Members of so-called CRPH,NUG and NUG and related organizations are staying in rented apartments and dormitories   so as not to be easily traced according to the process of arrests, said Combating Terrorism Center.

Owners of dormitories, houses and apartments must rent only after obtaining complete documents of the tenants' personal information and they must submit guest list with these complete documents to ward administration office, said Combating Terrorism Center.

" When tenants who commit terrorism are taken action against, rented houses, apartments or dormitories will be seized as an evidence in relationn to the case and If found guilty according to the examination in court, they will be confiscated as national treasure' it said.

Although the notification has been issued, some owners kept renting ignorantly, which encourage terrorisms, it said.

while a tenant commits terrorism and is being examined, if found the apartment owner systematically did not rent and submit the tenant's personal information to the ward administration office, that person's apartment will be confiscated as national treasure and taken action against as a supporter of terrorism, combating Terrorism Center has issued.