CNI News

13 December 2023

Because the Central Bank of Myanmar has allowed the people to trade the dollar freely, the black market could die out and the difficulties of dollar scarcity would be solved, said businessmen.

Authorized dealers, licensed banks have been allowed to trade dollars freely at the market price and buyers and sellers can trade freely, the Central Bank stated on 5th December.

In the past, because the Central Bank designated that one dollar must be sold at 2,100 kyats, there were two prices _ one is the Central Bank price and the other, the black market price. after that, as the Central Bank restricted the price of dollar, exporters and precious stone traders became to save dollars.

Because the Central Bank has allowed the public to trade dollars freely, dollars that were stored will arrive in the market and the dollar black market will die out, U Thet Zaw, an economic commentator told CNI News.

People waiting to buy fuel at the fuel station

" The price of dollar can go up anymore. Once the price reaches an equilibrium, the price will not rise above that. And then, dollars will enter the market. Traders have a lot of dollars. If these dollars re-enter the market, the price will reach an equilibrium. if the price of dollar go up, baht and yuan will enter again. The black market would disappear after being able to trade freely. Even the government might not be able to buy dollars because the dollars will be imported. The price of dollar might rise up to 4,200 kyats per dollar. The commodity price will not decline. The price of fuel also may rise up to 3,000 kyats per litre, we have estimated." said U Thet Zaw.

The government has allowed the public to trade dollar freely in order to solve the economic embargo as well as to replace the suspension of border trade with maritime trade, said business people.

Because the dollar can be traded freely, it has become more beneficial to exporters and they can export more products reportedly. On the other hand, it might be difficult for importers depending on the rise and fall of dollar, U Htay Aung Kyi, a banking expert, told CNI News.

" Because the government has allowed to trade dollars freely, the price of dollar has been much more that 2,100 kyats. So, importers will have more costs. It depends on how they will consider about it to make a profit." he said.

While seeing a basic class

However, because domestic dollar demand will decrease in the long run, it will be easier to import, an anonymous business analyst told CNI News.

" If you have got a lot of dollars, you can import more easily than before. But the price of dollar will go up. It will impact on monetary inflation a bit. On the other hand, exporters can export more products. If the foreign currencies enter the country, it will be the positive effect. If you compare the two, the good is more." he said.

Dollar trading should not have been controlled since before and due to the control, the price of dollar has been higher. Because the dollar trading has been allowed to carry out freely, although the price of dollar is gradually going up, the price will be stable in the long run, pointed out businessmen.

Only if the price of dollar is stable, will the domestic commodity prices be stable. And then, it will be convenient for businessmen to do business. And then, it will be convenient for basic workers to enjoy job opportunities and wages.

CNI News

13 December 2023

The difficulty purchasing the fuel is related to not only the people who own the cars in the country, but also all the people across the country.

So, it was necessary to solve the problem as soon as possible, economic commentators and advisors told CNI News.

If the problem could not solved within two or three weeks, the entire people of the country would suffer from other problems including high commodity prices. So, the problem that is difficult to buy fuel should not be taken lightly, U Thet Zaw, an economic commentator, told CNI News.

" Firstly, there may be problems in trade and transportation cases. There may also be a problem in passenger transport. There may be obstacles for the flow of goods. There may be difficulties for manufacturing business. Fuel is not allowed to be stored. But because the electricity is not available regularly, when the generators have to be used, fuel must be stored. And then, big generators are used at banks. When there is a power failure in banks and there is no fuel to run generators, if the banking operations stop, there is a possibility that the country's economy may become chaotic. So, the problem should be solved as soon as possible." said U Thet Zaw.

A fuel station

The problem came after a statement relating to foreign exchange had been released on 5th December by the Central Bank of Myanmar and has been one week long.

In spite of releasing the statement all of a sudden, the Central Bank should notify businessmen in advance so that they would have time to make preparations, pointed out economic commentators and advisors.

" Merchants will not sell their goods at a loss. So, it's like they're gradually selling their goods. People take the problem lightly when it starts taking place. In fact, it probably will be a great problem. The Central Bank alone can't tackle the problem. All related departments need to think about it to take action. Departments are weak in connection with one another. How are they playing politics above? They only know that." Ko Zaw Min Naing, an agricultural and economic advisor, told CNI News.

The farmers will grow summer paddy soon. Farmers use fuel to irrigate, drain and plough. If it was difficult to buy fuel for long, a lot of production could be reduced or no production could be conducted. Eventually, it was likely to face famine, he concluded.

Although the Myanmar Rice Federation has stated that it has planned to make farmers buy enough fuel and fertilizer at an affordable price to grow summer paddy, it must be watched, said Ko Zaw Min Naing, an agricultural and economic advisor.

While it is difficult to buy fuel, roadside shops that sell fuel double or thrice more expensive than fuel stations have arisen. 

People waiting to buy fuel with their cars (Su Myat Htwe)

Because the black market has appeared, fuel stations will no longer sell fuel to buyers who come without cars. However, factories, workshops and companies should be sold in some way as well, U Thet Zaw, an economic commentator told CNI News.

"Factories, companies, hospitals and clinics should also be allowed to purchase fuel with quotas. If there is a crisis in Myanmar, depending on the crisis, a class that take the opportunity and make money tend to arise. There are people who line up and resell to make money. Among these people are business people, too. It's not good to do so." said U Thet Zaw.

Because the people who come to buy fuel without cars are not sold, when there was a power failure in a certain hospital or clinic, there would be implications for patients who have to breathe oxygen, pointed out economic commentators and advisors.

Moreover, if fuel can be easily bought, the fuel price can be higher than the current price. So, the relevant authorities should consider the methods in advance about it, they suggested.

CNI News

12 December 2023

The officials from the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) met with the officials from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA) in Kunming, China through China's mediation to stop battles. 

Depending on the progress that will result from the dialogue, they will meet again by the end of this month.

" The officials from the NSPNC held talks with the officials from the MNDAA, TNLA and AA with the help of China to find a political solution. Based of the development of this meeting, there will be another meeting at the end of this month." said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, leader of the information team of the State Administration Council.

The both sides have not stated the particulars that were discussed. The two sides agreed to cease fire from 11th to 31st December, individuals close to the three northern groups (MNDAA, TNLA and AA) and the NSPNC told CNI News.

CNI News

12 December 2023

While those who were working in Laukkai returned to Lashio due to the battles and high commodity prices, many of them had no contact with their family members and some of them were arrested by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), their family members told CNI News.

Since November, they have come down from Laokkai to return to their hometowns and they have no contact with their family members up to now and some have been arrested to recruit, which a person, her acquaintance, released by the MNDAA told her, Ma Akari, lover of a detainee, told CNI News.

" Many people have been returning from Laukkai up to now since 25th November. They were arrested in Chin Shwe Haw or on the way. I was told that all the ethnic people were arrested. I don't know how my boyfriend was arrested because I have no contact with him. I was told that he came back with a Karen woman. At the first checkpoint, he told the checkers that he was a karen. If you told them that you were a Karen, your phone would not be seized. But at the second checkpoint, both of them were arrested. Among those who were arrested with them were included two brothers. One of brothers was released. He made a contact with me. He was sent back to Chin Shwe Haw at night. They were arrested in Wa State somewhere beyond Namtik. He doesn't recognize the place exactly." she said.

Those who come down to Lashio

There were many people who came to Laukkai from other regions including Bago, Magway, Yangon and Sagaing Regions to work there and due to the current battles breaking out in northern Shan State, they came back to their hometowns through Lashio.

Those who afford came back in cars or on motorcycles while those who couldn't afford returned on foot, said locals.

Although many people came down from Laukkai, because the family members haven't had no contact with them, there are a lot of people who are asking for help through their social network pages, describing their phone numbers.

Those who described their phone numbers on social media were also facing fraudulent requests for money, U Nyan, who has not had contact with his six family members who have come down since 18th November, told CNI News.

" We haven't had contact with my family members since 18th November. A man phoned me yesterday. He said that my family members were at the 125 relif camp. He would send them to Mandalay. But we have to pay him 300,000 kyats each person. I replied him that I needed to consult with other family members because I can't afford that amount. I haven't contacted him. After that, another man phoned me not very long ago. He told me that they have arrested my daughter and granddaughter. If I transferred 300,000 kyats to him, he would release my daughter and granddaughter. But he didn't allow me to talk with my daughter and granddaughter." he said.

Those who come down to Lashio

Several hundred civilians are fleeing to Lashio daily from Laukkai, Chin Shwe Haw, Namtik, Tangyan, Kunlong, Theinni due the current battles breaking out severely in northern Shan State and most of them were from Laukkai, said local philanthropic associations.

" Most of them are coming back from Laukkai. We, philanthropic associations, give them rice packages and a few other necessities. They get into trouble a bit. We can't carry them by car. They have to walk. There is a slight shortage of food and water on the way. When they reach here, we have planned to make them convenient. Those who arrive from Laukkai are not allowed to enter Lashio. The authorities allow them to stay outside Lashio conveniently." said an official from a philanthropic association.

if the residents of Lashio were among the civilians who fled, those who could show evidence that they were Lashio residents would be allowed to enter the city reportedly. 

However, because big battles have not yet taken place in Laukkai, some people have not come back from there. However, they are getting into trouble due to skyrocketing prices reportedly.

CNI News

12 December 2023

Revolutionary forces are restricting speaking Shanni in Sagaing Region and Kachin State, Shan Civil organizations stated dated 9th December 2023. 

The restriction was being conducted and it it was the oppression to die out the Shanni nationalities and it was a war crime as well, Sai Ai Pao, spokesperson of the Shan civil organizations, told CNI News.

" There are locals who ran away and came to the area where phone contact is available. We interviewed them. We surely asked them if it was true because we couldn't believe it. They answered when they spoke Shanni, they were beaten. Frankly speaking, even though Shanni nationalities really exist, that they exist in Banmauk and Pinlebu Townships were not recorded according to the immigration records of the previous successive governments. Again, if the current revolutionary forces restrict speaking Shanni anymore, these nationalities will die out. As a matter of fact, those who restrict speaking language of a race are guilty of genocide, according to global standards. So, we are warning them against their restriction. The world is pointing out the issue of Rohingya as a genocide. In fact, the Shanni nationalities in Sagaing Region and Kachin State also have been restricted like Rohingya." said Sai Ai Pao.

While seeing Homalin PDF

If someone who held a national registration card of Sagaing Region was found to be a Shan nationality at a checkpoint of the revolutionary forces, they would be more inspected. Moreover, if Shan songs were found on their phones, they would be beaten or their movement would be restricted, he said.

Many Shanni youths are serving in the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) while many other Shanni youths are serving in the People's Defense Force (PDF) in Homalin Township as well. He wanted them to coordinate and solve the killing of each other, Sai Htay Aung, chairman of the Tailai (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party, told CNI News.

Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA)

" I want to talk about a small incidence about it. A Shanni conference was held in Homalin. Five Shanni people who attended took photos of the conference. When they returned from the conference, they were checked on the way by the PDFs, their photos were found. The PDFs accused them of the supporters of the Tatmadaw, they were beaten to death. The killers are also Shanni people." he said.

Shanni civil organizations have asked the UN, international organizations, China, India, Thailand and ASEAN countries for help in relation to Shanni ethnic people whose human rights are being violated during the current military and political conflicts.

CNI News

12 December 2023

The Chinese government has issued arrest warrants for 10 people including U Bai Suocheng, former head of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone and retired Col.Wei San (b) Wei Huarn, former chairman of the supervisory committee of the border guard force-1006 of the zone. 

The Chinese government isuued arrest warrants for U Bai Suocheng, retired Col.Wei San, Bai Yingcang, Bai Yinglan, Wei Rong, Wei Qingsong, Liu Zhengxiang, Liu Jiguang, Liu Zhengmao, Xu Laofa, accusing them of committing telecom and online fraud.

Bai Suocheng, 72, is former chairman of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone and Bai Yingcang is a Chinese natonal registration card holder and the commander of the Kokang SAZ militia and the deputy head of the Department of Economic Planning and Administration.

Bai Yinglan was a Chinese national registration card holder and the chairman of the Xinbaili Group. Wei Huairen aka Col.Wei San was the chairman of the supervisory committee of the BGF-1006 of the Kokang SAZ.

Wei Rong, a Chinese national registration card holder, was the chairperson of the Henry Group and Wei Qingsong, a Chinese national registration card holder, member of the supervisory committee of the BGF-1006 of the Kokang SAZ.

Liu Zhengxiang was a member of the administration committee of the Kokang SAZ and also the chairman of Fulilai Group. Liu Jiguang, a Chinese national registration card holder, was the CEO of the Fulilai Group.

Liu Zhengmao was the general manager of the Fulilai Group and Xu Laofa, a Chinese national registration card holder, was the administer of the Jiazi Village Tract, Sixiang Township, the Kokang SAZ.

CNI News
10 December 2023

The Directorate of Labor has sent a notification to the overseas employment agencies dated 5th December that the agencies would need to exhort expatriate Myanmar workers to remit 25 percent of their salaries to their families in Myanmar.

The agencies must carry out instruction and completion conditions must be submitted together with evidence before 18th December and agencies that don't submit will be taken action against, said in the notification.

Because the phrase "to exhort" is included, there may be threats against Myanmar workers and there may be more difficulties. Moreover, There may be people who will be accepted themselves as illegal workers, Ko Naing Aung Aung, director of the Arakan Workers Organization, told CNI News.

While seeing the office of the department of immigration

" If the government puts pressure on the agencies, the agencies will put pressure on the workers. And then, the number of illegal workers may increase. The agencies can pressure Myanmar workers in some country such as South Korea and Singapore. But it is less likely to succeed in the counties where most of Myanmar workers are working. It may be difficult for the agencies but more difficult for the workers. The workers might cancel the MoU and choose other methods. Later, the workers may choose illegal channels through brokers." said Ko Naing Aung Aung.

Signing standard contract between the agencies and the workers has been carried out since 1st September. According to the contract, workers working abroad must remit 25 percent of their salaries to their families in Myanmar.

The workers abroad must remit 25 percent at least once a month and at most every three months.

While seeing a glove factory

At present, it has been 3 months, the directorate has pushed the agencies to implement the contract.

" Agencies are different from one another. You have to walk on your own way. It's not difficult to go to Thailand. But it's a bit difficult to go to Malaysia. Agencies must comply with the instructions." said U Win Myint, managing director of Lucky Overseas Employment Agency, told CNI News.

According to the Ministry of Labor's statement, the number of licensed overseas employment agencies has been 506. But there were about 300 licensed agencies in 2021.

CNI News
10 December 2023

There are reviews among businessmen about whether the purchase and use of electric vehicles (EV) could increase due to the fuel shortage and the high price of fuel currently occurring in Myanmar.

Currently, fuel cannot be bought at some fuel stations and people have to wait in line for long to buy fuel at other fuel stations. Moreover, people can only buy fuel in limited ‌amount and the price has become high as well. So, there are people who are thinking about using EV electric car.

However, due to maintenance, warranty and charging space requirements regarding EV electric car in Myanmar, people won't buy EVs just because they don't have to pay for fuel, U Thiha Paing, founder of the Via Logistics and Supply Chain, told CNI News.

" Not everyone accepts EVs because there are some problems regarding EVs. Corporations tend to start using EVs in other countries. For example, taxi groups start using. They start using EVs in the public transport. But because EVs are sold to the general public, a lot of people haven't bought them yet. People consider things like whether there are enough workshops to fix EVs and how long the warranty will take. People won't decide to buy" an EV car just because they don't have to pay for the fuel." said U Thiha Paing.

While charging an EV

People are not very keen on buying EV cars because there have not been enough charging stations and maintenance facilities.

" Because there are not enough charging stations and maintenance facilities or workshops, people don't dare to buy EV cars. In Vietnam, EVs are produced by the companies and they use EVs as taxis. And then, after studying them, the people gradually buy the EV cars. People won't buy EV cars because of fuel. But EV is the new trend of the world. So, people will use EV cars but not so soon." said U Thiha Paing to CNI News.

However, the prices of EV cars have become high because there have been short of fuel in Yangon since early December.

An EV car that was paid 800 lakh kyats in the past is paid 900 to 1,000 lakh kyats just now, according to the EV car market. The reason why the prices of EV cars have gone high was because there was a short of fuel and sellers are making price speculations as well as the control of the price of US dollar has been lift, said businessmen.

While seeing the Central Bank's statement saying that dollar can be freely traded

" Because there are no alternatives, if you start using an EV car, I have to ask you if there are enough infrastructures. We need a lot of charging stations. If there are not charging stations, EV cars will pile up on the road." said U Thet Zaw, an economic commentator, told CNI News.

How long the fuel problem will exist has not been known and if it is getting worse, production and transportation will be seriously affected, pointed out businessmen.

Because commodity prices will rise, authorities need to solve the problem as soon as possible, said economists.

CNI News

8 December, 2023

Almost residents of Loikaw fled to safety due to the battles breaking out between the KNDF/PDF joint forces inside the city, Karenni (Kayah) State after the Operation 1111 had been launched, said residents of the city. 

90 percent of the residents have arrived in southern Shan State, supposing that they shouldn't go on staying there, a resident of the city told CNI News.

" There are very few people in Loikaw. They all have fled to southern Shan State. I don't know anything after that. Communication breaks down because internet and phone connection have been interrupted. Electricity has been out of order. 

the KNDF Force

About 90 percent of the residents of Loikaw have already arrived in Aung Ban, Pinlong, Taunggyi, Ayethaya, Nyaung Shwe and so on." he said.

There were around 500,000 people in Kayah State and over 100,000 people lived in Loikaw. For the time being, Residents of Loikaw have displaced due to the battles in the city. 

The battles have been severely breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the revolutionary forces since the operation was launched by the KNDF to capture the city and there are air strikes and firing heavy weapons there.

Because many houses and buildings were destroyed due to the battles, it had been very difficult to carry out constructional tasks, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council, said on 4th December. 

Most of the residents have fled to safety and there are only the Tatmadaw and the revolutionary forces in the city, an official of the Loikaw Social Assistance Association, told CNI News.

the KNDF Force

" The exact situation on the ground is not known. There were approximately 400,000, but 300,000 are no longer there. The remaining people are just around the city but not in the city. I don't know about the city siege battle. I think only the military council soldiers are left around that area and the hospital hill. I don't know about the rest exactly." he said.

Revolutionary forces launched the Operation-1111 on 11th November and attacked the Tatmadaw in Loikaw. 

The battles have been breaking out between the two sides up to now and there are casualties from the two sides reportedly.