CNI News

15 November 2023

After the Karenni National Defense Force (KNDF) have started battles to capture Loikaw City, a lot of residents are trapped, a Loikaw resident told CNI News.

The battles that was launched since 11th November have been severe up to now and there are airstrikes and heavy weapon fires, he added.

" The battles have been breaking out for two or three days day and night and both heavy weapons and small firearms are being used. We, residents, are trapped. Because  on the way that we will run away are battles, we have to run towards the south or north or east or west so as to be safe" he said.

While seeing the entrance to Loikaw City

The current situation was that revolutionary forces all over the country were waging battles to build a federal democratic union and the State Administration Council's mechanism in Loikaw must be demolished in order to overthrow the dictatorship in Karenni State and to obtain self-determination, said Khun Bi Htoo, chairman of the KNDF on 13th November 2023.

Because the KNDF was more afraid that the dictatorship would take root although there could be damages in consequences of the battles that were intended to capture the city, the KNDF made a decision to wage the operation. So, the people were requested to move to safety temporarily, said Khun Bi Htoo.

Because there is no more of the flow of goods, the amount of foodstuff has declined. Moreover, there were civilian deaths as well, said a Loikaw resident. 

While seeing two comrades of the KNDF

" we haven't heard the news about the casualty exactly. Rumor has it there might be casualty. There was an airstrike last night. A plane has been already in flight over the town since 6:00 a.m. this morning and now it's bombing as well." he said to CNI News.

20 people were killed by heavy weapons in Pekon, Mobye and Loikaw Towns from 11th November when the operation was launched to 13th November. 

Among those killed were four women, 13 men and the remaining three were still unknown, the Karenni Human Rights Organization stated on 14th November 2023.

Revolutionary forces have informed the people not to use the Loikaw-Pekon Road, the Loikaw-Sesai Road and the Loikaw-Demoso Road for the time being and the flight trips have been suspended due to the battles reportedly.

CNI News

14 November, 2023

Joint forces from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the People's Defense Force (PDF) have been fighting since morning of 14th November to capture Banmauk, upper Sagaing Region. 

So, KIA/PDF joint forces are at battles against the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) that is carrying out for the security of Banmauk.

Over 2000 KIA/PDF joint forces are attacking the SNA in three columns - one from the northwest of Banmauk, one from Myit Thay Chin Village to the south of Banmauk and one from Kainggyi Tone Hlaw Village to the northeast of Banmauk, said locals.

While seeing a SNA comrade

In collaboration with the Arakan Army(AA), the People's Defense Force (PDF), the All Burma Students Democratic Front and Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-Burma), the KIA is waging three operations - an operation centered on Tigyaing, one centered on Banmauk and one centered on Katha, Kawlin and Kant Balu. 

If these operations were successful, the KIA would go on waging operation in Chin State, Sagaing Region and Rakhine State after connecting with the AA, the Chin National Front (CNF), the Chin National Defense Force (CNDF) and the PDF.

So, the KIA is trying hard in order to capture Banmauk, Homalin, Katha, Pinlebu, Tigyaing and Kant Balu Towns in upper Sagaing Region.

CNI News

14 November 2023

The State Administration Council stated on 13th November that it has been able to regain control of Tigyaing Town in Sagaing Region from the hands of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the People's Defense Force (PDF) joint forces.

The KIA/PDF joint forces entered Tigyaing in full force on 9th November and set up camps inside houses, religious and government buildings and started fighting.

After that, the Tatmadaw retook control of Tigyaing on 12th November with a ground offensive after carrying out heavy airstrikes, said locals.

After KIA/PDF joint forces retreated, the Tatmadaw was clearing mines and going to do rehabilitation work so that residents could live again, the SAC stated.

Leading its allies - the Arakan, the People's Defense Force, the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-Burma), the KIA was waging an operation centered on Tigyaing, one centered on Banmauk and one centered on Katha, Kawlin and Kant Balu.

If these operations were successful, the KIA would try to capture upper half of Myanmar after connecting and collaborating with revolutionary forces in Chin State, Magway Region and Rakhine State.

CNI News

14 November 2023

As the Tazaungdaing Festival will be held in southern Shan State, almost every hotel room there has been booked for the Tazaungdaing holiday. 

However, as battles are taking place in northern Shan State, there is no tourist who will go there reportedly.

Because the Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Balloon Festival will be held in a crowded manner from 21st to 27th November, there have been hardly any rooms to be booked at present, U Sithu Kyaw, deputy director of the Shan State Hotel and Tourism Directorate, told CNI News.

" It seems to be difficult to get a hotel room for the Tazaungdaing festival days. Rooms are not available at all for 25th and 26th November. The office holiday becomes three days including Tazaungdaing Festival day. After that, the Mee Shaw Taing (Fire Pole) Festival will be held in Kalaw. So, hotel rooms will be fully booked." he said.

While seeing people who are trapped near Par Sin Kyaw Village between Laukkai and Chin Shwe Haw

During the Tazaungdaing Festival, about nine balloons will be launched each night and beautiful balloons will be also launched in the daytime reportedly.

This year balloon festival will be held to become like the situation before the Covid-19 pandemic reportedly. 

Although there are festivals and hotel bookings in southern Shan State, there are hardly any tourists who come to northern Shan State and the tourists who were staying there have already gone back, U Zaw Zaw, chairman of the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association (northern Shan State), told CNI News.

IDP camps that are opened at BP-125, Chinese-Myanmar border

" Last year, there were quite a lot of tourists who came here. At a time like this last year, if you didn't book hotel rooms three days in advance, you wouldn't get a room. Because the battles are taking place in many parts, few tourists have come here. Even tourists who have already arrived here find it difficult to go home. There are many IDPs only in the border area. Chinese tourists haven't come. There are hardly any tourists who enter here." said U Zaw Zaw.

Moreover, tourists have been limited to enter northern Shan State since before. The tourism sector will recover only if the current battles end, the roads are safe and the flow of goods can run normally, said people. 
 
In addition, airlines going to northern Shan State have been closed since October 28 and have not been reopened to date reportedly.

CNI News

14 November 2023

Battles have been restarted between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army in Rakhine State on 13th November 2023 and roads have been closed, a local told CNI News. 

The AA fought police stations and border guard posts in Rathedaung, Kuauktaw and Minpya Townships starting from 5:00 a.m. on 13th November 2023 reportedly. 

Soon after the battles were launched, roads in Rakhine State have been closed and because of closure like that, locals might find it difficult, said a Sittwe resident.

"Kyauktan Bus Terminal, exit from Sittwe has been closed. Other terminals have been closed as well including bus terminals in Ann and Gwa Towns. We have only two paths - waterways and roads. We can use waterways to transport non-perishable goods only. Largely, we transport vegetables and foodstuff by road only. If the roads are closed, locals get into trouble" he said to CNI News.

While seeing an intersection in Rakhine State

Together with not only the Three Brotherhood Alliance in northern Shan State but also revolutionary forces in Kachin State and Sagaing Region, the AA is taking part in the battles fighting against the Tatmadaw. 

It was expected that AA's military activities in Rakhine State would increase as the Spring Revolution was gaining momentum, U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political commentator told CNI News.

" Temporary agreements between the Tatmadaw and the AA will be broken as the Spring Revolution is gaining momentum. We are expecting Rakhine State will gain its independence and sovereignty with the development of the Spring Revolution. It's just the beginning. Later, I hope we'll see the AA's fighting against the Tatmadaw in the entire Rakhine State." he said.

Political problems should be solved with the political means and because of the wars, the locals had difficulty in making a living, said a Sittwe resident. 

While seeing Mrauk U Town in Rakhine State

" During a war, everyone is suffering. The people suffer more. If a battle break out in other regions, only the people around the place where the battle takes place get into trouble. But in our Rakhine State, almost all the Rakhine people get into trouble more or less because the roads are closed. We don't know who to blame. War is not good. We want stakeholders to solve political problems with political means. As one of ordinary people, we don't have the ability to speak effectively except thinking and worrying about the future of ourselves and our environment." said a Sittwe resident.

The fighting between the AA and the Tatmadaw in Rakhine State that suspended for almost two years came back in August, 2022.

After that, in consideration of the loss and suffering of the local people in Rakhine State, the two sides agreed to cease fire starting from 26th November 2022.

However, after the AA started fighting police stations and border guard posts in Rathedaung, Kyauktaw and Minpya Townships, battles broke out again.

CNI News

13 November, 2023

Six townships in the Northeastern Command and two townships in the Regional Command Headquarters (Laukkai) area in northern Shan State have been designated as martial law regions, the State Administration Council (SAC) stated on 12th November 2023. 

The two townships in regional command headquarters (Laukkai) are Konkyan and Laukkai townships.

The six townships in the Northeastern Command are Kutkai, Kunlong, Namkham, Muse, Lashio and Theinni. Joint forces from the Three Brotherhood Alliance (MNDAA, AA and TNLA), the Bamar People Liberation Army (BPLA) and Mandalay People's Defense Force (MDY-PDF) fought and captured the Tatmadaw's military camps in these regions with an operation named Operation-1027.

Currently, the battles are severely taking place between the two sides and more than 100 Tatmadaw's camps have been captured, revolutionary forces stated.

CNI News
12 November 2023

Reviews and discussions relating to what will be Chinese attitude to the Operation-1027 which the Three Brotherhood Alliance (AA, MNDAA and TNLA) is waging in northern Shan State are underway among political and military experts.

With the operation that was launched on 27 the October, battles are severely taking place in northern Shan State near the Chinese border and many IDPs fled to the Chinese side.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance launched their operation only after letting China know, Col.Khun Okka, an EAO leader, CNI News.

While seeing Chinese Special Envoy and Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

" I think they launched the operation only after letting China know. But China won't directly say yes or no. It might tell through Wa..The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) might take part in drafting the operation. That's why China, Wa and KIA might be at the back of the Three Brotherhood Alliance." he said.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance stated that it has already controlled Chin Shwe Haw, Phaung Sai, Theinni and Kyukote (Pangsai) in northern Shan State.

At the same time, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing said that the Tatmadaw was carrying out to re-open the China-Myanmar border trade and would launch necessary counter-offensives.

It was found that there were common interests between the Three Brotherhood and China, Sai Kyi Zin Soe, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

While seeing troops participating in the Operation-1027 led by the MNDAA

" Mainly, their statements, their speeches, and their reports on media should be taken into account and there were groups that were committing trans-border crimes before these battles and the groups could not be taken action against effectively reportedly. There are things that are related to the Silk Road Project, the main project of China. Chinese pragmatism should be considered. The Three Brotherhood Alliance stated that they would welcome the implementation of peace process under the Chinese leadership early this year. So the Three Brotherhood Alliance is found to have connections of interests with China more or less." said Sai Kyaw Zin Soe.

China wanted Myanmar to have a stable government and according to its policy, China would not help the Three Brotherhood Alliance, Dr.Aung Myo, a Myanmar political commentator told CNI News.

" The China-Myanmar gas pipeline and fuel pipeline will be more important to China. It will be willing to talk with a stable government of Myanmar only. It won't be willing to talk with many governments such as Kachin government, Rakhine government or Palaung government. It is natural. Because China wants peace, it had offered Myanmar if it would be convenient to use one country two system. It would tell to try the system. But the situation has been less likely to implement the system up to now. So, China doesn't help the Three Brotherhood Alliance." said Dr.Aung Myo.

Myanmar EAOs are being active along the China-Myanmar border and there are a lot of Chinese investments in Myanmar reportedly.

On the other hand, parallel to the Operation-1027, joint forces of KIA, AA, ABSDF and PDF are waging operations in order to capture Tigyaint, Kawlin, Pinlebu, Banmauk, Tamu, Khampat, Homalin and Kalay regions and the battles are severely taking place between the joint forces and the Tatmadaw.

CNI News
12 November 2023

The goods that have been permitted to be exported through the Muse 105 Mile and Chin Shwe Haw border gates will be allowed through other gates, the Ministry of Commerce has stated.

Exporters who have got licenses to export their goods through the Muse 105 Mile and Chin Shwe Haw trade gates will be allowed to use other gates along the China-Myanmar border gates and the Myanmar-Thailand border.

Moreover, those who want to export by sea will be allowed reportedly.

However, Myanmar exporters would use Lweje and Myla, China-Myanmar border gates because other gates are more distant and more delayed, U Thet Zaw, an economic commentator, told CNI News.

While seeing the trucks at a border gate of the two countries

" Myanmar is mainly trading with Yunnan Province. If you export by sea, it will be much more distant. The closest to Yunnan is inland routes in Myanmar. Other provinces don't consume the goods from Myanmar. Yunnan is about the size of Myanmar. Myanmar is meeting the demand of Yunnan Province. So, if you export by sea, China-Myanmar border trade will be weak. Muse 105 Mile has lower transportation costs than other gates. Moreover, you can export goods on a large scale. It is difficult to export on a large scale through Lweje. The cost will be more. If the cost is more, prices will be high." said U Thet Zaw.

The trade value from the China-Myanmar border trade was about 300 million kyats each day in the past. However, because of the current battles, it is believed that a large amount of border trade could be lost.

Importers have been allowed to use other border gates. If they want to import by sea, they will be verified and allowed depending on each case, said in the statement.
If the ministry stated earlier, trader could make preparations, said traders. Currently, watermelon exporters are exporting through Lweje and Myla gates to China.

Lweje-Laiyang trade gate (Photo-Soe Tun)

" Our trucks can't enter the Chines side directly. We have to stop at Myla only where Chinese trucks come and carry our goods. At Lweje, our trucks can enter China. But there is no truck that directly goes to Lweje. We have to change trucks at Bamo. if you export through Lweje or Myla, the cost is higher. But there is a high demand for watermelon in the Chinese market, traders make a profit. At present, the watermelon price is about 20 lakh kyats in Lweje." said Ko Thitsar, a watermelon trader.

The goods imported from China are non-perishable construction materials and other products and although there is a delay on the road, it doesn't affect much to traders. However, because the goods exported from Myanmar are perishable foodstuff and crops, it might affect to traders.

Severe battles have been taking place between the Three Brotherhood Alliance in northern Shan State since 27th October 2023.

Due to the Operation-1027 waged by the Three Brotherhood Alliance along the Mandalay-Muse Pyidaungsu Road, the China-Myanmar border trade has almost stopped reportedly.

CNI News
11 November 2023

Although all the prices are going up gradually in northern Shan State due to severe battles taking place between the Tatmadaw and the Three Brotherhood Alliance in northern Shan State, it is convenient for the people from the basic class because philanthropic associations are helping reportedly.

The philanthropic associations in Muse are selling basic foodstuff at a lower price, philanthropic associations told CNI News. At present, the number of donors has decreased for the philanthropic associations and most of associations are carrying out in a self-help manner, an official from the Beautiful Heart Philanthropic Association, told CNI News.

" In spite of being convenient, some people can't come to the place where goods are sold at lower prices. They only buy and eat from the vendors who come in front of the house and sell on motorbikes. Prices are going up. But now the egg price has been stable. When the egg price was going up, the number of the people who imported eggs from the Chinese side has increased. And then the price has decreased. The grassroots were in trouble. In Muse City, motorcycle vendors arrive in every neighborhood. But gasoline price is very high as well." he said.

Muse township philanthropic associations are selling vegetables

Due to the battles between the Tatmadaw and the Three Brotherhood Alliance (AA, MNDAA and TNLA) in northern Shan State, the price of a bag of coarse rice has increased to 1.5 lakh kyats and the price of egg rose to 20,000 to 30,000 kyats for 10 eggs, said Muse residents.

When the commodity prices are high like this, rich people have bought and stored a lot of bags of rice.

Some rice shops sell six pyis of rice per head reportedly.

Moreover, Muse-based Kanlet Ku Nyi Philanthropic Association are selling a bag of rice (24 pyis) at 96,000 kyats, and a viss (3.6 pound) of potato at 1,200 kyats and a viss of tomato at 3,000 kyats and one pyi of rice at 4,000 kyats for the grassroots.

So, although the commodity prices are high, it still is convenient a bit for the grassroots, U Htay, chairman of the association told CNI News.

Muse township philanthropic associations are selling vegetables

 " Because the battles have not broken out in Muse as yet, there have been no big difficulties. Our association sells a bag of rice at 96,000 kyats, one pyi of rice at 4,000 kyats and ten eggs at 9,000 kyats. Because we are able to control some commodity prices, we don't have big problems. But phone lines have been cut. There are no battles in Muse, but the Muse residents are worried that the battles will break out. The difficulty is that those who are trapped in Muse want to go home. Those who were coming to Muse are also trapped on the way." he said.

MNDAA and its allies fought the Tatmadaw camps, police stations, township general administration offices and toll gates in Laukkai, Theinni, Muse, Mong Ko, Chin Shwe Haw, Naunghkio and Lashio Townships on 27th October.

The number of local IDPs due to the battles has been by the tens of thousands reportedly.