English Edition
- By CNI News
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 344
CNI News
22 Jan 2023
The upcoming elections should not be meant for resolution of an individual's crisis, Chairman U Thar Tun Hla of the Arakan National Party told the CNI.
He added that overcoming the current political crisis called for political dialogue.
He said, "The Myanmar crisis is a political issue and as a result, it must be resolved through political means in order to secure commitments. Then, it is necessary to roll out the plans to implement the commitments to the public. If so, the public will be interested in the political process, which will be beneficial for the entire country. Elections should not be meant for resolution of an individual's political crisis."
Checking voting papers.
He added that the current political crisis of Myanmar cannot be resolved by holding elections.
The upcoming elections would serve as a peaceful means to overcome the current political crisis, Spokesperson Naing Than Shwe of the Mon Unity Party told the CNI.
Naing Shwe Than said, "The general election will be held within six months after lifting the state of emergency. Under the 2008 constitution, the elections must be held. The elections are essential for restoring the federal democracy not only for the SAC but also for the entire country and a means to overcome the political crisis."
He added that elections are essential to the democracy system.
The SAC announced that a general election would be held in August, 2023 and power would be transferred to the winning party.
- By CNI
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 438
CNI News
21 Jan 2023
As Myanmar is an agricultural country, it is necessary to produce sufficiently at home, according to farmers.
As the country has not been able to produce enough fertilizer at home, it has to import it from other countries, forcing farmers to spend large sums of money for inputs. As a result, if the county can produce enough fertilizer at home, farmers will be able to save cultivation costs, Chairman U Thein Aung of the Development of Farmers Association told the CNI.
He said, "Fertilizer produced at home costs only MMK 40,000 per bag while exported fertilizer costs as much as MMK 100,000 per bag. If sufficient fertilizer can be manufactured at home, input costs of farmers can be reduced. Fertilizer use efficiency is not so different but we can use two and a half bags of domestic fertilizer at the cost of one bag of imported fertilizer. So, cultivation costs will decrease significantly."
Farmers in a paddy field.
Myanmar mainly imported fertilizer from Thailand and China while it is also smuggled into Myanmar from Bangladesh.
Although there are five fertilizer factories under the Myanmar Petrochemical Industry, No (4) Fertilizer Factory (Myaungdagar) and No (5) Fertilizer Factory (Kangyidaunt) are producing fertilizer under MPE brand.
The two factories can produce 700 tons of fertilizer a day but the remaining three factories have to suspend their operations due to shortages of natural gas.
In the past, domestic fertilizer cannot be stored for a long time because of the defects in the packaging system but the packages of fertilizer have improved recently, according to farmers.
However, they have to use imported fertilizer as there is no domestic fertilizer in shops, U Aung Kyaw Mya, a farmer in Kyauktaw in Rakhine State, told the CNI.
He told the CNI, "We can use domestic fertilizer if it contains 46 percent of urea. However, it is not available in the government. I think it is available only for government departments. So, we are forced to use imported ones."
A fertilizer factory.
Myanmar grows 15 million acres of monsoon paddy and three million acres of summer paddy, totaling 18 million acres of paddy and it is necessary to use three bags of urea, T-super and potash or compound fertilizer to harvest 100 baskets of paddy per acre.
Myanmar needs 2.7 million tons of fertilizer per year only for paddy and another 3 million tons of fertilizer for other crops including pulses and beans and oil crops, according to studies of the Agriculture Department.
According to a survey of fertilizer prices in other countries, fertilizer prices in Myanmar are higher than other countries at US$ 445 per ton while fertilizer prices stand at US$ 410 per ton in Cambodia, US$ 400 in Thailand and US$ 380 in Vietnam.
- By CNI
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 348
CNI News
21 Jan 2023
Some political observers in Myanmar are debating how the current crisis in Myanmar brings benefits for neighbouring countries.
Neighbouring countries are benefiting from the crisis in Myanmar, Political Observer Dr Aung Myo told the CNI.
A demonstration calling for democracy. (The Frontier Myanmar)
He said, "Neighbouring countries are getting significant benefit. For instance, Myanmar has not been able to address the refugee issue in Bangladesh, which has been enjoying benefits from the refugees. Thailand will gain benefit when the US offers financial aid to Myanmar under the NDAA because the aid will come not through China but through Thailand. China opposes the NDAA because it poses threats against China through Taiwan and Myanmar. As the aid will come through Thailand, the country will get not only US dollars but also weapons."
Armed conflicts have erupted in Myanmar and the country is in political, economic, social, health and education crises.
Due to instabilities in Myanmar, neighbouring countries have been able to sell weapons, Political Observers U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.
Snr General Min Aung Hlang and Chinese Special Envoy.
He said, "One of the benefits for neighbouring countries is that they can sell weapons to Myanmar. India, China and Russia supplying weapons and aircraft to Myanmar. Russia does not receive as much benefit as others because it is far away from Myanmar and it sells only aircraft to Myanmar. Weapons are mainly flowing into Myanmar from China, which is also involved in maritime expansion in Myanmar. However, Chinese weapons are flowing into the country through the UWSA."
Thanks to instabilities in Myanmar, neighbouring countries can sell weapons to Myanmar while they can hire Myanmar workers at cheaper wages. They are also benefiting from humanitarian aid for Myanmar refugees.
Moreover, neighbouring countries are also reaping business and investment opportunities from the Myanmar crisis.
- By CNI
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 376
CNI News
21 Jan 2023
The office of the National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee on Shweli Road in Yangon was hit by grenades at about 1 pm on 20th January.
Two grenades were thrown into the compound of the NSPNC but one of them failed to explode and security forces had to carry out controlled detonation.
The NSPNC meets political parties
The grenades fell on the roof of the car parking and damaged three vehicles.
The NSPNC office is a venue for negotiations among ethnic armed organizations, political parties and international diplomats over the peace process.
The information team of the SAC was not immediately available for comments.
- By CNI
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 426
CNI News
21 Jan 2023
As authorities have suspended the application process for new passports, the number of illegal migrant workers and holders of fake passports is likely to increase, labour agencies and overseas employment agencies told the CNI.
All passport offices in the entire country have suspended the application process for new passports for an unlimited period as of the end of 2022
Suspension of passport application has forced migrant workers who otherwise would have gone abroad officially to opt for illegal migration, Labour Activist U Min Oo of the Foundation for Education and Development told the CNI.
He told the CNI," Their move has pushed migrant workers closer to fall victim to trafficking in person. It is beneficial for human traffickers and transnational crime will increase. This is because migrant workers will try to go abroad anyway and they cannot wait until authorities are ready to issue new passports. The situation will be getting worse in the future. Myanmar authorities saidthey are looking for an easier way for the public to apply for passports. It is just an excuse because the passport application process has become more complicated and authorities are asking one document after another to apply for passports. First, they have asked for household registration forms and national registration cards and then required OWIC cards and employment letters.They are making the process more difficult. The more difficult the process is, the more bribe money they can ask for from workers. Government departments may take security reasons into their consideration.
People queuing for passport applications. (CNI)
Any type of passport application has been suspended but application for passports for pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya was processed through the green channel.
The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a statement that said it would blacklist 143 companies for passport issues and the Department of Labour sent a notification to the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation, saying that 133 overseas employment agencies were among the companies.
And then, authorities again have suspended the green channel since 17th January, according to the MOEAF.
He wants to urge people intending to work abroad not to trust agents who promise to help them get passports and to wait until passport offices have reopened, a director from an overseas employment agency which sends workers to Japan.
He said, "It is even difficult for passport agents to get into passport offices because authorities have tightened security. Even if they could help workers apply for passports, it would cost a large sum of agent fees at the moment. Such passport agents might forge fake passports. It was learnt that passports were available in Lashio. I think they were forging fake passports. Fake passport holders will get into trouble at the immigration counter at the airport. We can do nothing but wait. Don't trust anyone."
As action can be taken against those who forge official documents under section 420/468 of the Penal Code, migrant workers should not try to apply for passports through agents.
Although authorities said they have suspended the passport application process to introduce a new process, there may be other reasons like security issues and passport agent problems.
- By CNI
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 389
CNI News
20 Jan 2023
Immigration authorities in Malaysia officially announced on 18th January that foreign workers including Myanmar nationals would be allowed to register with them to apply for rekalibrasi (RTK) work permits as of 27th January.
The valid period for application of the work permits will be from 27th January, 2023 to 31st December, 2023 and there are eight eligible types of jobs. Myanmar workers who have passports and recommendations from their employers should make preparations for work permit applications, Myanmar nationals in Malaysia told the CNI.
A Myanmar passport holder.
Mwar Michael, who has been living in Malaysia, told the CNI, "The registration period lasts about a year. About one or two months after registration, authorities will take the fingerprints of applicants, who are required to say the factories where they used to work previously. Those who had run away from their factories will be cancelled and will be told to return home within a certain period after paying fines. This is the rule they have adopted. The work permits will be issued for those who are found to be eligible. Work permit levy fees and insurance premiums will vary depending on types of jobs such as agriculture, construction, factory work, restaurant works. Myanmar applicants are required to have passports issued by the Myanmar embassy including passports with visit visas. Then, they need employers who recommend them and their licenses and documents. If all the required documents are submitted, authorities will issue work permits for migrants.
Five types of job have been prohibited for foreign workers including textile, goldsmith, barber, social welfare and recycling industries.
If employers apply for the RTK permits on behalf of their workers, the latter will have to pay official fees set by the government but those who apply for the permits through agents will cost much more than the official fees and may even be cheated of their money.
An official from Maharajar Travel and Tour said, "Migrants are allowed to apply for work permits under a immigration system through their employers or agencies. Then, they will be permitted to stay in Malaysia officially. So, they cannot be detained during police operasis."
immigration centre in Malaysia.
When work permits were issued last year, migrant workers whose permits were applied for by their employers on behalf of them had to pay Ringgit 5,000 (more than MMK 2.4 million) but those who had overstayed their visas were required to pay fines. However, those who applied for the permits through agents had to pay up to Ringgit 15,000 (more than MMK 7.2 million).
As authorities are rounding up illegal migrants at the moment, overstaying Myanmar nationals in Malaysia should apply for the work permits, according to Maynmar nationals in Malaysia.
The RTK program aims to issue official work permits for illegal migrants and the permits are required to be renewed once a year.
- By CNI
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 312
CNI News
20 Jan 2023
Although the new Sittwe Port, a part of the Kaladan Multi-modal Transport Transit Project, has not been inaugurated officially, trading operations at the port have already started, according to merchants.
Rice was exported from the new port to Bangladesh at the beginning of January, Chairman U Tin Aung Oo of the Rakhine State Chamber of Commerce and Industry told the CN
The new Sittwe Port.
He said, "The official inauguration ceremony hasn't been held but its operations have already started. A ship exported rice to Bangladesh used the port for the first time recently."
Although foreign ships and export ships are allowed to use the new port, other freight vessels have not been allowed to use the port.
Although the new port has been in operation, no other ships have used the port and trade will be facilitated only after regular shipping lines and coastal liners have resumed, he added.
He told the CNI, "The new port has been in operation. It is important to ply regular scheduled ships between Sittwe and Bangladesh and Kolkata and coastal liners. Only then, trade will be facilitated gradually. At present, the port is in operation but there are no regular shipping lines to transport goods."
A road junction in Rakhine State.
As a part of the Kaladan Multi-modal Transport Transit Project, the new Sittwe port links directly with the Kolkata port while it can also be used for trade with the Chittagong port in Bangladesh.
The new port can handle vessels as heavy as 6000 tons and facilitate trade, according to merchants.
They haven't known how port authorities will provide services for local merchants, Merchant U Than Naing told the CNI.
He said, "The new port will contribute to direct trade with India but we still don't know how the port will operate. Are we allowed to trade with India? We still need to know whether authorities have permitted us to export pulses and beans and corn from the port to India and to import goods we need like construction materials."
After the port has been in operation, merchants and entrepreneurs are holding negotiations with Indian authorities to run vessels along the route monthly or weekly.
Measures are also being taken to allow local coastal liners to dock at the port.
- By CNI
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 347
CNI News
19 Jan 2023
Summer paddy cultivation has expanded in Rakhine State, according to paddy farmers there.
Rising paddy prices and increased water supply for dams contribute to expansion of summer paddy cultivation, Farmer U Maung Hti told the CNI.
He told the CNI, "I grew from 60 to 70 acres of paddy last year and have summer paddy cultivation upto 200 acres as irrigation staff dug a channel. Another reason is that rice prices this year are profitable for us."
According to statistics of the Rakhine State Agriculture Department, the cultivation of summer paddy in the state increased by about 700 acres from 800 acres last year to 1,500 acres this year.
Farmers in a paddy field.
Summer paddy in Rakhine State is grown in Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya and Rathedaung townships and Kyauktaw township has the largest acreage of summer paddy. Water irrigation is facilitated by the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation while the Agriculture Department offers seeds.
Water supply for summer paddy is irrigated from rivers and dams and some paddy fields, which are located far away from rivers, have faced difficulties, Farmer U Than Win Swe told the CNI.
He said, "We prepared to cultivate summer paddy at first but water did not flow to our fields through irrigation channels because they are about 400 feet away from the pump. Officials form the DWRI told us they would magane to irrigate our fields.
First, we expected to cultivate about 100 acres of paddy but we decided to cultivate only about 30 acres as we are worried about irrigated water.
Two women farmers in a paddy field.
For the benefits of farmers and exports, paddy should be cultivated twice a year in Rakhine State and it is necessary to implement irrigation projects and river water pumping projects properly, according to farmers.
There are about 10 dams in Rakhine State but summer paddy cultivation has dropped in the state as water supply from the dams is unpredictable. There are one million acres of land for paddy in Rakhine State but summer paddy is cultivated on only about 300,000 acres of paddy fields.
- By CNI
- Category: English Section
- Hits: 372
CNI News
19 Jan 2023
The reopening of Myawady-Mae Sot No. (1) Friendship Bridge, which was closed due to COVID-19, has brought more benefits for Thailand, Thailand-based labour activists told the CNI.
Although the bridge has been reopened since 12th January, 2023, only a few people from Myanmar visited Thailand on day return trips while only a small number of Myanmar migrant workers returned through the bridge.
Ko Thar Gyi, who has been helping Myanmar migrant workers, told the CNI, " Myanmar authorities do not receive as much visa fee as their Thai counterparts because Thailand has raised border pass fees from Baht 20 to Baht 60. And when a Myanmar migrant return to Myanmar through the bridge, Thai visa authorities collect Baht 1,000 (more than MMK 80,000) per person to stamp their seals on returnees' passports. All these are revenues for the Thai government. In addition, Thai immigration authorities asked for Baht 100 to 200 per person on the bridge illegally. There are more than 5 million Myanmar nationals who hold Thai visas officially. Reopening the bridge is beneficial for the grassroots and the two governments but this brings more benefits for Thailand."
Scenes on the No (1) Myawady-Mae Sot friendship bridge.
Thanks to the reopening of the bridge, it is easier for Myanmar migrant workers who want to return to Myanmar and those who want to work in Thailand as daily earners to travel to and fro Thailand.
Before the closures of the bridge, Myanmar migrant workers used to return to Myanmar in hundreds but only a few of them have returned so far due to security reasons.
Advisor U Aung Kyaw of the Migrant Workers Rights Network told the CNI, "The aim of reopening the bridge is not to help migrant workers but to facilitate border trade. As the bridge was closed for three years, both countries lost millions of US dollars. So, the two government tried to reopen the bridge. However, migrant workers who want to return to Myanmar officially can go home through the bridge. So, workers welcomed the move but they are worried about the security situation because of the armed conflicts on the side of Myanmar."
As security measures are being taken properly in Thailand, Myanmar authorities should follow suit, Thailand-based labour activists said.
So far, the bridge has been reopened for only a few days and small vehicles and passengers are allowed to pass the bridge. Freight trucks have not been allowed to pass through the bridge.
Border trade will gradually improve gradually and the Myanmar currency is likely to appreciate against Baht.
Border trade between the two countries hit Baht 100 trillion per month until 2019 before the outbreak of COVID-19, according to statistics of the Ministry of Commerce.