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CNI News
19 Jan 2023
Chinese officials told him that they are willing to offer assistance for the peace process in Myanmar, Chairman Dr Aye Maung of the Arakan Front Party told the CNI.
China is also interested in the second round of ceasefire between the United League of Arakan and the Myanmar military, he added.
Dr Aye Maung told the CNI, "China is keenly interested in Myanmar politics, especially in the second round of ceasefire between the ULA/AA and the military. Based on their expressions and words, I think they want to offer the peace process between the ULA/AA and the military and the Northern Alliance and the military.
Commander-in-Chief Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing of the AA.
The first round of ceasefire between the AA and the Tatmadaw collapsed in August and armed conflicts resumed.
Then, both sides reached a new ceasefire deal on 26th November to alleviate the suffering of local residents in Rakhine State.
China really wants to see peace prevail in Myanmar because it is in their interests, Political Observer Dr Aung Myo told the CNI.
He said, "Everything depends on interests. Restoring peace in Myanmar is beneficial for China. So, China really wants to offer assistance for the peace process in Myanmar. However, China is pragmatic in their historical tradition. They give priority to pragmatic approaches rather than to policies. As a result, China gives priority to their interests like the pipeline and trade in the political crisis in Myanmar. So, they offer assistance for such areas. However, China will not abandon ethnic armed organizations and will use them as required."
Three members of the Northern Alliance hold talks with the NSPNC.
China invested in 479-mile long oil and gas pipelines connecting the Kyaukphyu Deepsea Port in Rakhine State and Kunming in Yunnan Province in China and border trade between the two countries accounts for millions of dollars every year.
Currently, Myanmar has been engulfed in armed conflicts and hit by political, economic, social, health and education crises.
China and Myanmar share a more than 1,300-mile long border, where many ethnic armed organizations including the Kachin Independence Army, the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army, the Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army, the United Wa State Party, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the National Democratic Alliance Army and the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta'ang National Liberation Arme.
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CNI News
18 Jan 2023
The three-step driver shunting requirement has been lifted at Muse-Kyinsankyawt border gate, according to border merchants in Muse.
Thanks to removing the requirements, merchants don't have to pay for replace-drivers and can save about MMK 150,000 per truck and trade flow will be facilitated in the long run, Vice Chairman U Min Thein of Muse Rice Exchange told the CNI.
Trucks leading to China.
He said, "We had to replace three drivers to transport goods to China in the past. Now, we don't have to replace drivers from from Shwelwein and Shweli River from the 105-mile border trade zone. So, we save MMK 150,000 for replacing drivers and we don't have to wait to replace drivers. However, the requirement to replace drivers at the Chinese side has not been lifted."
The driver shunting requirement was introduced during the COVID-19 outbreak in the two countries and merchants cost a lot of money for the requirement.
Moreover, border trade was delayed as truck drivers had to wait at the shunting ground and there was a shortage of trucks, as a result.
Watermelon trucks.
Watermelon farmer Ko Thitsar said, "We welcome the move to lift the restriction step by step. It is true that border trade is a little facilitated. However, cultivation of watermelons dropped by 60 percent due to transportation problems and instabilities. So, only between 50 and 100 truckloads of watermelons are exported to China daily and traffic is convenient. However, when farmers expand cultivation of watermelons, about 300 or 400 truckloads of watermelons will be exported to China and there will be traffic jams. I think there will be problems in the long term."
The driver shunting requirement was introduced to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
China lifted its zero-COVID-19 policies at the end of 2022 and Myanmar lifted driver-shunting requirements on 15th January, 2023.
Truck owners, drivers and merchants hope the last driver shunting requirement will be lifted by China depending on the spread of COVID-19 in China.
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CNI News
18 Jan 2023
Clashes broke out between the Shanni National Army and allied forces of the Kachin Independence Army and the People's Defence Forces in Kyaukse Village in Banmauk Township in Sagaing Region. Lt-Col Sai Aung Mein of the SNA told the CNI.
The clashes erupted between them from 2 pm to 5 pm on 16th January and tensions between them have escalated, he added.
He told the CNI, "It was learnt that four of the enemies were killed during the fighting and our troops did not suffer any casualties. Our troops have occupied a hill and an outpost. There are so many outposts near Kyaukse Village. I cannot pinpoint the outpost but it is one of the outposts they seized from us last year.
The CNI contacted KIA spokesperson Col Naw Bu, who did not answer the phone.
It was learnt that fighting broke out in remote Kyaukse Village at the border of Homalin and Banmauk townships, a local resident told the CNI.
Troops of the KIA.
He said, " Although the village is famous because a creek is blocked by rock mountains, forming a dam, it is very difficult to access. There is a large monastery but there are only a few households in the village. Its nearest village is Magyigone Village but it takes a long time to travel to the village."
Armed clashes broke out between the SNA and a 200-strong joint force of the KIA and PDFs on 20th August, 2022, when the latter attacked the former. Fighting continued until 23 August the same year.
The two sides fought against each other when the KIA-allied forces launched attacks on an SNA outpost near Hsezin Village in Hpakant Township on 8th August, 2022.
The joint forces of the KIA and the PDF are systematically creating division between the SNA and local residents, Lt-Col Sai Aung Mein said.
Troops of the PDFs.
He said, "The KIA and the PDF want to control the entire Banmauk area and infiltrate Homalin Township. Although they said they are allied forces of the KIA and the PDF, they are forcefully recruiting local residents into the PDFs and forcing them to fight against us. So, we are forced with our own local residents. We don't want to fight our own local residents. They are systematically creating division among us by driving a wedge among us. It is a war that has driven a wedge among our own national races.
The SNA is trying to establishing Shanni State in Mawlike District, Kalay District, Hkamti District, Katha District and Tamu District in Sagaing Region and Bhamo District, Myitkyina District, Mohnyin District and Mokaung District in Kachin State.
The KIA is an ethnic armed group aiming to build a federal union and the PDF is an armed group trying to topple the dictatorship during the Spring Revolution.
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CNI News
18 Jan 2023
Clashes broke out between the Shanni National Army and allied forces of the Kachin Independence Army and the People's Defence Forces in Kyaukse Village in Banmauk Township in Sagaing Region. Lt-Col Sai Aung Mein of the SNA told the CNI.
The clashes erupted between them from 2 pm to 5 pm on 16th January and tensions between them have escalated, he added.
He told the CNI, "It was learnt that four of the enemies were killed during the fighting and our troops did not suffer any casualties. Our troops have occupied a hill and an outpost. There are so many outposts near Kyaukse Village. I cannot pinpoint the outpost but it is one of the outposts they seized from us last year.
The CNI contacted KIA spokesperson Col Naw Bu, who did not answer the phone.
Troops of the KIA.
It was learnt that fighting broke out in remote Kyaukse Village at the border of Homalin and Banmauk townships, a local resident told the CNI.
He said, " Although the village is famous because a creek is blocked by rock mountains, forming a dam, it is very difficult to access. There is a large monastery but there are only a few households in the village. Its nearest village is Magyigone Village but it takes a long time to travel to the village."
Armed clashes broke out between the SNA and a 200-strong joint force of the KIA and PDFs on 20th August, 2022, when the latter attacked the former. Fighting continued until 23 August the same year.
The two sides fought against each other when the KIA-allied forces launched attacks on an SNA outpost near Hsezin Village in Hpakant Township on 8th August, 2022.
The joint forces of the KIA and the PDF are systematically creating division between the SNA and local residents, Lt-Col Sai Aung Mein said.
Troops of the PDFs.
He said, "The KIA and the PDF want to control the entire Banmauk area and infiltrate Homalin Township. Although they said they are allied forces of the KIA and the PDF, they are forcefully recruiting local residents into the PDFs and forcing them to fight against us. So, we are forced with our own local residents. We don't want to fight our own local residents. They are systematically creating division among us by driving a wedge among us. It is a war that has driven a wedge among our own national races.
The SNA is trying to establishing Shanni State in Mawlike District, Kalay District, Hkamti District, Katha District and Tamu District in Sagaing Region and Bhamo District, Myitkyina District, Mohnyin District and Mokaung District in Kachin State.
The KIA is an ethnic armed group aiming to build a federal union and the PDF is an armed group trying to topple the dictatorship during the Spring Revolution.
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CNI News
18 Jan 2023
As the Malaysian government has not announced the exact date for issuance of work permits for foreign workers although it said it would do so, Myanmar nationals who intend to apply for the work permits should not make advance remittances to agents, Myanmar communities in Malaysia told the CNI.
As some agents have asked for money from work permit applicants after the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the country would issue work permits for foreigners, he had to warn against advance remittances for permit application, U Babu Gyi, who has been helping Myanmar workers in Malaysia, told the CNI.
Detained migrant workers in Malaysia.
He said, "It is too early to pay agent fees. I want to urge them to wait until after the Chinese New Year or until February. We will have to wait and see the situation. Work permit applicants are required to carefully choose agents after considering whether they can be trusted or not because agent fees are very high and it is difficult to earn money these days. So, they are required to choose agents carefully because a lot of people have been cheated of their money. There are fake work permits. Therefore, applicants are required to wait and see the situation."
Moreover, there are some Myanmar workers who applied for work permits through agents by paying large sums of agent fees but haven't still received the documents until now.
If employers help their workers to apply for work permits, it costs a worker only 5,000 Ringgit (MMK 2.4 million) but workers have to pay agent fees from 8,000 Ringgit to 15,000 Ringgit if they apply for the documents through agents. In addition, workers who overstay their visas are liable to pay fines.
As a worker earns only 1,500 Ringgit a month, the costs for the permits is too high and there are many workers who did not apply for the documents during previous years.
Agents should not charge workers exorbitant fees from their fellow compatriots, Director General U Nyi Nyi Lwin of the Centre for Arakan Refugees told the CNI.
Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
He said, "A worker earns only 1,500 Ringgit a month or about 18,000 Ringgit a year. If they have to pay 10,000 Ringgit for agent fee, how will he pay rents, for food and healthcare services and transportation charges. It doesn't make sense. The Malaysian government should also know this. Even when the government collected 3,500 Ringgit from workers for the permits previous years, their employers complained about the fees."
The new work permits will be issued under the Rekalibrasi RTK Program adopted by the government and the permits will be issued annually by easing some restrictions.
Foreigner who intend to work in Malaysia can apply for the work permits if they have their passports and an employer who will hire them.
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CNI News
17 Jan 2023
Among the workers sent to Thailand under the MOU between the two countries, most of them failed to get jobs or jobs described in the employment contracts while some of them were abandoned at roadsides.
Sending Myanmar workers to Thailand under the MOU between the two countries is a proper program carried out under precise terms and conditions of contracts which guarantee specific jobs for workers as soon as they arrive in Thailand.
Failures to provide jobs stated in the contracts are due to the negligence of the labour ministries of the two countries which fail to monitor overseas employment agencies that sent the workers without any accountability and the MOU program might stall if no action is taken against the agencies that fail to abide by rules and regulations, Advisor U Aung Kyaw of the Migrant Workers Rights Network told the CNI.
Myanmar workers waiting to go to Thailand under the MOU program between the two governments.
He said, "Employment contracts under the MOU are written in three languages including Thai, Myanmar and English. Rights of workers under Thai laws are guaranteed in the contracts and every provision of the contracts are precisely stipulated. Then, employers, agencies, workers and a director from the labour ministry are required to signed the contracts. The Ministry of Labour is responsible for monitoring overseas employment agencies, which are also required to register with the ministry. So, the ministry is responsible to take action against agencies. Under the law, workers who go to Thailand under the MOU must not be jobless. Addresses, names of companies and products to be manufactured are precisely stated in the contracts. If the ministries in the two countries enforce the terms and conditions of the contracts, the system will not stall."
If labour ministries from Thailand and Myanmar adopted sound policies and laws to enforce the terms and conditions of employment contracts, workers who were sent under the MOU would not face such issues, according to labour activists for Myanmar workers in Thailand.
Detained Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand.
As workers who were sent under the MOU between the two countries were not employed in accordance with terms and conditions of their employment contracts, they could be assumed as victims of human trafficking, Labour activist Ko Thar Gyi, who has been helping Myanmar workers in Thailand, told the CNI.
He said, "The rule of law has been jeopardized in Myanmar and they are trafficking migrant workers into Thailand under the MOU. As authorities do not take action against the agencies, they are licensed to traffic migrant workers. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, the system of sending workers to Thailand under the MOU was much better because the Ministry of Labour monitored the agencies responsibly. I think effective action should be taken against the agencies."
If the Ministry of Labour has not been able to take action against all agencies that violate rules and regulations, it should take action against one of them as a pilot scheme, labour activists in Thailand said.
Myanmar migrants in front of the Myanmar embassy in Thailand.
Although workers are sent to Thailand under the MOU program, many of them continue to sneak into Thailand illegally as it is too expensive to go to Thailand under the MOU.
U Aung Kyaw of the MWRN said, "Majority of workers are not interested in the MOU program even before the problems arose. Most Myanmar workers do not study the situation thoroughly. They will think they won't get jobs even after going to Thailand under the MOU system by paying a large sum of money and will see the program negatively. They will go to Thailand illegally through fraudster agents. When we are trying to educate them about the advantages of the MOU program, such undesirable problems will force them to choose illegally sneaking into Thailand and the situation will be getting worse."
The program to send Myanmar workers to Thailand was suspended for about three years due to COVID-19 and it has resumed since May 2022.
During the resumption of the program, there were only a few problems like having to work in jobs that are not stated in the employment contracts. but the problems are getting worse and worse recently.
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CNI News
17 Jan 2023
There are limited chances for negotiations with the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army for the release of party members, Chairman Dr Aye Maung of the Arakan Front Party told the CNI.
He said that the ULA/AA has detained central committee members U Kyaw Lwin and U Kyaw Zaw Oo of the AFP.
He told the CNI, "As it is impossible to hold negotiations with the AA, I have asked for the help of some mediators because the AA is still an illegal organization and political parties are not allowed to deal directly with the AA. There are restrictions. We have told mediators to help us. We cannot hold direct talks with the AA because we might be charged under section 17 (1) and (2) of the Unlawful Organizations Act.
A road junction in Rakhine State.
The AA has already acknowledged that they have detained U Kyaw Zaw Oo but hasn't said anything about U Kyaw Lwin.
He added that he had asked for the help of the Communist Party of China through the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar for the release of the party officials as it was impossible for him to hold direct talks with the AA.
He said, "As China is interested in the peace process in Myanmar, I raised the issue with them. As the Chinese embassy asked us why our party members are being detained by the AA, I asked for their help."
AA Commander-in-Chief Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing.
The AA did not answer the phone call requesting comments for the arrests of the members of the AFP.
Vice Chairman U Kyaw Zaw Oo of the AFP was detained on 2nd November, 2022 and U Kyaw Lwin was arrested on 4th October the same year.
Similarly, the AA detained central committee member Khaing Mya Thar of the Arakan Liberation Army in November, 2022.
Currently, the ULA/AA has been enjoying the support of the local residents and fighting against the military junta.
Two-year old ceasefire between the AA and military junta collapsed last August and fighting resumed.
Then, they struck a ceasefire deal on humanitarian grounds recently.
After the ceasefire deal has been reached, the AA has been operating in northern Rakhine State and has established administrative and judicial mechanisms.
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CNI News
15 Jan 2023
Although Myanmar has raw materials and land, the country cannot produce finished goods because of the lack of precise and sound policies, according to businessmen.
Production of finished goods from raw materials requires sound and stable economic policies that can attract foreign investment, Entrepreneur U Aung Pyae Sone told the CNI.
He said, "Our country has not been able to produce finished goods from raw materials not because of the lack of technicians, investment and machines but because of the lack of sound economic policies. If we had sound policies, technicians and investment from around the world can come to us. When they come, they will bring machines. All these three are interconnected. We have always pointed out the lack of sound policies. When a government took office,it adopted policies and rules. Laws are already in place. When a new government took office, it abolished policies and rules adopted by the previous government and replaced them with new ones. No technicians and investment will come to Myanmar. So, if we have sound economic policies for 30 or 50 years that will be implemented by any governments that take office, we will be able to produce finished goods.
Due to government policy changes, the flow of foreign investment to most auto companies and the manufacturing sector has come to a halt, he added.
A tissue factory. (GETTY IMAGES)
In order to produce finished goods, it is necessary to allow scholars to work on their own initiatives and to form organizations to nurture scholars who can give advice on government policies by offering international scholarships, Myanmar economic observers pointed out.
Although there are many scholars in Myanmar, they are not allowed to work on their own initiatives and it is difficult to produce finished goods, an economist told the CNI.
He said, "During the term of former president U Thein Sein, the government established the Myanmar Development Institute (MDI) and offered international master's degree courses for researchers. The institute gave advice on government policies. Now, the institute has almost been ruined. There are bodies which give advice on government economic policies like the Korea Development Institute in Korea and Trade & Economic in Japan. They carry out in-depth research. We need to establish such institutions. No government ministries can prevent them from criticizing government policies and they have a say over government policies. In Myanmar, scholars cannot give advice on government policies because they might be sacked. We need to establish an institute like the MDI with scholars."
An auto factory. (GETTY IMAGES)
Some local businessmen try to produce finished goods but their attempts have been delayed by the lack of market, technical assistance and authority, according to entrepreneurs.
Although Myanmar is an agricultural country, it has to export agricultural products as raw materials as it has not been able to produce finished goods. If the country could produce finished goods, the market for Myanmar products would be expanded and it would be beneficial for farmers.
Economists said that electricity supply plays an important role in production of finished goods.
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CNI News
15 Jan 2023
More armed groups have popped up after Myanmar adopted democratic rule, Director U Thein Tun Oo of the Strategic Studies told the CNI.
From the national security point of view, armed groups were advancing their opportunities under the excuse of peace and human rights.
U Thein Tun Oo told the CNI, " I don't want to say this but I will have to. Armed groups have mushroomed when our country adopted democratic rule. They have their own political objectives. In theory, they are non-state actors. It they forcefully implement their political objectives, military means will follow."
As political issues cannot be resolved through political means, armed struggle has been opted, Chairman Khun Myint Tun of Pa-O National Federal Council told the CNI.
PDF troops under the command of the NUG.
Khun Myint Tun told the CNI, "The revolutions in our country erupted when democracy was suppressed. As political issues could not be resolved through political means, the people have to defend themselves. This is how the Spring Revolution has evolved. And the military has killed and tortured the people and forced them to defend themselves. This is the root cause of the revolution in our country."
He added that the root cause of the revolution is the military dictatorship, which has been oppressing the people.
The number of armed organizations has increased as the people cannot enjoy democratic rights, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.
Armed organizations holding peace talks with the junta
He said, "The number of armed groups has increased because the people cannot enjoy democratic rights. During the tenure of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the government held peace talks with the armed groups. However, after the military coup, the number of armed groups has significantly increased. After the illegal coup, the number of PDFs has increased by hundreds with hundreds of thousands of troops in addition to ethnic armed organizations already active in the country.
Hundreds of armed groups have emerged in the entire country due to the political climate after 1st February, 2021.