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CNI News
14 Jan 2023
The prices of coffee from Myanmar have risen from three to four folds thanks to demand from the local market and Thailand, according to coffee growers in Myanmar.
The prices of green coffee have risen from MMK 800 per viss last year to MMK 3,800 per viss this year, Chairman U Win Aung Kyaw of coffee farmers' group in Ywangan told the CNI.
He said, "Coffee prices have risen in the domestic market. The foreign demand for coffee grew last year when coffee plantations in Brazil were damaged by snow and coffee from Laos and Cambodia was imported by China. So, Thailand had to import coffee from Myanmar and green coffee prices have risen to MMK 3,800 per viss."
Drying coffee beans.
Prices of green coffee have risen three-fold to MMK 3,800 per viss while that of coffee seed have risen two-fold to MMK 6,500 per viss.
Higher prices of coffee are beneficial for farmers but it is also necessary to expand coffee cultivation to maintain the market share of Myanmar coffee abroad, Founder of Sithar Coffee U Min Hlaing told the CNI.
He said, "Higher prices of coffee are beneficial for farmers. However, we need to maintain the momentum and it is expensive for local consumers. So, we need to expand coffee cultivation."
Myanmar has a total coffee cultivation acreage of more than 50,000 acres and coffee beans are harvested on 30,000 acres, producing 8,611 tons of coffee, according to a survey conducted by the Land Records Department.
Quality inspection of coffee beans.
Under the current political climate, coffee cannot be harvested in Chin State, Kayah State and some other places due to instabilities and transportation problems, U Win Aung Kyaw told the CNI.
He said, "The situation in Shan State (South) is peaceful and farmers have harvested coffee there. However, farmers in Chin and Kayah states cannot harvest their coffee beans while harvested beans cannot be transported to other regions due to political climates. Coffee production in the states amounts to one-fourths of that of the Shan State (North and South)."
Coffee is mainly grown in Shan State (North and South), Mandalay Region, Chin State, Kachin State, Kayah State and Karen State and coffee beans are harvested in December, January and February.
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CNI News
14 Jan 2023
The Malaysian government is planning to issue stay and work permits to foreign workers including those in Myanmar, according to Maynmar nationals in Malaysia.
However, it is not clear whether the government will issue the permits to undocumented migrants who are in Malaysia.
Anyone who has a passport and an employer can apply stay and work permits, U Babu Gyi, who has been helping Myanmar nationals in Malaysia, told the CNI.
Myanmar workers in Malaysia waiting to show their documents.
He said, "The government has eased a lot of restrictions. However, it is not still clear whether the government will allow illegal migrants and those who have been reported for violations. The priority will be given to those who hold visit visas and officially come to Malaysia. Last year, the government issued work and stay permits to foreign workers, foreigners who had overstayed their visas and workers whose work permits expired. However, they did not issue work permits to foreign workers who did not work in permitted factories and moved to other jobs. When their employers reported such cases to authorities, the government blacklisted them and did not issue work permits to them. Moreover, migrants who sneaked into Malaysia and managed to get passports were not permitted to apply for the permits. This is because the immigration did not have their fingerprints when they entered Malaysia.
Permit applicants are required to submit the identity of their employers and the permits can be easily issued if employers applied them on behalf of their workers. Employers who are too busy to do so can also apply for permits through agents.
However, some workers who applied for the permits through agents last year still haven't received their permits, according to Myanmar nationals in Malaysia.
Currently, permit applications can be submitted but it is not still clear when the permits will be issued and illegal migrants should apply for the permits as authorities have rounded them up, Ma Nyo, a resident in Malaysia, told the CNI.
Detained migrant workers.
She said, "Issuing permits for foreign workers bodes well for Myanmar nationals here. Everyone has been looking forward to it. All of them have passports and they are very happy. If stay and work permits are issued for them, employers will offer jobs for them. Myanamr nationals here are looking forward to it. Authorities have been rounding up illegal workers. If migrant workers have work permits, they will not be arrested. Overstaying migrant workers have to live in fear of arrests day or night."
Those who have received stay and work permits can stay or work at complete freedom without worrying about arrests.
Those who have overstayed their visas will have to pay fines as well as fees for new work and stay permits but it is not still clear how much it will cost to apply for the permits.
As the exact date for issuance of the permits has not been announced, migrant workers should be cautious about fraudsters and all Myanmar nationals in Malaysia who have passports should apply for the permits, said Myanmar nationals in Malaysia.
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CNI News
14 Jan 2023
The Shanni National Army has been the victim of intentional defamation by groups which have been trying to tarnish the image of the SNA, Spokesperson Lt-Gen Sai Aung Mein of the SNA told the CNI.
It is completely wrong that the SNA detained about 100 villagers from Namtnan Village in Homalin Township and the false news has been spread by the groups in cooperation with each other.
He told the CNI, "It was just an intentional effort to tarnish the image of the SNA by other groups. The villagers are our people and members of our ethnic group working for their living in our region. We will never detain such people. It is impossible to detain about 100 people. It is just an intentional attempt to tarnish the image of our organization."
A filling station in Namtnan Village.
An armed conflict erupted between the SNA and PDFs based in Homalin on 5th January.
The CNI is still trying to request comments about the conflict from the PDFs based in Homalin.
A Namtnan village resident told the CNI that it was not true that the SNA detained about 100 villagers and fighting broke out because the PDFs attacked the SNA while the latter was asking about 100 shopkeepers for information.
He said, "While about 100 local residents who are shopkeepers were taken for questioning, the fighting erupted because the PDF attacked the SNA. Everyone had to flee."
Troops of HPDF-124 in Homalin Township.
An SNA commander told the CNI that his troops will fight against any organization that bullies the people of the ethnic Shanni.
He said, "We will not allow armed bullying of any organizations in places where Shanni people have been living for eons. It is very simple. We are not an ethnic group that has settled in the place recently. We will ward off anyone who bully our people. We will ward off anyone who exploits our state. Our army has been founded to protect our people. We are determined to protect our people."
The SNA is active in Hkamti, Homalin, Phaungpyin, Pinlabu, Wuntho, Bamauk in Sagaing Region, at the Indo-Myanmar border and Mohyin and Mokaung in Kachin State.
The SNA is trying to establish Shanni State by combining Mawlike District, Kalay District, Hkamti District, Katha District in Sagaing Region and Bhamo District, Myitkyina District, Mohyin District and Mokaung in Kachin State.
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CNI News
13 Jan 2023
Expired passports for job of Myanmar workers will be renewed at their factories in Thailand, according to the Myanmar embassy Bangkok.
Two teams will be sent to factories with 1,000 Myanmar workers and above whose PJs have expired.
The program is very convenient for Myanmar migrant workers, Consultant U Aung Kyaw of the Migrant Workers Rights Network told the CNI.
He said, "The embassy should have done so for a long time. I think it is too late because they have wasted many months. There are hundreds of thousands of migrant workers whose passports have expired. Authorities should have taken such measures a long time ago in cooperation with the labour ministry of Thailand. I don't want to talk about all 77 provinces in Thailand. Mahachai, where most Myanmar migrants work, there are 7000 factories. How can the teams go to factories in the entire country? I think it is too late."
A large crowd queued to renew their passports.
Renewals of passports for jobs are processed with four kiosks in the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok and one kiosk at the Consulate General at Chiang Mai.
As the embassy has received two new kiosks, two teams will be sent to factories to renew passports of workers, according to the statement of the embassy.
Factories and workshops with 1,000 Myanmar workers whose passports expired in 2022 and are expiring in 2023 are required to submit lists of workers to the counselor officer by 20th January.
As authorities will draw lots to decide the factories to be served first, it is important that they are free from bias, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi for Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand told the CNI.
A fishery product processing site in Thailand.
He said, "It is important to be fair and correct. Serving factories that pay bribe first must be prevented. There are advantages as well as disadvantages in any system. Workers don't have to hire agents and pay agent fees as they are renewing their passports at factories. They don't have to spend a long time renewing their passports. They will have to pay fees that are set by authorities. However, we are not sure what will actually happen on the ground."
Plans are underway to renew passports for workers in factories with less than 1,000 workers in the future, according to the announcement of the embassy.
Labour activists said that they welcomed the move by the embassy but it is necessary for authorities to adopt a precise policy without frequently changing one policy after another.
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CNI News
13 Jan 2023
The National Unity Government has called on neighbouring countries to sanction the Myanmar military, which violates their air space to launch attacks on Myanmar people, in a statement issued on 12th January.
The NUG issued the statement to condemn the airstrikes against the headquarters of the Chin National Front by the military.
The NUG said that neighbouring countries are urged to take effective action against the SAC, which not only violates the air space of neighbouring countries to kill Myanmar people but also threatens the lives and properties of the people in neighbouring countries.
Vice Chairman of the CNF and NUG Federal Union Affairs Minister Dr Lian Hmung Sakhong and CNF troops at the Indo-Myanmar border.
The statement added that the SAC blatantly violates the resolution of the UNSC to end violence immediately and ignores the efforts of the international community to resolve the Myanmar crisis.
High-speed fighter jets are likely to violate the air space of other countries but they are minor issues that can be resolved through diplomatic channels, Director U Thein Tun Oo of the Strategic Studies told the CNI.
He said, "Let's discuss the issue with India later. Once, our fighter jets violated Thai air space. There were so many political negotiations between the two countries. People were making comments on social media but the issue could be resolved without any problems. Myanmar has extremely good relations with neighbouring countries. When airstrikes are launched against EAOs bases at borders, high-speed fighter jets are likely to violate the airspace of other countries. There will be no problems if the SAC discusses the issue politically with neighbours. We haven't heard anything about the issue with India."
Resistance forces in Myanmar have never had good neighbours, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.
Airstrikes against the CNF headquarters by the junta.
He said, " It is very simple. We have never had good neighbours and resistance forces are currently bearing the brunt of bad neighbours. Like China and Russia, Thailand and India do not have a good neighbourly attitude toward Myanmar. It is these countries that are defending themselves from foreign interference. These countries do not acknowledge the issues of the Spring Revolution, especially refugee issues. India does not acknowledge the refugee issue of Myanmar and offer assistance to refugees from Myanmar. Local state leaders are providing accommodations for them. Similarly, Thailand has never provided effective assistance to refugees."
The negligence of the issues of the Spring Revolution by neighbouring countries amounts to supporting the military junta indirectly, he added.
The junta launched airstrikes against the Victoria headquarters of the CNF at the Indo-Myanmar border in Thantlang Township on 10th and 11th January, killing five personnel of the CNF and injuring many others.
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13 Jan 2023
The Shanni Nationalities Council has been formed to establish Shanni State or Shanni Self-administered Division, according to a statement released on 12th January.
The SNNC is a Shanni supreme body to properly manage the languages and cultures, histories, geopolitical affairs and socioeconomic development of Shanni Nationalities including Tai Khamti, Tai Leang (Tai Nai/Tai Lai), Tai Lon, Tai Sar and Tai Lay.
Shanni youths.
The SNNC statement said, "The SNNC has been formed as a working committee under the current political situation to draft a strong constitution and adopt tasks of respective working committees before the Shanni Nationalities Conference has been organized. The SNNC is an important committee to achieve the ultimate goal of the entire Shanni ethnic group such as deciding our own political destiny and establishing Shanni State."
A demonstration calling for the establishment of Shanni State.
Shanni ethnic group has been calling for the establishment of Shanni State or Shanni Self-administered Division by combining Mohnyin, Mokaung, Myitkyina, Bhamo in Kachin State and Homalin, Hkamti, Tamu, Bamauk, Kalay, Katha and Mawlike in Sagaing Region.
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13 Jan 2023
As the gap between the rich and the poor has widen in Myanmar, a proper market economy and opportunities should be created, Myanmar economic observers said.
Economic observers pointed out that the middle class in Myanmar has been disappearing and only the rich and the poor have survived.
Although the gap between the rich and the poor has been in existence in Myanmar for a long time, the gap has been widening recently. To deal with the issue, it is necessary to crate job opportunities because the grassroots will be able to lead convenient lives only when better market opportunities can be created, Entrepreneur U Aung Paye Sone told the CNI.
Two women walking in Yangon.
He said, "Frankly speaking, the gap is widening. Workers are staging demonstrations to get raise their basic salaries from MMK 4,800 to 6,000 per day. Workers who have to work eight hours a day are fighting very hard to get MMK 6,000 daily. At the same time, there is a class who can spend MMK 6 million a night. To narrow such a gap, we cannot make the rich poor, we must make the poor rich. What can we do to raise the wages to workers to MMK 10,000 a day. To do so, factories must be able to carry out their daily operations and better market access must be created. Then, better opportunities for workers will emerge."
The impact of the widening gap between the rich and the poor on the society is immense and crimes will be rampant, forcing the outflow of investment from the country, an economic observer told the CNI.
He said, "Our country has failed to build a welfare state, which narrows the gap between the rich and the poor. Every country has to build a welfare state and tries to maximise the number of the middle class, whose spending will increase gradually and narrow the gap. It is not good for the country because a rich man in a grassroots wards is very dangerous. Similarly, the grassroots are getting poorer and poorer because job opportunities cannot be created and crimes have been rampant. As a result, investment and manufacturing projects will leave the country. The people will invest in other countries. It is learnts from news that Myanmar is one of the top-10 countries that buy property in Thailand. Investment has flown out of the country."
Inside the Myanmar Plaza.
Although the government has been granting loans to small and medium business to create jobs for the poor, it is still necessary to encourage the garment industry, which can create job opportunities for the country, entrepreneurs said.
Similarly, the junta is required to take measures to reopen garment factories that have been closed for various reasons, they said.
To attract investment again to the country, it is essential to end the conflicts in the country, according to entrepreneurs and political observers.
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12 Jan 2023
Chairman of State Administration Council Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing said that the economic growth of Myanmar hit 8 percent in the 2021-2022 fiscal year.
He made the claim when he met with the chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw council and chief ministers of states and regions and chairmen of self-administered zones and regions on 6th January.
He said that the economy fell by 5.9 percent in the 2022-2021 fiscal year under the NLD government but rebounded by 2.4 percent during the first half of the 2021-2022 fiscal year and continued to grow by 3.4 percent during the second half.
As economic growth is calculated based on data from all sectors including big and small businesses, the economy of the country may have gained growth, but difficulties faced by the public due to the economic crisis have not eased, an economist who requested anonymity due to security told the CNI.
Trucks exporting commodities to China.
He said, "The GDP may have risen because they did not announce any economic data. In the past, the Ministry of Planning and Commerce announced the data. Now, they did not announced any data and said the economy was growing. It may be true or not because the DGP is calculated for the entire country. The rich may have been richer. Government revenues may have increased because of commodities like natural gas. The GDP is calculated for the entire country including the private and the public sectors. It is impossible for outsiders to know the details. However, the welfare of the public has deteriorated. The situation of the grassroots has not improved. So, the GDP does not support the general public."
The SAC chairman attributed the economic growth to encouragement given to local businesses and utilization of water resourses, land resources, agriculture, livestock and forestry sectors and human resources.
Calculated based on the trading sectors like oil and gas, rice and fishery products, the economy grew in the fiscal year but there were no growth in the manufacturing sector, economic and banking experts U Thet Zaw said.
Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing and SAC officials.
He told the CNI, "I am not sure whether they were talking only about trade. Actually, economic growth depends on the manufacturing sector. I think they calculated based on the agriculture and livestock sector which contributed to trade surplus. However, trade did not hit the level during the term of the former president U Thein Sein. Rice exports exceeded the volume of the term of the former president but exports of other commodities did not reached the level of the former president. The main factor may be the revenues from the oil and gas sector. The CMP sector may be contributing to some extent to the economis. I did not see any other sectors that contributed to the economic growth."
Due to the current political instabilities, Myanmar has faced skyrocketing prices of basic commodities and fuel while unemployment rates are rising sharply.
Moreover, prolong blackouts and volatile foreign exchange rates have hampered the operations of small and medium businesses, forcing some of them to suspend their businesses.
The economic growth rate cited by the SAC chairman was calculated based on economic data in 2021, when the economy of the country was badly battered by COVID-19 and political changes. Therefore, entrepreneurs and economic observers pointed out that it is still necessary to make efforts to improve the economic situation to the pre-endemic level.
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12 Jan 2023
The latest airstrikes against the Chin National Front headquarters amounted to warnings against cooperation with the Spring Revolution, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.
Recently, the junta bombed the central outposts of the PSLF/TNLA to warn against cooperation with the PDFs, he added.
He told the CNI, " The junta is putting military pressure on the CNF to stop cooperation with the Spring Revolution led by the NUG and to deal with them. Such airstrikes were also launched on the central outpost of the TNLA in Namhasm recently. Then, junta troops said they made a mistake and withdrew. They launched fierce airstrikes there for three days before withdrawing. The airstrikes aimed to prevent the three brotherhood organizations from joining the Spring Revolution."
A map showing the airstrikes of the junta against the CNF headquarters on 10th January, 2023. (CHRO)
The junta launched airstrikes against the Victoria Headquarters of the CNF in Thantlang Township in Chin State at the border between Myanmar and India at about 4 pm on 10th January, killing five members of the CNF and injuring others.
As it was impossible to hold political negotiations between the two sides, armed conflicts have escalated, Director U Thein Tun Oo of the Strategic Studies told the CNI.
He said, "Both sides have been engaged in armed conflicts. It is clear that there are engagements in armed conflicts because it is impossible to hold negotiations. In addition, it is not strange that engagements continue when one side opens the way for talks but the other side cannot take the way. Inviting to peace talks and opening the way aim to avoid such incidents and restore national reconciliation. Peace cannot be restored unilaterally. It depends on the will of all stakeholders. EAOs do not want to take the path because they misunderstand it and such engagements will erupt.
Zero-sum games without seeking political dialogue will inflict damage to the public, Political Observer U Ye Tun told the CNI.
Airstrikes against the CNF headquarters on 10th January, 2023.
He said, "The junta is trying to solve the political issues through political dialogue not only with signatories to the NCA but also with the non-signatories like the UWSA. The NUG and the PDF rejected dialogue by seeking zero-sum games. As they have been in existence for a while, they don't have the same view with some EAOs. Meanwhile, some other EAOs are supporting them. So, the junta considers such EAOs as enemies and launches airstrikes. As long as they engage in zero-sum gains, the public and the country will suffer."
The Chin Joint Defence Committee said it never trusted the junta and never engaged in dialogue with the junta, a spokesperson to the CJDC told the CNI.
He said, "We have never engaged in political dialogue with the junta. They will do what they have to do. We never trust their statements and announcements. We were not shocked about the airstrikes."
The CNF is a Chin ethnic armed organization that signed the NCA.
However, it has cooperated with LDF or CDG in fighting against the junta after political changes since 1st February, 2021.