CNI News

7 Mar 2023

As investment in houses, apartments, condominiums and residential complexes is likely to increase in Myanmar and property prices are likely to rise, developers are trying to attract buyers by organizing property fairs, according to the real estate market.

As local gold prices and US dollar exchange rates have increased by two to three folds at present and investment potentials in the real estate market is high, property fairs are being organized to attract investors, CEO Ko Zeya of the Yadanagiri Real Estate Agency told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "At present, showrooms have nothing to do. So, people are investing in land, condominium apartments and gold. Gold prices have skyrocketed. Commodity prices have increased significantly. Land prices are still relatively low. As US dollar exchange rates have tripled, land prices will increase to some extent. However, land prices have not increased as much as gold prices and US dollar exchange rates. So, people are likely to invest in the real estate market. Gold prices have tripled but land prices should follow suit. As a result, real estate agencies are asking for higher prices for land. So, they are organizing real estate fairs."

A real estate showroom.

Organizing real estate fairs will not have immediate effects on the market and the real estate market also relies on the ease of doing business and other hardships, according to real estate agents.

Real estate fairs are mainly organized in Yangon and at least 6 real estate fairs have been organized so far. Such fairs are also being held in Mandalay.

By organizing real estate fairs, companies that have large sums of money to advertise and employ large numbers of staff will be able to enjoy advantages, an official from the Myanmar Real Property Development Association told the CNI.
He said, "Real estate fairs are being organized. However, as real estate laws are not precise in Myanmar, there is no provision that sellers must sell their property through the agency from which they seek service from. Sellers may seek services from his agency as well as from others. Therefore, agencies try to attract customers through advertisements. Therefore, agencies that spend money on advertisements and employ a large number of staff have advantages.

A real estate showroom.

At present, land plots, apartments and condominiums are sold out steadily while the sales of high-end houses at housing complexes have slowed down.

The real estate market is likely to boom after the water festival until June, according to market observers.

However, the market will be likely to cool down before the elections, they said.

CNI News

7 Mar 2023

The expelling of Central Executive Committee Member U Phyo Min Thein and Central Committee Members Daw Sandar Min, U Toe Lwin and U Win Myint Aung of the National League for Democracy by exile Central Working Committee has fuelled debates on the future of the party.

CC U Toe Lwin, one of those who were expelled, said on 3 March on his Facebook page that the NLD CWC led by U Aung Kyi Nyunt had no legitimate right to expel them.

There are accusations and counter accusations between the two sides and it is necessary to wait and see whether the pary will re-register or not, Myanmar political observer U Ye Tun told the CNI.

The statement issued by the CWC led by U Aung Kyi Nyunt.

U Ye Tun said, "Under the new political parties registration law, parties which fail to re-register will have to hand over their party to the state. As the property owned by the NLD will be confiscated, the party will have to think about whether they will leave their huge possession in the hands of the state. Another factor is that some party members may think that the party should re-register their party as it has a huge potential to win elections whether they are held under the first-past-the-post system or the proportional representation system. Some of them think only armed struggle is the viable way. Therefore, there are armed conflicts. Now, disputes have started between the two factions and they will intensify during the last days for re-registration. It is just the beginning of their disputes. They have differing views on the issue. Some argued that they boycotted the election in 2010 and had to run for by-elections later under the 2008 constitution. They are trying to re-register the NLD. We will see more clearly later."

After the new political parties registration law and rules have been enacted, some political parties have re-registered.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The NLD is likely to be dissolved under the new law but it will continue to exist as long as it enjoys public support, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

He said, "The CEC of the NLD is still in existence. The NLD is likely to be dissolved by the SAC under their new law. However, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has already said that it is a people's party and it will continue to exist as long as it enjoys public support. I think that the party will stand together with the people as a semi-UG force outside the law of the SAC.

Since the coup on 1st February, 2021 by the Myanmar military, protests and armed conflicts have erupted in the country.

Some NLD members have joined the revolutionary forces to topple the military while others have still adopted the non-violence means.

CNI News

5 Mar 2023

Rooms at almost all hotels at Ngapali Beach in Rakhine State and Chaungtha Beach in Ayeyarwady Region have been fully booked for the Thingyan Festival, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

All hotels at Ngapali Beach have been fully booked from 13th April (the eve of Thingyan Festival) to 16th April (the last day of the festival) and it is estimated that about 2,000 overnight travellers will visit the beach during the festival, Deputy Director U Kyaw Zeya of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism (Ngapali Branch) told the CNI.

U Kyaw Zeya said, "Most hotels have been fully booked for four days starting from the Thingyan eve. Last year, about 1,500 overnight travellers visited the beach during the Thingyan. So, we expect that about 2,000 overnight travellers will visit the beach this year. There are a few hotels which have not been reopened. They are just preparing to reopen. Three large hotels and seven guest houses have not been reopened. Out of 65 hotels and guest houses at the beach, 55 of them have been reopened.”

Holiday makers on the Ngapali Beach.

The number of domestic travellers to the Ngapali Beach has been rising since March.

The increase has been attributed to families that travel during the summer holidays, package tours of companies and group travels.

About 1,000 domestic travellers visit the beach every day but only an average of 55 foreign tourists visit the beach every day.

Similarly, the number of travellers to Chaungtha Beach has been on the rise and sea view rooms of hotels at the beach have been fully booked, an official from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism (Chaungtha Branch) told the CNI.

A hotel at the Ngapali Beach. 

He said, "Our hotels have also been fully booked. There are two type of rooms in our hotels, one being sea view rooms and the other, back side. All sea view rooms have been fully booked and back side rooms will also be fully booked gradually. More people will come to the beach this year. After the matriculation examinations, more visitor will come to us. Even now, families with primary school children are visiting our beach. There will be more visitors during the period from the end of the matriculation examinations to April. The number of visitors to us will be as high as 8,000."

In previous years, guests made bookings for hotel rooms at the end of March but they have made bookings since early March, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

During Thingyan holidays, domestic travellers mostly visit Chaungtha, Ngwesaung and Ngapali beaches but some domestic travellers are asking for information about Tanintharyi Region and the Myeik Archipelago, according to Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association.

CNI News

5 Mar 2023

It is expected that more than 300 candidates from the Shan and Nationalities Democratic Party will win the upcoming elections, Chairman Sai Aik Paung of the SNDP told the CNI.

Sai Aik Paung founded the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party and took part in previous elections but he registered his party as the Shan and Nationalities Democratic Party after the new political parties registration law was enacted.

The new political party will run for election in the entire country.

He said, "We will not field Shan candidates in other states or regions. We will choose candidates from local ethnic groups. There are 45 townships in Yangon Region, 26 townships in Ayeyarwady Region, 28 townships in Bago Region, 28 townships in Mandalay Region, eight townships in Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory, 25 townships in Magway Region and 43 townships in Shan States. If we field 600 candidates, it is expected that more than half or over 300 of them will win elections."

Under section 25 of the new law, the parties existing under the Political Parties Registration Law (The State Peace and Development Council Law No 2/2010) which are desirous to continue as political parties under this Law shall apply to the Commission within 60 days from the date of promulgation of this Law. If no such application is made, the fact of being a political party shall be deemed to have been automatically invalidated, according  to the SAC.

A ballot paper. (AFP)

So far, a total of 14 political parties have reregistered with the Union Election Commission.

The SAC may extend the state of emergency for another six months and elections are likely to be held in November or December, Sai Aik Paung added.

He told the CNI, "It is their job to restore stability and the rule of law in the country. As I just said, the current extension of the state of emergency ends in July. By then, they may extend the state of emergency for another six months. So, elections are likely to be held in November or December. In January, the new parliament will be convened and the new government will be formed in February. In March, state and regional governments will be formed and the SAC can hand over power on 1 April."

The SAC chairman said a new general election would be held in 2023 and power would be transferred to the winning party.

CNI News

5 Mar 2024

The National League for Democracy Central Working Committee led by U Aung Kyi Nyunt is illegal and has no mandate to exercise any authority, NLD Central Committee Member U Toe Lwin wrote on his Facebook page on 3rd March.

The expatriate seven-member NLD CWC led by U Aung Kyi Nyunt and Daw May Win Myint expelled NLD Central Executive Committee Member U Phyo Min Thein and Central Committee Members Daw Sandar Min, U Toe Lwin and U Win Myint Aung  from the party in a statement issued on 3rd March.

In connection with the statement, CC member U Toe Lwin responded that the so-called NLD CWC led by U Aung Kyi Nyunt has no mandate to exercise any authority.

U Toe Lwin said, "As almost all CEC members including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have been imprisoned, the CEC has not been able to make any decisions. Issuing statements under the name of the NLD and the CEC is completely illegal and the CEC including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that they would not be responsible for any decisions on 8th November, 2021 through the lawyers Daw Min Min Soe and U Khin Maung Zaw of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Myint. So, the so-called NLD CWC led by U Aung Kyi Nyunt, which has stolen and misused the official Facebook page of the NLD, has no mandate to exercise any authority."

The NLD CWC statement expelling four party officials including U Phyo Min Thein and U Toe Lwin.

He added that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said through her lawyers that the formation of so-called NLD CWC was completely illegal on 8th November, 2021 and it was known to all veteran NLD members that it was illegal to use the name of  illegal NLD CWC and issue statements under the name of the NLD by controlling the official Facebook page of the NLD.

U Toe Lwin said, "The so-called NLD CWC was formed outside the country and its members live in Mae Sot in Thailand and the US. Under the constitution of the NLD, people outside the country are not recognized as party members legally. It can be said that they are no longer party members. In the more than 30 year history of the party, those who have left the country (simply put it, they fled the country out of fear) are not eligible to carry out the responsibilities of the party. If they carry out the responsibilities, they are illegal.

He said that he is a CC member of the NLD and a member of the most important body of the party, the Central Disciplinary Committee. Therefore, he is well-versed in the party constitution-1988, rules and regulations issued after re-registration of the party at the end of 2011, political ideologies and processes.

The NLD flag.

He continued to say that, under the constitution of the NLD after re-registeration in 2011, there was no such thing as the CWC. Under the rules and regulations of the central disciplinary committee, the seven members of the CWC and Daw May Win Myint were no longer party members spontaneously.

At present, CEC members Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Win Myint and Dr Zaw Myint Maung have been imprisoned and other CEC members including Dr Myo Nyunt, U Han Thar Myint, U Thein Oo, Dr Tin Myo Win, U Aung Soe and Daw Khin Htay Kywe continue to live in the country.

Daw May Win Myint and U Aung Kyi Nyunt fled the country and formed the NLD CWC.

      .

CNI News

4 Mar 2023

Myanmar escapees who left the country for Thailand in recent years are not likely to return to Myanmar due to security concerns, Thailand-based labour activists for Myanmar workers told the CNI.

The activists made the comments over a notification issued by the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok and the notification urged Myanmar nationals who left for Thailand in recent years over their security concerns to contact the embassy if they want to return home.

Internally displaced persons due to fighting

Consultant U Aung Kyaw of the Migrant Workers Rights Network told the CNI, "They are taking refuge in Thailand because their lives are in real danger. The public and civil servants will not believe the embassy's claims that they are inviting absconders to return home out of goodwill. They don't have any houses to live in their hometowns. They are questioning the embassy's claims of goodwill. Jobs are very rare in Myanmar and even if they can find jobs, they will earn MMK 4,800 per day. They earn more than MMK 10,000 in Thailand daily. In terms of incomes, they are better paid here. Moreover, no one can guarantee that they will be provided with work every day. And then, they can enjoy social security, healthcare services and everything humans need in Thailand. I don't think they will decide to return to Myanmar."

IDPs near the Thailand-Myanmar border.

Despite better job opportunities and wages in other countries, they don't want to return home not because of the better lives but because of security concerns, Thailand-based labour activists for migrant workers said.

They said that absconders will not return home as long as freedom and justice are guaranteed at home.

If authorities are really willing to receive absconders back, they should guarantee the latter's security, Ko Thar Gyi, a labour activist who has been helping Myanmar migrants in Mae Sot, told the CNI.

An entrance to a refugee camp in Ohnphyan, near Mae Sot. (RFA)

He said, "Everyone, including me, wants to return home. Whether they are legally working in Thailand by applying for passports or illegally working here or taking refuge, everyone wants to return home. However, we cannot return home due to security concerns. If authorities really want to take back its citizens abroad, they will have to guarantee their security by releasing all protestors they have imprisoned. Only then, will the people who have left the country for security concerns decide whether they should go back or not."

A large number of people have been taking refuge in neighbouring and other countries after the military assumed government responsibilities in 2021.

The information team of the SAC announced that those who are taking refuge in other countries can contact relevant embassies, military attaches' offices and consulates if they have never committed crimes.

CNI News

4 Mar 2023

Plans are underway to offer loans worth more than MMK 900 million to salt farmers and millers in Rakhine State in March, according to the Rakhine State Salt Entrepreneurs Association.

The loans will enable 30 to 50 percent of salt farms to start production and those who have registered as salt farmers are eligible for loans but those who have not registered yet are required to do so, Chairman U Than Win of the Rakhine State Salt Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "We requested the government to offer loans to registered salt farmers and mills and the government has approved the request. Authorities are currently scrutinizing the eligible salt farmers. After the scrutiny, we will issue the loans worth more than MMK 900 million in March and 30 to 50 percent of salt farms will be able to start production. I think there are more than 3,000 to 4,000 acres of salt farms but only about 1,000 acres have been registered. Those who have registered their farms will receive the loans. It is important for farmers to register their salt farms. They can tell us their difficulties transparently."

Salt farmers.

During the 2021-2022 salt production season, farmers produced 20,000 tons of salt from only about 1,000 acres of salt farm but salt farms have been expanded to 4,000 acres this year.

When the loans have been received, farmers are required to build salt storage facilities properly and the loans should only be used for production of salt, U Than Win added.

He said, "The loans must be repaid. If the loans are abused, the government will not offer loans to salt farmer for many years. If farmers repay the loans, we can request the government to offer loans to salt farmers again. So, we seriously request salt farmers to use the loans not for other purposes but for salt production. The government has stopped offering loans to salt farmers in other regions and states where salt farmers failed to repay loans. We need to prevent such undesirable scenarios.

Salt farmers.

The association will offer loans worth from MMK 300,000 to MMK 500,000 per acre at low interest rates.

Salt is mainly produced in Kyaukphyu, Sittwe, Myaybon, Thandwe and Gwa townships in Rakhine State and Myanmar salt merchants are holding discussions with their Bangladesh counterparts to export quality salt to the neighbouring country.

Before the year 2000, there were 10,000 acres of salt farms in Rakhine State but total acreage of salt farms dropped to only 1,000 acres later, according to the statistics of the association.

CNI News

4 Mar 2023

Shan State Restoration Council/Shan State Army troops and Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army troops clashed near Nantut Village in Kunhing Township in Shan State at 11 am on 2nd March.

SSPP troops encroached into the territory of the RCSS and the clashes erupted, RCSS Spokesperson Maj Sai Kham San told the CNI.

He said, "SSPP troops launched operations in our RCSS territory yesterday and clashed with our troops. I have not known the detailed situation on the ground. Clashes have stopped. Casualties have not been known. The fighting started at about 11 am yesterday."

However, the Tai Freedom of the RCSS reported that about 100 troops of the SSPP attacked an outpost of the RCSS from 11 am to 2 pm on 2nd March.

The CNI contacted the SSPP for comments over the fighting but the phone was switched off.

SSPP troops

Maj Sai Khan San told the CNI that SSPP encroached into the RCSS territory, and the RCSS had no plan to hold talks between the two Shan groups.

He said, "The clashes erupted in Kunhing Township, which is far from the border and is located in the interior territory of the RCSS. It was apparent that they wanted to encroach into our territory. They wanted to create a problem and encroached into our inner terrority."

The Joint Committee of Shan Monks and People called on the RCSS and the SSPP to stop fighting in Shan State in October, 2022.

The joint committee also said that the conflicts have exacerbated after allies forces from both sides are involved in them, leading to fiercer conflicts with more troops and more powerful weapons and serious human rights abuses.

The SSPP is a Shan EAO that has not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and the RCSS is a Shan EAC signatory to the ceasefire agreement.

CNI News

2 Mar 2023

The prices of pulse and bean varieties such as mung bean, pigeon pea and green gram increased in the late February, fetching higher prices than the same period last year, according to pulse and bean merchants.

Low stocks in the domestic market, falling yields and higher prices in the Indian market pushed up the prices of pulses and beans in the domestic market, In Charge U Nay Win Soe of the Ayeyar Trade Centre told the CNI.

He said, "Pigeon peas is fetching higher prices becase of the rising prices in the Indian market. First, pigeon pea prices in India fell and rose again two or three days ago. Although newly harvested pigeon peas have entered the market, prices are rising due to increased prices in India. Pigeon pea prices have risen to MMK 71,000 per basket today. Moreover, yields not only of pigeon pea but also of other pulses and beans dropped this year because of high cultivation costs. So, farmers were not able to grow pulses and beans as extensively as previous years. Farmers could not use as much pesticide as previous years. Mung yields dropped from 750,000 tons previously to about 600,000 tons this year."

Myanmar pulses and beans.

Pigeon pea prices rose from MMK 50,000 per basket to MMK 70,000 per basket this year while prices of mung increased from MMK 50,000 per basket to MMK 60,000 this year.

Mung and pigeon pea are mainly exported to India, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

As farmers could not use inputs sufficiently due to rising input costs, crop yields have dropped this year.

However, farmers are not as profitable as expected despite rising pulses and beans prices due to higher costs of  labour and inputs, U Tin Aung Cho, a pulse and bean farmer from Hinthada in Ayeyarwady Region, told the CNI.

Myanmar pulses and beans.

He said, "It is not profitable for us as expected because of higher costs for labour and inputs. Costs for harvesting and inputs like fertilizer and pesticide are higher than the previous year. The situation doesn't make a difference for us. We do not have other jobs and we will have to continue to grow crops whether crop prices are higher or lower or whether input costs are higher or lower."

At present, newly harvested mung, pigeon pea and green gram are entering the market and India is exporting more pulses and beans from Myanmar due to poor harvests there.

Pulses and bean merchants predicted that the prices of pulses and beans are likely to remain higher.

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