CNI News
 2 September  2023

The national census-taking will be conducted in 2024 and only after the census is taken in the whole country, a general election can be held, said Maj-Gen Min Hlaing.

He said that above at the meeting (3/2023) of the State Administration Council held on 1st September, 2023.

Their ultimate goal was to be able to hold the election, so they would have to carry out in order to make the whole country stable and peaceful so that a free and fair multi-party democratic general election could be held. Moreover, voting lists must be re-collected to make the basic ballot information correct so that everyone who has the right to vote can vote, said chairman of the SAC.

" We must emphatically carry out to make the vote lists correct for the coming election and make necessary preparations later in 2023. Moreover, national census-taking will be conducted and only after taking the census all over the country, vote lists could be registered. So, we must continue to collect the ballots in full. If only we can collect full ballots, we will be able to hold the election correctly." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

A person looking at the vote list

Although an election could be held in any way, they would have to emphatically carry out to make the election that they would hold an orderly general election and to strengthen a democratic system, he said.

" We are performing in advance to enable everyone that has rights to vote to vote systematically and correctly so that a free and fair election can be held. Moreover, we'll carry out to use an electronic voting system so as to be able to vote systematically." said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Moreover, necessary laws would be enacted to make the matters relating to political parties systematic, he said.

Although Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing said in the past that the election would be held in 2023, the election would not be able to be held due to instabilities.

As Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing said that census-taking would be conducted in 2024, the election could be held in 2025, said political analysts.

CNI News

2 September 2023

When the process of sending Myanmar MoU workers to Thailand through Myawady-Kawkareik New Asia Road could be resumed, a worker had to pay the double bus fare than before, said overseas employment agencies to CNI News. 

Sending MoU workers could be resumed only on 22nd August because some parts of the road as it was raining heavily, said an official from the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation (MOEAF) to CNI News.

" The bus fare was 22,000 kyats a person from Yangon to Myawady before. But now the fare has been 45,000 kyats. Before the bridge was built, the buses from Yangon came to the place where the part of road was destroyed and the buses from Myawady came there. The workers had to get off the car and walk at the place. 

MoU workers

Now that the bridge has been built already, they don't have to get off. But there is still a traffic jam. Only if it is two-way, it will be more convenient. We have to wait. Half of the ruined place has been repaired, but when the road is re-open, the cars are waiting in line bumper to bumper." he said.

Moreover, on the way, armed groups asked 5,000 kyats to 35,000 kyats for a passenger, said overseas employment agencies. Sending MoU workers to Thailand could be delayed for a few days due to the road conditions, said the agencies. 

MoU workers

Although agencies must send MoU workers to get to workplaces in relevant within 90 days, as there were delays due to natural disasters, agencies had to inform relevant department of the reasons reportedly.

" In a situation like this, we had to submit a petition to the relevant department so that they will understand. Because it's natural disaster, they will permit. The department is building to be a two-way on the ruined part. It will be finished in a week. Trucks, MoU Buses, family cars and small cars are going on that road and of them, trucks are in a more traffic jam. MoU buses and small cars are going more smoothly because they have to pay for the deserved cost." said U Win Myint, managing director of the Lucky Overseas Employment Agency.

The part of the road that was collapsed near Taw Naw Waterfall was 200 feet long and 35 feet deep and a temporary Bailey bridge was built there and vehicles have been allowed to pass on it. But just a few MoU workers are being regularly sent without sending a lot like before, according to the MOEAF.

CNI News

September 2, 2023

Reviews and discussions about the relation between Myanmar Tatmadaw and Russian Army are under way among the political analysts local and abroad. Myanmar Tatmadaw and the Russian Army have had alliance relations since before and the alliance has become stronger after the State Administration Council took power on 1st February, 2021.

Myanmar Tatmadaw and Russia are trying to overcome the political crises beyond 2021 and have built a political/ military alliance, said Dr. Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), to CNI News.
 
"To tell you the truth, Tatmadaw's strategic partnership has moved rapidly toward Russia. And the Chinese side also reconnected with the Tatmadaw as a strategic partner. Beyond 2021, China, Russia and Myanmar Tatmadaw are trying to overcome the current crisis at the same time. India also has become like a partner. It also could be its crisis. If you look back at everything, the current politics, military and strategic partnership of the Tatmadaw have connected with countries along the border almost at the same time. The Tatmadaw's strategic partnership has moved toward till Russia. When some countries remarked about human rights of Myanmar at the Security Council a few days ago, Russia and China had no comment. We have found out these partnerships have become more solid lately, I think. Russia-Myanmar Tatmadaw relation has become more solid under Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. Now everything is going toward multipolar" he said..

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and Russian Foreign Minister

Russian Foreign Minister and Russian officials often come to Myanmar after the Tatmadaw took power on the first of February 2021 and Sr-Gen went to Russia and met with Russian President Putin in September, 2022. It is also said that Myanmar is dependent on Russia, said U Htet Myet, a Myanmar politic analyst to CNI News.

"The accusation that the Tatmadaw is entirely dependent on Russia has been mentioned by US news agencies and many other ones. Whether it's true or not will depend on those who practice it. It is said that the second country that the Tatmadaw relies on is China. In terms of its business, China exercises restraint, which some people said in defense of China. Other people said based on hatred of China that China was totally supporting the Tatmadaw, so it was worsening. The stakeholders themselves will know whether it is true or not." said U Htet Myet.

Currently, Myanmar-Russia relations are closer and Myanmar is planning to build a small nuclear power plant with the help of Russia.

CNI News

2 Sep 2023

Five EAOs, members of the Peace Process Steering Team, and the National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) discussed to enable EAOs to practically participate in building a federal union, stated the five EAOs. 

The discussion was held in Naypyidaw from 29th August to 31st August and delegates from the five EAOs - the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), KNU/KNLA-Peace Council, the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) and the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) attended it.  Leaders of the State peace discussion group submitted four issues  and they were discussed by the delegates. 

These issues contain the sections from the 2008 constitution that are wanted to be amended which are proposed by the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPJDC), the group of political parties and the panel of analysts, matters relating to ability to hold a general election and issues relating to providing humanitarian aids to the people in the EAO areas and they were discussed, stated the five EAOs.

A statement released by five EAOs

" On second day, on 30th August, five NCA-S EAOs thoroughly discussed to enable the NCA-S EAO delegates to participate in negotiation and implementation with international organizations so as to receive humanitarian aids, EAOs to practically participate in building the federal union, the role of EAOs to be promoted in the field of domestic politics and EAOs to meet with one another." said in the statement by the five EAOs.  

And they had a discussion about the matters relating to enabling the 8th anniversary NCA signing ceremony that will fall on 15th October, 2023 to be held with full political meaning, said in the statement.

CNI News

1 September 2023

The people in Myanmar are facing with high commodity prices at present and rice and edible oil are needed to be sold in every store at a price that the grassroots can afford, said U Thet Zaw, an economic analyst, to CNI News.

 At present, rice and edible oil traders associations are going around and selling rice and edible oil at a price that is about 50 percent less than the market price. When going around and selling by car like that, the price is so cheap that so many people are waiting in line to buy rice and edible oil. Selling like that was wrong, said U Thet Zaw.

" I went to South Oklapa yesterday. I saw a long line of people who are queuing there. As I went with a Japanese, he asked me what they were doing. I had to explain to him. Because the prices of rice and edible oil are very high in our country, they were waiting in line to buy rice and edible oil that are being sold at a low price, that I told him. The queuing system has not died out as yet. The system is wrong.  As a matter of fact, you can buy rice and edible oil in every store at the same price. The rice is cheaper at a big shop of theirs. That shouldn't be. If we act like a straw fire, the country will be in trouble. The price needs to be sustained for long. We don't encourage one or two-day work. It is important for the price to go down." he said.

Ministry of Commerce is selling rice to the people in Yangon at a low price

42 rice shops in 17 townships in Yangon City are selling Aemahta coarse rice at 2,500 kyats per pyi (one pyi = 4.375 lb), stated the Myanmar Rice Federation. 

Bayint Naung Wholesale Center, Nyaung Bin Lay Market and edible oil shops would sell edible oil of 1.7 million tons at a wholesale price, according to the Myanmar Edible Oil Dealers Association. 

Rather than coming and selling edible oil, if it can be bought in every store, it would be more convenient, said Ma Yadi, a housewife, CNI News.

" It would be the best if we could buy edible oil in every store at a reasonable price. These days there is no more middle class. There are upper class and basic class.." she said.

The market price of edible palm oil is about 9,200 kyats and Shwe Bo Pawsan rice is 120,000 kyats per bag, and Ayeyarwady Pawsan or Kyar Pyan rice, 100,000 kyats per bag.

CNI News

1 September 2023

Battles between the Tatmadaw and TNLA (the Ta,ang National Liberation Army) broke out in Kutkai Township and several civilians were killed as well reportedly.

Battles broke out at three places in Kutkai Township and Muse Township and the Tatmadaw opened fire with heavy weapons and attacked using warplanes reportedly.

TNLA forces shot into Nam Fekka Village in Kutkai Township by heavy weapons, which killed a young woman. 

Moreover, three men and a woman were wounded as well because of the shooting by these weapons, stated the State Administration Council on 30th August.

A member of the PSLF/TNLA force

Although CNI tried to contact the information officer of the TNLA by phone to ask about the civilian death, it was not able to contact him. 
“The civilians who were wounded due to the battle that broke out in Kutkai Township arrived at Kutkai and all the patients felt better, said U Kham Nyunt, vice chairman of the Ta,ang Literature and Culture Committee, to” CNI News.

Due to the battle between the Tatmadaw and TNLA that broke out near Sallant Village in Muse Township on 29th August, two civilians were wounded and eight houses were destroyed reportedly. 

He heard that the battle broke out in Muse Township, but he did not know about it on detail, said an office manager of TNLA in Muse Township, to CNI News. 

Soldiers of the Tatmadaw

A battle between the Tatmadaw and the TNLA started breaking out in Nant Kham Township on 2nd August and currently battles are breaking out in Nant Kham, Muse and Kutkai Townships.

TNLA is a Palaung ethnic armed organization that is being active in Nant Kham, Muse, Kutkai, Thibaw (Hsipaw), Lashio, Kyaukme, Nant Sam, Namtu in northern Shan State and Mogok Township in Mandalay Region. 

It is an organization that is discussing and negotiating with the government for the Preliminary Armistice Agreement.

CNI News

August 31, 2023

A civilian government could appear before 2026, said Naing Than Shwe, spokesperson of the Mon Unity Party to CNI News. 

It is still necessary to watch under what situation a general election could be held and there is a situation in which the election could be held, he said." I believe that a general election will be held. But we are still watching under what situation a general election could be held. We have expected that a civilian government could appear in abut 2026 and a general election could be held in 2025." he said.  

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing came and cast ballots in the 2020 general election  

The final goal of the State Administration Council was to hold a general election and must carry out to ensure the people to cast ballots safely, which Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said at the SAC's 22nd news conference held on 22nd August, 2023." Everybody's rights to vote must not be lost.There must be a proper election. We aim to make this election happen. We'll serve to enable most of the people to participate safely. When the people cast ballots,they must be free fromm fear. We'll carry out to make the election fair and proper. After that, we'll hand over power (to the winning party)." said Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun.

On the other hand, as the government wouldn't be ready to take the rotating ASEAN chairmanship in 2026 because of its domestic issues, it will take the chairmanship in 2027, which was reported by media. So,there are reviews among the political community whether a civilian government will appear before 2026 or not.

While the votes are being counted

The State Administration Council doesn't seem to be ready to take the ASEAN chairmanship, sai U Kwan Kayaung Aung Kham, a Kachin politician to CNI News." They don't seem to take the rotating chairmanship. So, they seemed to tell that they wouldn't take the chairmanship in 2026. Myanmar didn't take the chairmanship under U Than Shwe as well. Now, they don't seem to take the chairmanship in 2026. So, they seemed to tell that they would take the chairmanship only after 2026." he said.

The SAC that has taken power have said that it would hand over power to the winning party after holding a general election.

CNI News

August 31, 2023

The issuance of new rice export licenses will be temporarily suspended starting from the end of August for 45 days to control rising domestic rice prices, said Myanmar Rice Federation. It can help stabilize domestic rice prices to an extent, said an official from the Myanmar Rice Federation, to CNI News.

"Old licenses are allowed to export. New export licenses won't be issued. It seems to control rising domestic rice prices. Domestic rice prices will fall down a little. The main price increase is domestically consumed rice, not the rice that will be exported to foreign countries." he said.

A rice warehouse

Although restriction of the rice export licenses can reduce the rice prices, it is necessary to re-allow rice exports when the rice appears in abundance, said U Thein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association to CNI News. " Domestic rice prices will fall down to an extent if exports abroad are temporarily suspended. The price of a bag of rice could be 10,000 to 15,000 kyats less. When the rice appear in abundance, it is necessary to re-allow exports abroad. If rice export remained closed, it would hurt farmers. Suspension should be 45 days at most for the sakes of farmers and consumers" said U Thein Aung.

Although the State Administration Council is performing to reduce the rice prices in various ways, the prices don't fall down. The price of coarse rice is more than 60,000 kyats a bag (105 lb) and fine rice, one lakh to 1.5 lakh kyats.

CNI News

August 30, 2023

Passport renewal for Myanmar citizens in South Korea will be temporarilysuspended starting from 1st September, 2023 and the day that renewal can beapplied will be announced soon, stated the Myanmar Embassy in South Koreaon 28th August, 2023. The suspension like this was because the machine that
issues passports needed maintenance. 

It would be okay for Myanmar citizens whose passports are going to expire if they could explain to South Korean immigration officers pretty well when they apply for visa renewal, said Ko Khant Ne Kyi, officer in charge from the supporting center for migrant workers, to CNI News.

" You must be able to explain to the South Korean immigration officersthat Myanmar Embassy has temporarily suspended the passport renewal. After
that, they will renew your visa. Because South Korea is a democraticcountry, if your explanation is reasonable, exceptionally they will review,
which is included in their constitution. According to the law, you can'trenew your visa if your passport expires. However, as a humanitarian act,they are renewing visas of some people even after their passports haveexpired. There are people who have renewed their visas even three timesalthough their passports had expired for six months each time." he said.

Burmese workers arriving at an airport in Korea

But according to the statement, those who had applied for passport renewalbefore would be issued on the dates designated. Moreover, G-1 visas have
been issued to some citizens including ones from Myanmar and Ukraine as ahumanitarian act. But if a person travels with a G-1 visa, he must have a
passport that is still 6 months valid and when Myanmar citizens who havegot G-1 visas renew their passports, they don't tend to show these visa
books reportedly.

Because the foods that have been forbidden are often found from Myanmarworkers who enter South Korea at the airports, the bags of Myanmar citizens
are checked for longer, stated the labor office of the embassy in Seoul.Forbidden items were seized and their owners had to pay the fine and
passports were recorded. Moreover, Those who took forbidden items with themwere found every week and those arrested would be denied entry, said in the statement.

Betel leaf discovered by Burmese at the airport

" We need to widely inform of the people about that. May be it's becauseour citizens outnumber other citizens who enter South Korea. While 10 other
citizens enters, we, 100, enter the South Korea. About one or two monthsago, a Myanmar citizen was caught with narcotic drug. if possible, don't
take foods with you. There are many restaurants here. You want to eat whatyou like here in South Korea." said Ko Khant Ne Kyi.

There are about 50,000 Myanmar people who are working with EPS system inSouth Korea and those who are studying and doing business there as well
reportedly. That's why Myanmar Embassy has raised the fine for passportloss or damage from 75 to 105 US dollars in July when passports are appliedfor new ones.