CNI News

23 Feb 2023

Scarce job opportunities, low wages and economic and political situations since 2021 have increased the number of the workers who go abroad to work.

Although job opportunities can be created at home, workers will continue to go abroad if wages are still low, In Charge Ko Khant Nay Kyi of the Migrant Workers Assistance Centre in Busan, South Korea, told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "Job opportunities alone will not solve the issue and we need to take wages into consideration because people are working to earn more money. They won't work at home if they earn just enough to eat. When wages are as high as Thailand or Singapore, workers will not go abroad to work. As long as they are allowed to choose, they will go abroad to work. Even people in Singapore are going to Japan or the US to work. Similarly, Myanmar people will go to other countries if they get higher wages. It is necessary to raise the wages of workers to encourage them to work at home."

Some entrepreneurs said that jobs are not scarce in Myanmar and the problem is low wages.

Myanmar citizens leaving the country at the airport.

Workers are going abroad because wages are too low and commodity prices are too high, forcing them to try very hard to meet both ends, they added.

Some job applicants ask for high salaries although they don't have necessary skills for their jobs and cause difficulties for employers, Chairman U Zaw Zaw of Shan State (North) Hoteliers Association told the CNI.

He said, "Some workers asked us why their salaries were not raised. The difficulties we have faced at present is that job applicants come to us and ask for MMK 500,000 or 600,000 per month without any skill and experience. They said they would work if we could show them how to do their tasks. However, they changed to another job after working for us for two or three days because there are many job advertisements. If they want higher salaries, they need skills and qualifications and to exert efforts. Then, they will get high salaries."

At present Myanmar workers are mainly leaving for South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Singapore and UAE and some of them are leaving for the West.

A garment factory in Myanmar.

However, passport offices around the country have been closed, Myanmar workers are illegally going to work in neighbouring countries. As a result, the government has lost its revenues, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI.

He said, "First, the government does not get taxes and loses human resources. As they cannot get passports, they simply went to other countries by contacting agents. It amounts to opening an easier route for workers to work abroad.

Most people leaving Myanmar for work and study and basic workers make up the biggest chunk of them while some of them are leaving for technician jobs, according to labour activists.

CNI News

23 Feb 2023

After Acting President Duwa Lashi La of the National Unity Government said that the year 2023 was the decisive year, political observers have been wondering whether the year will be decisive or not.

Some observers are of the view that the armed struggle may prolong the crisis while others see the year as decisive and have stepped up momentum of the revolution.

He has not seen coordination among various People's Defence Forces militarily and politically, Political Observer U Ye Tun told the CNI.

He said, "The main problem for the NUG is the coordination among different local people's defence forces. When we look at the history of Myanmar, U Nu formed the Democracy Party and based in the area controlled by the KNU to form a patriotic army, which grew in strength and possessed arms and ammunition. However, unity was the main problem and factions of the army fought against each other and the KNU. Eventually, it collapsed. At present, local people's defence forces are formed on the self-help basis. They are not organized ideologically, politically and militarily like the Communist Party of Burma."

NUG Prime Minister Mahn Win Khaing Than and the PDF.

Although the year may be a turning point for military operations, it may not be decisive for the revolution, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "I don't think it will be a decisive year for the revolution because among about 500 PDF battalions, about 200 battalions are not under the command of the NUG. And the process to transform the forces into a regular army has not been completed. They are just local defence forces. The NUG has yet to form them into brigades. Then, only about 60 percent of the PDFs have been properly armed. However, they have limited heavy weapons for counter offensives."

There are some EAOs that have cooperated with the Spring Revolution while others are holding peace talks with the junta or have reached ceasefire agreements with it.

The Myanmar military.

Without assistance from EAOs, this year cannot be a decisive year, Kachin Politician U Kwan Gaung Aung Kham told the CNI.

He said, "I don't think the NUG alone will be able to decide it because those who have weapons and control the areas are EAOs. Without their assistance, it would be difficult for the NUG to make such a decision. However, it would be difficult to predict if it gets assistance from the US, the EU, Japan and the ASEAN. Anyway, it is difficult for the NUG to decide this by itself. EAOs will decide the matter."

At present, fighting has erupted between the junta and the allied forces of some EAOs and the PDFs in Kayin State, Kayah (Karenni) State, Chin State, Sagaing Region and Magway Region.

CNI News

22 Feb 2023

Right activists have called for not only damages but also action against older nuns from Thikhitayama Nunnery in Kyauktan Township in Yangon Region, who committed right abuses against Ta'ang children, they told the CNI.

After negotiations, the nunnery agreed to pay compensations for children who have been receiving medical treatments but action should also be taken against the nunnery for physical harms and mental trauma suffered by the children, Spokesperson Lway Chi Sa Ngar of the Ta'ang Women Organization told the CNI.

A victim nun named Lway Mya Aung, who can no longer walk or speak due to injuries. (Shwe Phee Myay)

She said, "From the perspective of our organization, it is necessary to take mental trauma suffered by children into consideration. As far as we know, some children faced life-threatening situations. Giving compensation alone is unacceptable. In addition to compensations, other action should also be taken against those who are responsible. Abusing children in the name of religion is completely unacceptable. To prevent such abuses in the future, action should be taken against them. However, we don't know the details at present. The issue should be further discussed."

Sixteen children from Khongnin and Kyaungkham villages in Kyaukme Township were allowed to enter novitiate and sent to Thukhitayama Nunnery to study there by their parents in April, 2022.

However, five nuns from them were sent back to Kyaukme on 10th February, 2023 after they had sustained injuries caused by senior nuns there.

 A victim nun named Lway Win Win Khaing demonstrates how she was tied and tortured. (Shwe Phee Myay)

A seven-year old nun has been maimed so badly that she is undergoing treatments at the Kyaukme People's Hospital.

To prevent such incidents in the future, Sangha Nayaka committees in respective townships are required to give instructions on child rights to monasteries and nunneries in their townships, Woman and Human Rights Activist Dr Nyo Nyo Thin told the CNI.

She said, "Some parents trust their children to monasteries and ask monks to punish the children by beating in accordance with Myanmar tradition. However, traditions can be accepted to a certain extent. Excessive measures will not be accepted by the society and action will be taken against those who are responsible. Some traditions must be changed if necessary. If the children were exploited for economic interests, it would amount to human trafficking. Whether they are novices or not, they have their own rights as children."

A nun from Kyaukme, who is left at the nunnery reportedly called her father and said she was happy at the nunnery and told her father not to come and fetch her, according to the Shwe Phee Myay News Agency.

A victim nun named Lway Nwan Kham with injuries all over her body. (Shwe Phee Myay)

However, the father said she might have been forced to say that by senior nuns and he wants to go and fetch her because he is worried about her.

The Ta'ang Sangha Organization (Yangon), the Ta'ang Literature and Culture Association, nuns, Shagha Nayaka committees and responsible officials from the ward held negotiations with the nunnery.

Responsible nuns from the nunnery have agreed to send the remaining nuns to Myaukme and to pay medical charges for the injured nuns.

CNI News

22 Feb 2023

Special Envoy for Asian Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry H.E. Mr Deng Xijun was reported to arrive in Mongla, the capital of the National Democratic Alliance Army-Mongla, on 20 February.

He held discussions with vice-chairmen U San Pae and U San Lu of the Peace and Unity Committee of Shan State (East) Special Region (4) in Mongla.

However, it is still unknown what they discussed.

Chinese special envoy Mr. Deng Xijun greets NDAA leaders.

The NDAA is a member of the Federal Political National Consultative Council, which is made up of the UWSA, the SSPP, the KIA, the AA, the TNLA and the MNDAA.

It is also joining peace talks with SAC chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and the SAC peace negotiation team.

Mr Deng Xijun replaced the former special envoy and visited Myanmar on 29th December, 2022, and met with Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Chinese special envoy Mr. Deng Xijun arrives in Mongla.

He served at the military attaché in Myanmar in 1985 and performed duties in Southeast Asia and South Asia from 1990 to 2017.

He was appointed the special envoy for Afghanistan from 2017 to 2019 and the ambassador for the ASEAN from 2020 to 2022.

CNI News

22 Feb 2023

Kayin ethnic armed organizations have always divided historically and are still struggling to unify themselves, Chairman Mahn Aung Pyi Soe of the Kayin Democratic Party told the CNI.

Mahn Aung Pyi Soe told the CNI, "Karen people are always struggling for their unity because they are always divided historically. Now, the situation has deteriorated notoriously. They are fighting against one another. We cannot accept the situation. It is necessary for them to unify themselves as much as possible."

Fighting erupted between Brigade (4) of the Karen National Union and the Kathoolei Army in the morning of 20th February the former was able to occupy the Battalion (1) of the KTLA, according to statement released by the Myeik-Dawei Administrative Office of the KNU Brigade (4).

Dawei-Hitkhee road section.

Two members of the KTLA were killed while one soldier of the KNU Brigade (4) was injured during the fighting, according to the statement.

At a time when efforts are being made to establish a federal democracy union, divisions among the same ethnic group is worrisome, Mahn Aung Kyi Soe added.

He said, "It is very difficult to negotiate between the government and ethnic groups to build a federal democracy union, divisions among the factions of the same ethnic group is worrisome. We are sad and want to stop their divisions. I want to say just that."

KNU troops. (KNU-fb)

It was found that tensions escalated between KNU Brigade (4) and the KTLA and resolving issues among Karen EAOs through armed conflicts is completely unacceptable for the Karen public, people in Tanintharyi Region issued a statement.

Then, tensions between both sides reached climax with exchanging fires, threats and accusations and armed conflicts erupted.

The KTLA was formed by Brig-Gen Saw Ner Dah Mya, former chief of staff of the KNDO who was terminated from duties in July, 2022 and is active in areas controlled by the Brigade (4) of the KNU.

There are various factions of the Karen ethnic group including the KNU, the DKBA, the KNU/KNLA/PC, the KTLA and the BGF.

CNI News

21 Feb 2023

Myanmar workers in Thailand have been forced to spend large sums of money for renewals of their different documents at the same time, labour activists in Thailand told the CNI.

At present, Myanmar workers in Thailand have to renew at least three of their documents through agents, spending as much as Baht 10,000 (MMK 1 million) and some workers who cannot afford such amounts have become illegal workers, Director Ko Naing Aung Aung of the Arakan Workers Organization told the CNI.

He said, "Only a few of them live alone. They have three, four or five family members. So, they cannot afford to renew the documents of all family members because it costs as much as Baht 15,000 per person to renew his or her documents. So, they have to give priority to those who work. Everyone wants to live and work in Thailand officially but they cannot afford to renew documents of all family members. Both governments are trying to encourage the workers to live and work officially in Thailand. However, it costs large sums of money and renewal processes are complicated. As a result, some workers are forced to work in Thailand illegally or make wrong decisions.

An office issuing CIs for Myanmar workers

At present, Myanmar workers in Thailand are required to renew their different documents including passports, work permits (pink cards) and certificates of identity-CI.

Migrant workers in Thailand have to take the jobs which Thai citizens do not want to take and earn at least Baht 320 (about MMK 30,000) per day.

Costs for renewing a document are so high but wages of migrant workers are so low that governments and agents can reap benefits from workers, labour activists said.

An office issuing documents for migrant workers

Labour Activist U Min Oo of the Foundation for Education and Development told the CNI, "In the past, there were agents for renewals of work permits and visas. Now, the situation has changed. Agents and government agencies are cooperating to get money from workers and creating unnecessary difficulties so that workers cannot renew their documents by themselves. Even when their employers help workers, agents and government agencies make the process more complicated by requiring some documents.

The processes for renewing documents serve the interests of agents and workers and their employers are forced to renew their documents through agents.

There are millions of Myanmar workers in Thailand and labour activists have urged them to renew their documents as the rights and benefits of legal workers and illegal workers are very different.

CNI News

21 Feb 2023

The Kachin Independence Army has sent for officials from the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (White Tiger) in Kachin State and warned them off running for election.

He learnt from his party members that the KIA warned his party officials in Kachin State off running for election and he wanted to request the KIA to permit political parties to do so without any restrictions, Chairman U Sai Aik Paung of the SNDP told the CNI.

 KIA Spokesperson Col Naw Bu.

He told the CNI, "We don't exactly know why. We know what our officials said. They are scared. We would like to request the KIA to allow all political parties to run for election without any restrictions and worries.

The CNI contacted KIA Spokesperson Col Naw Bu for comments but he was not immediately available.

The KIA had announced that it would not allow any elections held by the junta to take place in Kachin State, Kachin Politician U Kwan Gaung Aung Kham told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "The KIA had already announced it would not allow elections held by the junta to take place in Kachin State. So, they will warn not only the SNDP but also other parties in areas under their control off standing for election. It may take action against those who will take part in elections."

An office of the SNDP.

There are many townships, in which the majority of residents are Shan people, in Kachin State and the SNDP won in such townships in the previous general election, U Sai Aik Paung told the CNI.

He said, "Officials from our partey in Kachin State are frightened and we cannot urge them to contest elections. If the KIA allows all political parties to take part in elections, we would be happy. I would like to request the KIA to allow all national brethren to contest elections without any restrictions. In the 2010 elections, we won six seats in Kachin State. We want to repeat such a success because the majority of residents in Mansi, Momauk, Bhamo, Mokaung and Mohnyin. However, armed organizations are powerful. Ethnic peoples should love one another."

The SNDP has planned to contest elections in at least six other regions and states in addition to Shan State including Kachin State, Yangon Region, Mandalay Region, Bago Region and Tanintharyi Region.

CNI News

21 Feb 2023

Deputy Chief of Staff Brig-Gen Khaing Min Soe and two other soldiers from the Arakan Liberation Party/Arakan Liberation Army have been detained by No. 101 Battalion led by Daw Saw Mya Yazar Lin for secretly instigating factionalism among troops of No. 101 Battalion under the Central Command and persuading some of them to join with him.

Brig-Gen Khaing Min Soe and two soldiers from the ALP were reportedly arrested at Sittwe Airport by the Myanmar military because of the request of Daw Saw Mya Yazar Lin and have been detained at No. 101 Battalion. Chairman Khaing Ye Khaing of the ALP wrote a letter to Daw Saw Mya Yazar Lin, saying such arrests are not in line with the rules and regulations of the party and instructed her to release the three immediately.

Daw Saw Mya Yazar Lin reportedly sent a reply to the chairman.

In her letter, Daw Saw Mya Yazar Lin said Brig-Gen Khaing Min Soe violated rules and regulations for a military and party leader by secretly trying to instigate factionalism among the troops and persuading them to join with him and he should have done everything transparently in accordance with rules and regulations without bias.

She added, "I am a vice-chairperson, who has been trying to consolidate the central command. Similarly, commanders and soldiers are trying to do the same. The solidarity of the central command amounts to that of the ALP. After signing the nationwide ceasefire agreement in 2015, the ALP was allowed to open an office in Sittwe and to officially hold talks with the government. The direction of the ALP, which is a signatory to the NCA, is very important. It is very worrisome that he tried to secretly instigate factionalism among five soldiers. If the five soldiers formed a faction, it would be difficult to keep the remaining troops under control. It is not easy to recruit a new soldier."

"After the chief of staff was assassinated, it is important to consolidate the unity among troops. In such a time like this, as the deputy chief of staff, he should not have said that he would disband the entire battalion if his trip was prevented and he should not have instigated factionalism among troops. His moves amounted to disbanding an entire battalion. His wife has done questionable deeds. Instigating factionalism among troops violates the military law."

The CNI contacted Daw Saw Mya Yazar Lin for comments but she was not available immediately.

The ALP signed the NCA together with other seven EAOs on 15 October, 2015.

CNI News

20 Feb 2023

Although there are suggestions about the formation of a Bamar state for the future federal democratic union, a question has arisen in the political circle whether the suggestion is viable or not.

Lway Poe Nge, a representative of the National Unity Consultative Council, suggested on the 76th anniversary of union day on 12th February that it was important to form a Bamar state.

Formation of a Bamar state should be taken into coniseration only after toppling the military dictatorship, Political Observer Dr Hla Kyaw Zaw told the CNI.

She said, "I support an ethnic leader who said that it was important to topple the military dictatorship. Remaining issues can be solved among different ethnic groups like family members. The military has created the civil war by causing divisions among ethnic groups. So, we need to topple the military dictatorship first.

EAOs leaders are being welcomed by the public waving ethnic flags.

It was reported that some EAOs suggested the formation of a Bamar state for the equality of different ethnic groups during peace talks with the SAC, which seemed to be indifferent to the suggestion.

It is important to form a Bamar state and implement the Panglong Agreement for the future union, Kachin Politician U Kwan Gaung Aung Kham told the CNI.

He said, "It is necessary to form a Bamar state in accordance with the 8-state solution. However, there may be more than 8 states for other ethnic groups. It is important to implement the Panglong Agreement. We will have to renegotiate with all ethnic groups. I think most of the plain regions will be included in the Bamar state. A federal union must be established in this way. At present, there are states and regions, which are of different units of the country. So, it is necessary to establish the same units like states to form a federal union."

 EAOs leaders are being welcomed by the public waving ethnic flags.

The formation of a Bamar state depends on the Bamar people, Chairman U Thar Tun Hla of the Arakan National Party told the CNI.

He said, "It depends on the political solution for Myanmar or how to resolve the political issues facing Myanmar at present. We will have to wait and see whether the Bamar people and political parties which represent them accept the idea or not. It is an aspect of the idea to resolve the current issues of Myanmar."

There are suggestions to form a Bamar state while other smaller minorities like Shanni, Pa-O, Ta'ang (Palaung) and Wa have also called for the formation of their own states.

At present, Myanmar is made up of seven regions, seven states, five self-administered zones and one union territory.