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CNI News
27 Dec 2022
Vehicle rental fees for one way trip from Namttaw (Homalin) to Monywa have risen to as much as MMK 2.5 million, according to local residents in Namttaw.
However, rental fees for one way trip from Monywa to Namttaw stand at MMK 900,000, a Namttaw local resident told the CNI.
He told the CNI, "If we charter a private vehicle from Namttaw to Monywa, we have to pay between MMK 2 million and MMK 2.5 million for the one way trip. However, we can hire a vehicle from Monywa to Namttaw at MMK 900,000 for the return trip."
A section of Mahamyaing Road.
The rental fees vary depending on the number of passengers, Ko Htet Aung, an owner of a private vehicle rental service, told the CNI.
He said, "We have to ask for higher rental fees because they are a group of 15 people and we will have to transport some of them to Mandalay. So, we charged them MMK 1.5 million. When we return to Monywa we can transport passengers just for fuel costs. Drivers have to pay money to checkpoints along the road and passengers do not have to pay the money.
With rising rental fees for chartered vehicles, bus fares from Monywa to Namttaw (Homalin) have increased from MMK 30,000 to MMK 90,000 per person.
The Chindwin River connecting Monywa and Namttaw (Homalin).
If local residents choose to travel by ship, it costs MMK 500,000 per person to do so.
There are about 30 checkpoints controlled by Local Defence Forces, People's Defence Force, the Myanmar military and Shanni National Army between Monywa and Namttaw.
As drivers have to pay money at those checkpoints, rental fees for chartered private vehicles have risen, according to drivers.
Travelling between Homalin and lower Myanmar, local residents can also use waterway but it is difficult to use the waterway because of armed conflicts along the river, according to local residents.
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CNI News
27 Dec 2022
Whether the Proportional Representation system is conducive to formation of a coalition government is a matter of intense debate among political observers.
The Union Election Commission announced that the general election would be held under the PR system.
Adoption of the PR system does not necessarily mean that a coalition government will be formed but it encourages the formation of a coalition government, Chairman U Thar Tun Hla of the Arakan National Party told the CNI.
Flags of the Union Solidarity and Development Party. (GETTY IMAGES)
He said, "In theory, the PR system encourages the formation of a coalition government. I am generally talking about the electoral system and does not refer to the political situation in Myanmar. I am just talking about a general theory."
If elections are held under the PR system, there are prospects for the formation of a coalition government, Chairman U Sein Win of the National United Democratic Party told the CNI.
He said, "In my opinion, there are prospects for the formation of a coalition government. However, it is difficult to say whether it will happen or not. The 2023 general election must be held because we love our country and will not allow the country we love to collapse. If we do not like the government that emerges, we will settle the issues with it later. We are not happy with the causes that will lead to the collapse of the country, especially those related to foreign interference."
Any electoral system is beneficial to ethnic groups with large populations, Kachin Politician U Kwan Gaung Aung Kham told the CNI.
Flags of the National League for Democracy. (GETTY IMAGES)
He said, "Both the PR system and the First-past-the-post system favour ethnic groups with large populations. Neither is beneficial to small ethnic groups. It is difficult to predict how the people, the international community and political parties will respond to the elections held by the SAC."
In 2010, 2015 and 2020, general elections were held under the FPTP.
He is trying to form a united national government represented by all ethnic group after the upcoming elections, Chairman Dr Aye Maung of the Arakan Front Party told the CNI.
He said, "The people prefer a united national government represented by all ethnic groups to a winning political party that forms a new government to implement its own policies. And elections will be held under the PR system. It is a development."
The UEC said it would hold a general election under the PR system in August, 2023.
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CNI News
25 Dec 2022
The labour activists have urged the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand to negotiate with Thai authorities to renew the passports of Myanmar migrants, labour activists told the CNI.
As there is a large number of Myanmar migrant workers whose passports will expire in 2023, there are concerns that the embassy is unable to renew them in time.
Ko Thar Gyi, a labour activist for Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand, told the CNI, "It sometimes takes about two months to renew passports. Some may get new passports within 10 or 15 day. So, the embassy should negotiate with the labour ministry, immigration and the visa section to extend the visa gap to 90 days or 120 days so that Myanmar migrants can get required documents during the time. If the embassy requests Thai authorities, it is beneficial for migrants whose visas have expired."
Myanmar migrant workers waiting for passport renewal at the Myanmar Embassy.
The Myanmar embassy in Thailand has renewed passports since 7th November but appointment tokens will be issued as of 7th January, 2023.
The embassy announced that passports will be renewed for those who have already received appointment tokens.
Moreover, the embassy announced that migrant workers are required to make appointments by themselves as the embassy will put the seal in their expired passports as of 7th January, 2023 and agents will not be allowed to make appointments.
Labour activists for Myanmar workers in Thailand welcomed the announcements.
Migrant workers.
Consultant U Aung Kyaw of the Migrant Workers Rights Network told the CNI, "It takes months to renew passports. Migrants workers need to have new passports before they renew their visas so that Myanmar workers can submit the new passports to the immigration to renew their visas. If it takes months to renew passports, migrant workers will be fined when they renew their visas. As there is a large number of Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand, we welcome the move to renew passports quickly, smoothly and cheaply. As far as we know, migrant workers have to wait a long time to renew their passports and have to pay much more than the fees designated by the government. Now, agents are not allowed to renew migrant workers' passports and it is beneficial for migrant workers."
In the past, Myanmar migrant workers had to pay agents from Baht 4,000 to 6,500 to make appointments and renew passports.
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CNI News
25 Dec 2022
Real estate agents are required to register with authorities to combat money laundering, according to the Myanmar Real Property Development Association.
It was learnt that the process has been implemented in the entire country.
Property agents are required to report sales and purchases of properties worth MMK 100 million and above to the financial intelligence unit, an official from the MRPDA told the CNI.
He said, "The move aims to combat money laundering. The General Administration Department handles the reporting process. Agents are required to report sales or purchases of properties worth MMK 100 million and above to authorities."
Action will be taken against agents who do not register with authorities in accordance with the Anti-money Laundering Law. Agents are required to register with township authorities and to take training courses on anti-money laundering to get registration cards.
A talk on property and financial knowledge
Property agents have been calling for the registering process for a long time, CEO Ko Zeya of Yadanagiri Property Services told the CNI.
He said, "We have been calling for the exclusive license registration for a long time. The government has officially recognized us just now. We need licenses and it is the responsibility of the government to do this. It is beneficial for us because we need to follow rules and regulations and can report our requests to the government. Sellers and buyers will trust us and we will be able to provide better services to them. Ethics and rules will be adopted."
There is a large number of money laundering cases in Myanmar, especially in the property market and the process is just one of the methods to combat money laundering, according to economists.
However, it is still necessary to see whether agents report property purchases and sales to the authorities as required.
Real estates in Yangon
Moreover, it is also necessary to see whether authorities are serious about the registration, an economist who requested anonymity for security reasons told the CNI.
He said,"There are various ways and means to launder money. It seems that authorities have shut down one of the many money laundering route. In Myanmar, cash circulation in the property market is very huge. Moreover, properties in Myanmar are not purchased for residence but for speculation. So, authorities cannot levy taxes on the transactions and cash involved in the transactions are black money. It seems that authorities are trying to prevent tax evasions. It is just a policy on paper and we will have to wait and see whether authorities actually implement the policy because agents will not report all transactions they make. It is a good policy but we will have to wait and see how authorities effectively implement it."
As the MRPDA is affiliated to international property services associations by joining the Asia Property Services Association, the registration process is likely to expand its markets, according to property agents.
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CNI News
25 Dec 2022
Emphasis must be placed not on the economic interests of a certain group of people but on inclusive economic development, said SAC Chairman Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
He made the comment at the meeting with the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and afficialiated association in Yangon on 23rd December, 2022.
As the objectives of MSMEs are to encourage domestic economic development and to substitute imports, priority is given to the manufacturing sector that promotes domestic economic growth, according to the chairman.
He said, "The first and second democratic governments gave priority on imports rather than on domestic manufacturing, causing trade deficits. Giving priority to domestic manufacturing is more beneficial. As it is necessary to improve the economic conditions of the majority of the people, the government is promoting inclusive development rather than the interests of a certain group of people."
He added that efforts for economic growth were exerted through various systems and the market economic system was introduced during the term of the military government. The market economy was further developed when the country took the multiparty democracy system. The UMFCCI is urged to fully cooperate with the government for the economic development of the country.
Currently, the gap between the rich and the poor has widen and successive governments were not able to solve the problem.
Meanwhile, as inflation has risen and commodity prices have increased, the public has urged authorities to control the prices as well as to create job opportunities and enhance personal security.
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CNI News
24 Dec 2022
Whether the National League for Democracy will participate in the elections held by the State Administration Council is hotly debated among politicians and political observers.
The SAC is likely to hold elections in main Bamar cities and the NLD is unlikely to take part in the elections, Political Observer Advocate U Kyee Myint told the CNI.
He told the CNI, "They are likely to hold elections in main Bamar cities and then in certain places in states under their control. They said they will hold the elections under the PR system but they were not entitled to hold elections under the system in the past. They will hold elections under the system and a new government will be formed under the system. The NLD is unlikely to take part in the elections. Daw Aung San Suu has already said the NLD would not participate in the election. The SNLD is unlikely to take part in the elections. Many other political parties will not participate in the elections."
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. (GETTY IMAGES)
Recently, the UNSC adopted a resolution on Myanmar, calling for the release of political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
He does not see any indications that the NLD will take part in the election but the situation would be likely to change if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was released, Spokesperson Naing Shwe Than of the Mon Unity Party told the CNI.
He told the CNI, "We haven't seen any signs that the NLD has revived. If Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was released, the situation would be likely to change. We haven't seen any activities of the NLD."
As the NLD cannot be dissolved by any means, the party will continue to survive, Political Observer Dr Hla Kyaw Zaw told the CNI.
A ballot-booth representative training course of the NLD. (GETTY IMAGES)
She told CNI, "A political party can collapse when it dissolves itself after losing elections. It will find ways and means to survive. Communist Party of Burma has never accepted its defeats and saw them as temporary failures. Communists form new cells when they have three cell members. It is not easy to dissolve a political party. Successive juntas have tried to dissolve the NLD for many years but the party has survived. If the NLD dissolved itself, it would collapse like the BSPP. Otherwise, it will continue to survive."
The NLD is required to take part in the elections held by the SAC and there are indications that it is preparing for the elections, Chairman U Sein Win of the National United Democratic Party told the CNI.
He said, "We have nothing to say about the issue as authorities have not announced that the NLD is an illegal organization after studying whether the crimes were committed or not. If its activities are lawful, it can participate in the elections. If their activities are unlawful, consequences will follow. However, there are indications that they are trying to participate in the elections."
The SAC chairman announced that it would hold a general election in August, 2023 and transfer power to the winning party.
The National Unity Government and the People's Defence Force have announced that they would disrupt the elections held by the SAC and urged all not to participate in the elections.
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CNI News
24 Dec 2022
As the United Nation Security Council adopted the resolution calling for the release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, political observers in Myanmar are debating over whether they will be released or not.
Some observers think that they will be released on the upcoming Independence Day.
If Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is released, the current political crisis will be alleviated, Spokesperson Naing Shwe Than of the Mon Unity Party told the CNI.
Demonstrators calling for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. (Hkun Latt)
He said, "She might be released under the current political circumstances. A general election could be held in 2023. If she is released, political situation is likely to improve because Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that violence was not the policy of the National League for Democracy. It is an exit from the circle of the violence if the NLD can persuade the anti-junta forces."
As the international community has called for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, she should be released, Kachin Politician U Kwan Gaung Awng Kham told the CNI.
He said, "It is an issue to be decided by the junta. It can decide whether to release her or not. However, it should release her on humanitarian grounds or as a political or national leader. The international community has called for her release. The UN has called for her release. The UNSC has approved the resolution. So, the junta should release her from the political perspective."
As no one is above the law in a democracy, the issue should be handled in accordance with the law, Chairman U Sein Win of the National United Democracy Party told the CNI.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing. (GETTY IMAGES)
He said, " As no one is above the law, the issue should be handled by the law. action must be taken against the offenders of the law. There are many accusations of vote-rigging. The accusations must be verified whether they are true or not. If the accusations are wrong, she should be released. Without such considerations, they should think about whether such a person should be released in their countries. As no one is above the law, she should not be released if she violated the law. If she did not violate the law, measures must be taken to release her by providing evidence."
The military ousted the National League for Democracy government after accusing it of trying to take office without settling voters' list disputes and detained Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and some NLD leaders.
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CNI News
24 Dec 2022
Twenty-seven cattle from Taungpyo Letwe of Maungdaw in Rakhine State were stolen by criminals in Bangladesh on 13th December, cow owners told the CNI.
The bulls owned by nine owners were stolen by criminals from Bangladesh and taken away, Local Resident U Aye Muang, whose five cows were stolen, told the NCI.
He said, "We release the bulls for pasturing. When we collected them at about 3 pm, we could not find them. We found the foodprints. We found that criminals from Bangladesh stole our bulls. We learnt that the Bangladesh Border Guard had seized our bulls from the thieves."
An archway to Taungpyo Letwe.
Taung Pyo town is the nearest town to Bangladesh divided only by a fence.
Owners followed the footsteps of their bulls and found that the fence was breached.
Local residents have reported the case to the Border Guard Forces but they have not responded to the reports, a ward administrator told the CNI.
He said, " A total of 27 bulls were stolen on 13th December and brought to the Bangladesh side. The cows were seen at the Bangladesh Border Guard posts but they have not returned the bulls. We have reported the case to Myanmar Border Guard forces but have not received any replies."
A security guard manning the Myanmar-Bangladesh border.
It was the first time bulls from Myanmar were stolen from Myanmar by Bangladeshi criminals and owners were stolen one to five bulls. A bull fetches between MMK 800,000 to one million, added U Aye Maung.
He told the CNI, "We had to feed as much as we can, spending what we could earned. Our assets are only these bulls. So, we did not leave them when fighting took place in our areas. We want our bull backs as soon as possible."
Residents expect that the bull will be returned soon as they have raised them for farming.
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CNI News
23 Dec 2022
He will call on the new Malaysian government to issue temporary work permits for Myanmar refugees who have UNHCR cards in Malaysia, Director General U Nyi Nyi Lwin of the Centre for Arakan Refugees told the CNI.
He had discussed the issue with the previous government unsuccessfully and he is again trying to raise the issue with the new government, he added.
He told, "I discussed the issue with the previous government. Due to conflicts in Myanmar, hundreds of thousands of Myanmar nationals crossed the border to Malaysia. It is likely to take a long time to resolve the Myanmar political crisis. However, it is certain that political changes will take place in Myanmar one day. When political changes take place in Myanmar, refugees will go back to Myanmar. Meanwhile, authorities are arresting refugees but they cannot deport refugees to Myanmar because of international pressures. So, the government should allow them to work in Malaysia in the same way as Thailand.
Hundreds of thousands of migrants are applying for refugee cards with the UNHCR online. We will urge the government to allow Myanmar refugees to work in Malaysia."
The UNHCR collects lists of migrant workers.
The CAR will cooperate with other ethnic communities, labour organizations and NGOs for the issue.
Although the new government took office recently, the number of arrests has not decreased, according to activists for refugees and workers.
The number of arrests has increased not because of the new government but because of authorities who usually make arrests at year ends.
Only a few ethnic refugees from Myanmar who were arrested in Malaysia have UNHCR cards and most of them are undocumented, according to activists for refugees.
Secretary Steven of the Alliance of Chin Refugees told the CNI, "There is a 50-50 chance that the new government will allow refugees to work in Malaysia because it has not announced its foreign policies or refugee policies officially. On the other hand, newly elected politicians are not strangers to NGOs. It is expected that the situation of refugees will improve a little. The new government will have to adopt a policy to deal with the UN. They may discuss the refugee issue with the UN but they have not announced the discussion publicly. We hope that the new government will cooperate with the UN and the situation of refugees will improve."
Myanmar migrant workers.
If the new government allows refugees to work in Malaysia, only those who have UNHCR cards will have the chance to work in Malaysia.
Therefore, activists and ethnic communities have urged illegal migrants to apply for ethnic community cards and UNHCR cards.
Some illegal migrants were arrested because their neighbours reported to the police about their disturbance.
Activists have urged illegal migrants not to be involved in disturbances, brawls and drinking alcohol.