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CNI News
23 Dec 2022
As substandard products and foodstuffs are imported from Thailand and China, the Food and Drug Administration has been urged to take action against importing such products, according to economists and public health workers.
Importing substandard products hurts the interests of consumers.
The FDA of Myanmar has failed to inspect substandard and expired products and seems to be working only for companies seeking approvals for imports of drugs and foodstuffs, an economist told the CNI.
FDA announces substandard foodstuffs.
He told the CNI, "The FDA is responsible for suppression of harmful food and drugs in the market. And the Consumer Protection Department under the Ministry of Commerce is also responsible for protection of consumers. They have to take action against importing products that hurt the interests of consumers such as substandard products in terms of quality and fake goods when complaints are made to them and they are required to inspect such products. They work only when they are pressured by their superiors. They are just prioritizing applications for approvals from food and pharmaceutical companies."
Thailand manufactures products that are 18 percent lower in quality than the domestic market to exports to neighbouring countries, according to a Myanmar national manufacturing cosmetics in Thailand.
China is also known for exporting cheap and low quality products to less developing countries.
An FDA team inspects foodstuffs.
As Myanmar has been importing low quality consumer products and foodstuffs from Thailand and China for many years and the FDA has failed to inspect them, such products are still imported into Myanmar, Ko Thar Gyi, a labour activist for Myanmar workers in Thailand told the CNI.
He said, "Government employees, especially those from the FDA, are responsible for imported goods. They should not be corrupt. When expired or harmful products are imported into the country, they cannot conduct proper inspections. No one pays custom duties for all products they import from Thailand. Customs officers collect duties per truckload of goods. They never think about goods that are harmful for the public. The FDA also fails to inspect the products in markets."
Myanmar imports more low quality products from Thailand as the people think Chinese products are lower in quality than Thailand, according to importers.
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CNI News
23 Dec 2022
The joint statement issued by the summit of European Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders failed to support the National Unity Government as the legitimate representatives of the Myanmar people, according to a statement issued by the NUG.
The summit held on 14 December, 2022 called on the military to end violence immediately, to release all political prisoners and to provide humanitarian assistance to all without discrimination.
The NUG issued a statement on 19 December stating that the demands are not new and significant opportunities were missed.
Pro-democracy demonstrators. (GETTY IMAGES)
The NUG said EU-ASEAN leaders had failed to support the NUG as the legitimate representatives of the Myanmar people, as well as failing to condemn the junta's atrocities against civilians.
The NUG should mainly try to gain domestic support, Myanmar Political Observer Dr Hla Kyaw Zaw told the CNI.
Dr Hla Kyaw Zaw said, "It does not matter whether the international community supports the NUG or not. What is important for it is the continued support of the people. So, the NUG try to unite the people and gain the support of the people. I am not saying not to deal with the international community. It is necessary. It needs to understand the policies of powerful countries."
The NUG said in its statement that Myanmar is in chaos and it is ready to cooperate in the efforts of the EU and the ASEAN to resolve the crisis in Myanmar.
Pro-democracy demonstrators confront security forces. (GETTY IMAGES)
The NUG is elected by the people and will gradually gain the support of the international community, Ko Thar Gyi, a labour activist for Myanmar workers, told the CNI.
He said, "The NUG has announced to the world that it is the government elected by the people and countries will support it gradually. This is because it is not a government that seized power by force but a government took office based on its reasoning. It will become a government that deserves the support of the people."
Currently, the SAC and the NUG are competing diplomatically for international recognition.
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CNI News
23 Dec 2022
Most restaurants owned by Myanmar nationals in Mae Sot had to close due to complaints about failure to comply with the law, Myanmar nationals who live in Thailand told the CNI.
A large number of Myanmar restaurants popped up in various parts of Thailand including Mae Sot and Bangkok six months ago, Ko Thar Gyi, an activist for Myanmar workers in Thailand, told the CNI.
He said, "As there were so many Myanmar restaurants in Mae Sot that it looked like a town in Myanmar. Wherever you went in Mae Sot, there were Myanmar restaurants and cafes. Myanmar nationals thought they could open restaurants and hire workers as they had money, pink cards and passports while some police officers guaranteed permits for their businesses. In Thailand, private businesses can be established only in accordance with the law. As Myanmar nationals did not understand the details of the law, there were complaints about them and a large number of Myanmar restaurants were forced to close. Myanmar nationals in Thailand fail to study and abide by the rules and regulations of Thailand and did everything they wanted. They thought they could establish private businesses if they had places. Moreover, they sold beer and famous wines at their restaurants. They needed licenses to do so. As they did not understand the law, they sold beer and wines, which are not available at Thai restaurants."
He added that Myanmar restaurants sold foodstuffs at higher prices than the set ones, local residents were dissatisfied with them and made complaints about them to authorities.
A night market in Thailand.
He said, " Myanmar nationals in Thailand did not know that they could be arrested if they sold food items in their restaurants at higher prices than the set ones. So, Myanmar restaurants sold a can of soft drink, which is available at Baht 15 at 7 Eleven stores, at Baht 20 to 25. So, local residents could make a complaint about them officially to authorities, who would come to them to levy taxes and then check their identities. They checked whether the restaurant had paid taxes, where it bought its food items and it had income and expenditure accounts. The problem was very complicated.
In hiring workers, restaurants are required to employ workers at the posts they are hired for. However, some Myanmar restaurants failed to comply with the requirement and were subject to complaints and investigations.
Moreover, under existing laws in Thailand, employment visa holders in Thailand are not allowed to establish shops and restaurants, Consultant U Aung Kyaw of the Migrant Workers Right Network told the CNI.
He said, "Business visa holders can open shops without any interference by authorities. Those who open shops and restaurants by themselves are subject to arrests and legal actions at any time as they have violated the law. There are restrictions for employment visa holders. They are not allowed to set up businesses at all. So, some employment visa holders were arrested for doing business and deported.
Most Myanmar nationals who opened restaurants in Thailand registered their businesses under the name of Thai nationals but they have faced problems since October.
The activists have urged Myanmar nationals who want to open restaurants in Thailand to study relevant laws, rules and regulations.
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CNI News
23 Dec 2022
Most restaurants owned by Myanmar nationals in Mae Sot had to close due to complaints about failure to comply with the law, Myanmar nationals who live in Thailand told the CNI.
A large number of Myanmar restaurants popped up in various parts of Thailand including Mae Sot and Bangkok six months ago, Ko Thar Gyi, an activist for Myanmar workers in Thailand, told the CNI.
He said, "As there were so many Myanmar restaurants in Mae Sot that it looked like a town in Myanmar. Wherever you went in Mae Sot, there were Myanmar restaurants and cafes. Myanmar nationals thought they could open restaurants and hire workers as they had money, pink cards and passports while some police officers guaranteed permits for their businesses. In Thailand, private businesses can be established only in accordance with the law. As Myanmar nationals did not understand the details of the law, there were complaints about them and a large number of Myanmar restaurants were forced to close. Myanmar nationals in Thailand fail to study and abide by the rules and regulations of Thailand and did everything they wanted. They thought they could establish private businesses if they had places. Moreover, they sold beer and famous wines at their restaurants. They needed licenses to do so. As they did not understand the law, they sold beer and wines, which are not available at Thai restaurants."
He added that Myanmar restaurants sold foodstuffs at higher prices than the set ones, local residents were dissatisfied with them and made complaints about them to authorities.
A night market in Thailand.
He said, " Myanmar nationals in Thailand did not know that they could be arrested if they sold food items in their restaurants at higher prices than the set ones. So, Myanmar restaurants sold a can of soft drink, which is available at Baht 15 at 7 Eleven stores, at Baht 20 to 25. So, local residents could make a complaint about them officially to authorities, who would come to them to levy taxes and then check their identities. They checked whether the restaurant had paid taxes, where it bought its food items and it had income and expenditure accounts. The problem was very complicated.
In hiring workers, restaurants are required to employ workers at the posts they are hired for. However, some Myanmar restaurants failed to comply with the requirement and were subject to complaints and investigations.
Moreover, under existing laws in Thailand, employment visa holders in Thailand are not allowed to establish shops and restaurants, Consultant U Aung Kyaw of the Migrant Workers Right Network told the CNI.
He said, "Business visa holders can open shops without any interference by authorities. Those who open shops and restaurants by themselves are subject to arrests and legal actions at any time as they have violated the law. There are restrictions for employment visa holders. They are not allowed to set up businesses at all. So, some employment visa holders were arrested for doing business and deported.
Most Myanmar nationals who opened restaurants in Thailand registered their businesses under the name of Thai nationals but they have faced problems since October.
The activists have urged Myanmar nationals who want to open restaurants in Thailand to study relevant laws, rules and regulations.
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CNI News
23 Dec 2022
A new Sittwe port, which is a part of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project, will be opened soon.
The port is ready to handle international ships and necessary measures are being taken to serve domestic ships, Chairman U Tin Aung Oo of Rakhine State Chamber of Commerce and Industry told the CNI.
He said, "As far as we know, Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project has been completed and it is ready to provide services to ships. They are preparing documents required to provide services for international and domestic vessels."
When the new port is opened, 2,500 tons of quality rice harvested from Rakhine State will be exported from the port.
Paletwa port.
Merchants in Rakhine State said that the new port could be opened in January.
The project includes upgrading the Sittwe port, dredging the Kaladan River for international ships and construction of a highway from Paletwa in Chin State to Mizoram State in India.
Goods from India will be transported from Sittwe to Paletwa via waterway and products from Myanmar will also be exported to Mizoram State via Paletwa, according to merchants.
When the new port is opened, Myanmar merchants will be able to export goods to India and trade will be facilitated, Rakhine Merchant U Than Naing told the CNI.
People travelling along the Kaladan River.
He said, "The port mainly connects Sittwe and Calcutta in India. It will bring benefits for merchants in Rakhine and Myanmar. It takes at least a week to transport goods from Yangon to India. If we transport goods from Sittwe to India, it will take only one to two days. Goods will arrive in India quickly and can be distributed in the market. Trade is facilitated. We can also import products like construction materials. India is a powerful country politically and economically. We are looking forward to the opening of the port. Authorities often said that they would open the port soon but it has not happened so far. So, we don't know what to do.
Merchants and entrepreneurs are also discussing with Indian authorities to operate ships between the port and those in India weekly or monthly, according to the Rakhine State Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The MOU for the project was signed between the two countries in 2008 and implementation started in September 2010.
India invested US$ 484 million for the project.
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CNI News
23 Dec 2022
The National Unity Government and the State Administration Council have exchanged accusations over a bomb explosion on Yangon-Dala ferry Cherry (2) in Yangon Region.
A bomb went off on the ferry which left Pansodan Jetty for Dala Jetty in the evening of 18th December, 2022, injuring 17 civilians.
The SAC announced on 19th December that the bomb was laid on the ferry by local People's Defence Forces while the NUG said on 20th December that it had nothing to do with the terrorist act.
Laying bombs at Public places intends to instill fears among the people and control them, Director U Thein Tun Oo of the Strategic Studies told the CNI.
Statement issued by the SAC on the explosion and civilians injured in the explosion.
He said, "It can be assumed that it is a violent act committed by terrorists out of terrorism because there were ordinary civilians, who were returning home after work, on the ferry. In theory, terrorists target a public place for bombing when they want to instill fears among the public and control them."
Based on past experience, she did not think the PDF was responsible for the bomb explosion, Political Observer Dr Hla Kyaw Zaw told the CNI.
She said, "I don't think the PDFs were responsible for the bomb explosion. We have seen such incidents since the term of the BSPP. During the anti-Chinese riots in Myanmar, an agent from the MRS stabbed a Chinese technician. So, we cannot say that the junta did not do it. They did whatever they wanted in successive eras including the terms of the SLORC and the SPDC."
Statement issued by the NUG on the explosion on a Yangon-Dala ferry and civilians injured in the explosion.
All armed organizations should abide by military code of conduct in their operations, Vice Chairperson Daw Saw Mya Yazar Lin of the Arakan Liberation Army told the CNI.
She said, "Like all other armed organizations, we abide by the Geneva Convention. We are working for the people. We are launching armed struggles for the people. So, we need to avoid activities that harm the interests of the people as much as possible."
The grassroots, especially those who come to work in Yangon from Dala, mainly take Yangon-Dala ferries.
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CNI News
20 Dec 2022
When Myawady-Mae Sot No (1) Friendship Bridge is reopened, it will be beneficial for returning Myanmar workers as well as job seekers who want to work in Thailand, labour activists told the CNI.
As Myanmar workers in Thailand had to return from Thailand via illegal routes and spent a lot of money, risking arrests, taking measures to reopen the bridge will be beneficial for them, the activists said.
Ko Thar Gyi, a labour activist for Myanmar workers in Thailand, told the CNI, "When the bridge is reopened, there will be about 2 million Myanmar migrant workers who have not been able to return home due to COVID-19 for many years. They want to return home. If the bridge is reopened, people from both sides of the border can visit each other's country by applying for border passes, which will enable Myanmar workers to go to Mae Sot officially and look for jobs."
No (1) Friendship Bridge at Thailand-Myanmar border.
However, Ko Thar Gyi added that it is important for those who cross the bridge to be cautious about their security as the area was frequently hit by explosions recently.
When the bridge is reopened and border passes are issued, the number of illegal Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand is likely to increase, the labour activists warned.
The number of illegal migrants is likely to increase significantly because they can only be deported to Myanmar even if arrested, the activists added.
Reopening the bridge can decrease human trafficking cases but sneaking into Thailand may not be stopped, Advisor U Aung Kyaw of the Migrant Workers Rights Network told the CNI.
Myawady-Mae Sot border gate.
He told the CNI, "Myanmar workers have already known that they can officially work in Thailand under the MOU between the two countries but they are still sneaking into Thailand. Therefore, the number of illegal migrants cannot decrease when the bridge is reopened. This is because it takes a long time to go to work in Thailand under the MOU. The process involves interviews and submission of documents to Nay Pyi Taw to seek approvals. No one wants to wait that long. Many workers think that if they sneak into Thailand with the help of agents, it takes only one or two days.
The bridge has been closed for almost three years although there were unconfirmed reports that it would be reopened soon.
As the bridge is important for transportation of people and goods between the two countries, activists want authorities to reopen the bridge.
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CNI News
20 Dec 2022
The people play an important role in the peace process of Myanmar, Chairman Dr Aye Maung of the Arakan Front Party told the CNI.
He added that every government must listen to the voice of the people because the will of the people is very important.
Dr Aye Maung told the CNI, "The will of the people is very important. Every government has to listen to the public voice. Governments administer the country on behalf of the people to provide them with good governance mechanisms. Every government wants to leave a good legacy. The will of the public is important. We, politicians have to think about what kind of government they want, if they are ready to create a certain environment, whether we can build an environment in which peace, human rights and nation unity can be enjoyed by the people and if we should regret that we cannot resolve the issues even after the public has sacrificed their lives for 75 years."
A demonstration calling for peace. (GETTY IMAGES)
Therefore, the public, the government, armed groups and national races must choose the best path to build a country without bloodshed, he said.
Will the peace process move forward only when all stakeholders can participate in the process, Comrade Aye Lwin, spokesperson of the All Burma Student Democratic Force told the CNI.
He said, "I have already talked about the peace process. All stakeholders must be able to participate in the process. Can the peace process move forward only when all stakeholders can participate in it."
The federal democracy union must be built through negotiations step by step, Spokesperson Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt of the Peace Process Steering Team told the CNI.
Troops of Burmese People Liberation Army (BPLA)
He said, "For the peace process we want to implement and the federal democracy union we want to build, all democratic forces must participate in democracy and all ethnic stakeholders including ethnic political parties and all ethnic armed groups must participate in federalism. Negotiations participated by all stakeholders can lead to union peace and the federal democracy union, which we will build step by step."
SAC Chairman Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing designated the year 2022 as the peace year and held talks with some ethnic armed groups.
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CNI News
20 Dec 2022
As new onions are harvested, the prices of onions, which stood MMK 3,000 per viss recently, have dropped significantly and farmers may suffer losses if the prices continue to fall, farmers told the CNI.
Currently, onion prices dropped to MMK 1,500 or 1,600 per viss but the prices are likely to fall below MMK 1,000 per viss.
If the prices continue to fall below MMK 1,000 per viss, farmers are likely to suffer losses, U Khin Maung Htay, an onion farmer from Magway Region, told the CNI.
He said, "Onion prices have dropped. Farmers who are about to harvest the crop are complaining about the falling prices, which stand between MMK 1,500 and 1,600 per viss. If they do not sell the crop now, weights of onions will fall. And onions harvested in this season cannot be stored for a long time and weights will drop. As prices are likely to fall below MMK 1,000, farmers are likely to suffer losses. They had to buy one bag of triple superphosphate fertilizer at MMK 160,000 or 170,000. At the current onion prices, it is profitable for them. If the prices continue to fall below MMK 1,000 per viss, they will suffer losses. As the onions were grown from bulbs, farmers did not have to invest as much as growing from seedlings."
Onions in the market. (GETTY IMAGES)
Onion prices have fallen because Thailand has suspended importing onions from Myanmar and Vietnam does not import onions harvested in this season.
Moreover, onions are being harvested in various parts of the country, according to merchants.
Farmers are worried that onion prices continue to fall below MMK 1,000.
As some farmers are harvesting onions earlier than normal, the prices are likely to fall further, they have been urged not to do so, U Hla Thaung of Pakokku Merchants and Brokers Association told the CNI.
Onion farmers. (GETTY IMAGES)
He said, "The prices of old onions reached MMK 3,000 to 4,000 per viss and farmers grew more onions, which will be harvested later. Some onions have not been harvested. We are worried that farmers will harvest their crop earlier than normal. If they do so, the prices will fall further. Brokerage houses have told them that the prices will not drop below MMK 1,000 per viss."
Current onion prices are beneficial for farmers, merchants and consumers, according to merchants.
Most onions in the market recently are those harvested from Seikphyu, Ma Hlaing, Taungtha, Myingyan and Myittha and there are more onions to be harvested.