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CNI News
16 Dec 2022
With the expiry of the term of the State Administration Council after January, 2023, political analysts are making speculations about the post-SAC political landscape.
State power must be transferred to the National Defence and Security Council led by U Myint Swe in accordance with the constitution, Chairman Dr. Aye Maung of the Arakan Front Party told the CNI.
Dr. Aye Maung told the CNI, "The NDSC transferred state power to the SAC or the commander-in-chief of defence services. So, the SAC declared a state of emergency and assumed office for one year and extended it for two six-month terms. Under the constitution, the term of the state of emergency will expire soon. The NDSC led by President U Myint Swe will have to restore state power in accordance with the constitution and hold a new general election within six months. The president has the legislative power. I think the NDSC has been prepared systematically to take charge of the administrative mechanism in accordance with the constitution."
Pro-democracy protests. (GETTY IMAGES)
U Myint Swe will have to transfer state power to the government that will emerge from the upcoming elections, he added.
Under the current insecure circumstances, violence has engulfed the entire country and such issues cannot be resolved by an ordinary election, Chairman U Ko Ko Gyi of the People's Party told the CNI.
He said, "Normally, state power must be transferred to the NDSC on 1st February under the provisions of the constitution. The NDSC must hold an election within six month. However, insecurity, conflicts and tensions will persist. There are weapons and bombs spread across the country. There are threats and violence from both sides. Under such circumstances, an ordinary election cannot resolve the issues. Although it is true that elections are important in democracies in time of peace and stability, election results sometimes do not reflect the political outcomes. Elections are not a panacea. I have repeatedly said that political agreements among important leaders are essential. I think the elections will create more challenges rather than resolving the current issues."
Armed groups launching armed struggles to topple the military. (GETTY IMAGES)
He added that it is important for individuals and political parties that believe in non-violent politics to create good political hopes for the people.
As the military seized power on 1st February, 2021 and declared a state of emergency and extended it for two six-month periods, the state of emergency is expiring soon.
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CNI News
15 Dec 2022
Myanmar nationals, who are trying to sneak into Malaysia from the Thai-Malay border, have been urged to be more cautious as security has been tightened at the border by the two countries, labour activists in Malaysia told the CNI.
Security has been tightened at the border after a bomb went off at the Thai side of the border, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs of Malaysia.
U Babu Gyi, who has been helping Myanmar workers in Malaysia, told the CNI, "Security has been tightened at the border after the bomb explosion. More checkpoints will be set up. Police and military patrols will be increased. So, it will be more difficult for illegal migrant to sneak into Malaysia. I don't think illegal migrants should not come to Malaysia at the moment."
Illegal migrants detained at the Malaysian border.
Currently, Malaysian authorities are making more arrests of illegal migrants, most of whom are from Myanmar. Authorities in Thailand and Malaysia are detaining illegal migrants from Myanmar on a daily basis.
Authorities in both countries have tightened security for border crossing under the pretense of the explosion at the border in Thailand to prevent illegal migrants from sneaking into their countries, General Secretary U Chit Kaung of the Assistance Association for Myanmar Migrant Workers told the CNI.
He told the CNI, "Authorities in the two countries want to control the cross border travelling including of illegal migrants. We do not encourage Myanmar citizens to illegally come to Malaysia because there are many laws for illegal migration in Malaysia. They are taking action in accordance with the law. And we still haven't known the policies of the new government."
Although activists have urged Myanmar nationals not to come to Malaysia illegally, a large number of Myanmar workers sneak into Malaysia due to the economic crisis and high rates of unemployment in Myanmar.
A scene at the border of Thailand and Malaysia in 2020. (AFP)
U Babu Gyi told the CNI that he urged Myanmar workers who intend to illegally enter Malaysia to contact trustworthy agents because of the tightened security at the border.
He said, "There are many agents working at the Thai-Malaysia border. There are many illegal Myanmar migrants who could successfully sneaked into Malaysia. So, they should contact trustworthy agents because there are many agents who are irresponsible. In the past, I told Myanmar workers not to sneak into Malaysia but I cannot tell them so under the current circumstances in Myanmar. They have to spend large sums of money to sneak into Malaysia. I just want to tell them to contact trustworthy agents."
Recently, Malaysian authorities have approved more than 370,000 applications of foreign workers and there are more than 1.4 million foreign workers including 500,000 workers in the manufacturing sector, over 300,000 workers in the construction sector, about 100,000 workers in the services sector and about 100,000 workers in the agriculture sector, according to the statistics of the Home Affairs Ministry of Malaysia.
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CNI News
15 Dec 2022
The call to defeat the military in the current armed conflict will not resolve the crisis in Myanmar, Chairman U Shwe Min of the Lisu National Development Party (Crossbow Party) told the CNI.
He urged all stakeholders to resolve the current political crisis through dialogue.
He told the CNI, "For the future of the country, I would like to urge all to pave the way for dialogue as much as possible. Only then, will it be beneficial for our citizens and the country. The concepts like defeating the military and making no bargain for blood indebtedness will not resolve the crisis. So, I would like to call on every stakeholder to resolve the crisis through dialogue in the interests of the people magnanimously."
A group of young men shouting slogans not to make a bargain for blood indebtedness in Kachin State in May 2021. (CJ)
Resistance forces in Myanmar have called for the utter defeat of the military and making no bargain for blood indebtedness and fought against it since the latter ousted the government of the National League for Democracy on 1st February, 2021.
Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI that the military had been indebted in blood repeatedly and there would be no dialogue for blood indebtedness.
He told the CNI, "As the junta has been indebted in blood by killing the people repeatedly, we cannot make no bargain with it. Younger generations have committed to defeating the junta utterly. No elderly people can prevent them from doing so. Opportunists are denouncing the concept of making no bargain for blood indebtedness to seek their own interests under the junta."
Members of People's Defence Forces.
Currently, fighting has broken out between the military and joint forces of ethnic armed organizations and people's defence forces (PDFs) in Sagaing and Magway regions and Karen, Kayah (Karenni) and Chin states.
The armed clashed have displaced more than 1.4 million people in Myanmar, according to statistics of the UNOCHA Myanmar.
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CNI News
15 Dec 2022
Despite changing governments and ages, the Myanmar military will always be the guardian of the country, SAC Chairman Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing said.
He made the remarks during a meeting with officers, other ranks and families of Myitkyina Station of the Northern Command at the Bala Min Htin Hall on 13th December.
He said that a caretaker government took office in 1958 due to political issues, armed conflicts and differences in the ruling party and the revolutionary council and the Burma Socialist Programme Party took office from 1962 to 1988, when the 1988 Uprising erupted.
As the situation deteriorated during the uprising and the country almost lost sovereignty, functions of the government came to a halt. As a result, the military had to assume State power in September, 1988, he added.
Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing meets officers, other ranks and families in Myitkyina on 13th December, 2022.
Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing said, "The Tatmadaw has been safeguarding 'Our three main national causes' together with the people in successive eras. The Tatmadaw will always be the guardian of the country under any government and in any age."
He continued, "It can be seen that there were voting irregularities because the ruling party employed dishonest means to win the 2020 multi-party general election. Although the Tatmadaw called for resolution of voters' list issues, the party convened the parliament and the Tatmadaw had to assume State power in accordance with the constitution.
It is true that the miliatry will have to defend the country at any times when the country is under the threats of foreign invasions and terrorist attacks but it doesn't have to engage in politics, a political observer told the CNI.
However, Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing said the Tatmadaw is consolidating the multi-party democracy path the country has taken and will not allow the country to deviate from the path. He added that the stability of the country is being restored in accordance with the law.
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CNI News
15 Dec 2022
No difference will be made by participating in international tourism fairs due to blackouts and security issues at home, Chairman U Zaw Weik of the Myanmar Hoteliers Association (Bagan Zone) told the CNI.
He told the CNI, "The government can guarantee nothing for us. As the government cannot guarantee security and electricity, nothing will improve even if we promote tourism in other countries. Tourists who do not know the actual situation on the ground will visit Myanmar. We have beaches, forests and cultural heritage. Tourists are likely to visit such places because they are beautiful. However, there are electricity shortages. And who will guarantee the security of tourists? No one will. Even mini-projects with Russia will not be implemented immediately."
Foreign tourists.
Some tour companies in Myanmar are preparing to take part in international tourism fairs in 2023, according to the Myanmar Tour Entrepreneurs Association.
The association had taken part in international tourism fairs before the outbreak of COVID-19 and it aims to attract foreign tourists by participating in the fairs, Chairman U Naung Naung Han of the Myanmar Tour Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.
He told CNI, "Tourists tend to visit Myanmar under packages of tour companies. However, most western countries have refused to sell Myanmar packages because of tensions and travel restrictions issued by the US. If we can respond to their questions in person to their satisfaction, they might arrange package tours to our country in 2023. So, we tried to meet with tour operators and companies in other countries.
A member of the security forces in Yangon.
Six Myanmar tour companies are planning to take part in a tourism fair in February, 2023, according to the association.
Other six companies and one airline are also planning to participate in a tourism fair in Russia in March and to sell package tours.
However, the association does not expect a significant increase in tourist arrivals, which are likely to rise gradually, the association said.
Currently, as hoteliers have to use generators due to blackouts and the number of guests is low, they are suffering losses.
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CNI News
15 Dec 2022
The National Solidarity and Peace-making Negotiation Committee said it was not ready to hold talks with the seven EAOs, which earlier proposed negotiations, Spokesperson Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt of the informal negotiation team told the CNI.
The Peace Process Steering Team of the seven EAOs proposed informal talks with the NSPNC in Chiang Mai in Thailand on 12th December, 2022.
Chairman Lt-Gen Yar Pyae meets RCSS Chairman Gen Yawd Serk.
He told the CNI, "We sent a letter to the NSPNC led by Lt-Gen Yar Pyae on 7th December and proposed talks with the committee. On 8th December, the committee responded to the proposal on 8th December, saying that it was not ready to hold talks with our negotiation team. We proposed dates and venues to hold the first, second and third rounds of talks. However, the committee said that it was not ready for the negotiations.
The seven EAOs which proposed talks with the committee included the Restoration Council of Shan State, the Arakan Liberation Party, the New Mon State Party, the Lahu Democratic Union, the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army - Peace Council, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army and the Pa-O National Liberation Organization.
Chairman Lt-Gen Yar Pyae meets KNU/KNLA-PC leaders.
The seven EAOs proposed informal talks with the aim of resolving the crisis faced by the people for two years, the spokesperson added.
He said, "The seven EAOs held talks with the military separately in the past. Now, we want to hold talks with it as a team to overcome the political crisis or to ease tensions. We want to create an environment for overcoming the crisis through negotiations. So, we proposed joint talks."
The seven EAOs are signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement.
SAC Chairman Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing separately held talks with leaders from the seven EAOs recently. Similarly, the peace negotiation team led by Lt-Gen Yar Pyae held talks with them separately.
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CNI News
15 Dec 2022
Reopening Jiegao-Ruili border gate including the customs checkpoints and the bridge, which were closed for 2 years due to COVID-19 has raised hopes for reopening of Muse-Jiegao (Manwain) border gate, according to border trade merchants.
As Jiegao-Ruili border gate was reopened on 10th December, it is expected that Manwain border will be reopened during the Chinese New Year, Vice Chairman U Min Thein of Muse Rice Exchange told the CNI.
Trucks transporting goods from Myanmar to China. (STR)
He said, "Jiegao-Ruili border in China including the customs checkpoint and the bridge, which were closed for two years, has been reopened. Since 10th December, people have been allowed to go to and from Ruili and Jiegao. COVID-19 restrictions have been eased. Jiegao and Muse are divided only by a fence. The border gate between Muse and Jiegao is known as Manwain border gate, which can handle about 600 trucks a day. However, the gate has been closed for two years. If the gate is reopened, border trade will accelerate. It is expected that the gate will be reopened soon because Chinese authorities are lifting COVID restrictions. The Chinese New Year festival concludes on 20 January. After the festival, authorities are likely to reopen Muse-Jiegao gate. Border trade will accelerate then."
Due to outbreak of COVID-19 in Muse and China, Chinese authorities have closed the gate since early April in 2021.
Trucks from Myanmar stranded in China. (STR)
When Manwain border gate is reopened, they will earn more money, Ko San Win, a truck driver in Muse, told the CNI.
He said, "Reopening the gate is good not only for us but also for the entire country. Businesses will recover. We can get as much as MMK 2 million a day when the gate is reopened."
There are six border gates between Myanmar and China in Shan State but Kyinsankyawk and Chinshwehaw gates are open at present. Manwain, Sin Phyu, Nandaw and Panhseng (Kyukoke) gates are still closed.
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CNI News
13 Dec 2022
Frequent blackouts in the entire country including Yangon Region sometimes last four to five hours in some places and hamper small and medium enterprises which have to rely on electricity.
As generators have to be used when electricity is cut off, production costs have increased for fuel and operations have been delayed, Ko Hla Khaing, the owner of a steel-door workshop in Tamwe Township in Yangon Region, told the CNI.
He said, "When electricity is cut off, we have to use generators. If electricity is supplied regularly, we just need to pay the bill. It costs relaltive low to use electricity supplied by authorities. When we have to use generators, we have to buy fuel oil. Some workshops that do not have generators have to buy ones. If they cannot afford generators, they will have to wait until electricity comes back. So, their operations are delayed and labour costs are higher. As we cannot buy big generators, we had to buy small ones. So, only one worker can use it and we missed deadlines. We have to apologize to our customers. If electricity is supplied regularly, all workers can do their work."
A candle is lit during a blackout.
Small and medium enterprises suffered losses during the outbreak of COVID-19 and have just resumed their operations when long blackouts hamper them, according to entrepreneurs.
He had to raise prices when his generator is used for photocopying, a photocopying shop owner told the CNI.
He said, "We cannot serve our customers when electricity is cut off. So, we have to use generators. We charge them higher prices when we have to use generators."
Electricity is being rationed in townships in Yangon Region. Electricity is cut off for three to four hours a day in Yangon Region but blackouts last as many as eight hours a day in some townships.
Myanmar has faced electricity shortages due to low electricity output from Hydropower dams, maintenance of gas-fired power stations and saving water in dams for power generation in the upcoming summer.
As a result, electricity is being rationed in the entire country, according to a statement of Yangon Electricity Supply Board.
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CNI News
13 Dec 2022
Fighting between the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta'ang National Liberation Army and the Myanmar military in Namhsan in Palaung Self-administered Zone in Shan State (North) has displaced more than 2,000 residents, member D D Poe Kyein of the Ta'ang Political Consultative Committee told the CNI.
The clashes erupted from 7th December to the evening of 11th December and residents were forced to flee to Namhsan, he added.
D D Poe Kyein said, "More than 2,000 residents have been displaced. People from Manlone, Konetha and surrounding villages fled to Namshan."
During the clashes, the Myanmar military launched airstrikes while military battalions in Namhsan and Manton fired heavy weapons.
Residents displaced by fighting between the TNLA and the military.
Local residents have difficulties as they are harvesting tea and drying them, a volunteer who has been helping the displaced told the CNI.
He said, "Local people will face difficulties because it is time for them to harvest tea and paddy. They had to flee from their villages by leaving everything they had. We call for both parties to resolve issues through dialogue without bearing any grudges against each other because it is local residents who suffer when clashes break out."
Ta'aung civil society and social assistance organizations are offering help to the displaced.
D D Poe Kyein told the CNI, "Our local residents are in trouble. It is winter and it is very cold. We are worried about the elderly and children. They should be staying indoors in warm clothes but they are fleeing from clashes. Moreover, schools have just reopened after a hiatus of two year due to COVID-19 and the political crisis. Children cannot go school because of the battles. The local economy has been damaged and local residents are wondering what they can do for their living. The displaced are in serious trouble."
The TNLA is a Ta'aung armed organization that is negotiating for a bilateral ceasefire agreement with the military.