CNI News

16 August 2023

Myanmar citizens have increasingly bought and rented condos in Bangkok more than last year, said Bangkok condo operators to CNI News. 

If there were condo  sales fairs, condos were sold more and if there were no condo sales fairs, condos are regularly sold, said a Bangkok condo seller to CNI News. 

" In comparison with the last year, buying and renting condos have increased this year. We didn't have to sell many condos during a month last year. But this year, we could sell about five condo apartments a month if there's not any condo sales fairs. If there are condo sales fairs, we can sell about 15 condo apartments. Prices are from about 2,500 lakhs to 8,000 lakhs.   This year, buying condos has increased a lot starting from June. Bangkok condos probably are sold a lot is because the value of Myanmar kyat is falling." he said.

If the value of Myanmar kyat fall any more, there will be more investment in buying condos, said Bangkok condo sellers.

Those who come and study condo showrooms

At present, some companies has increased buying condos and others don't buy many condos. 

The companies that don't buy many condos have turned to renting condos reportedly. 

Among the condo renters, there are more Myanmar and Chinese nationals, said an official from Bangkok-Myanmar Property and Life Style, to CNI News.

" I have turned to renting condos recently. I don't rarely sell because the money transfer fee has risen. You can't rent monthly. But you can rent at least 6 months or one year. Myanmar nationals bought many condos earlier because their children would study here. Now they are renting condos. There are different rents from 8,000 bahts to 35,000-40,000-60,000-100,000 bahts. About three people regularly come and rent condos a month. Nobody has rented a house as yet." she said.

The condo apartment that is paid eight thousand baht is as spacious as a room. 

Because most of Myanmar nationals come and stay with their families, they tend to rent condos that is paid at least 15,000 bahts and above reportedly. Myanmar nationals bought 188 apartments in Chinmai alone in Thailand in 2022 and in terms of value, it was 1.34 billion bahts mentioned in the Thai Enquirer.

CNI News

16 August 2023

There was no reason to invalidate the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), said Col. Khun Okka, patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization, to CNI News. 

There are organizations that do not follow the points in the NCA.

But liaison offices that were established in accordance with the NCA are still operating, said Col. Khun Okka.

" Because someone has told that the NCA has been void, it can't be void. The speech that NCA had been void was intended to respond to what the chairman of the SAC had said that there are organizations that do not follow the NCA. It's like a debate. In practice, there is no reason to be void because liaison offices in Pha-an and Myawady would be closed if the NCA was void. But now liaison offices are open and working." he said.

Leaders of the PNLO, RCSS, KNU and KNU/KNLA Peace Council who signed the NCA on 15th October 2015

Pado Sawtw Do Hmu said that the NCA had been void at the 100th day press conference held on the 10th of August after the Karen National Union (KNU)'s 17th congress. 

The NCA was signed by KNU, PNLO, the Restoration Council f Shan State (RCSS), the Chin National Front (CNF), the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), KNU/KNLA Peace Council, the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU).

KNU, RCSS, CNF, ABSDF and NMSP resigned from the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) which is made up of 10 NCA signatories and reduced their cooperation levels after the Tatmadaw took power on the first of February, 2021. According to the NCA, humanitarian aids were being provided, but there was no more of ability to perform the political sector, said Col. Khun Okka.

An NCA signing ceremony was being held on 15th October, 2015

"There are 7 chapters in the NCA, including the introduction. And it has 33 provisions. Like what KNU leader said, some organizations violated basic principles. The Tatmadaw violated some principles and so did some NCA signatories. There are also some provisions that we can engage. For example, there are provisions that we protect the civilians and that we must collaborate with international organizations to provide humanitarian aids. If we follow the NCA, we can work with these provisions. Among the 10 NCA signatories, three organizations are fighting against the Tatmadaw. The rest seven organizations have kept the ceasefire accordance with the NCA and are carrying out to provide humanitarian aids to the people in our territories and are collaborating with international organizations. We find it difficult a little to perform the political sector. But that the NCA has been void is not possible."he said.

At present, battles are breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the three NCA signatories _ KNU, CNF and ABSDF.

CNI News

15 August 2023

The Internet fiber cable lines installed in cities and towns are frequently interrupted, mobile internet data charges are higher than before, and internet users are facing with internet line slowdowns.

Due to the internet fiber cable lines are disconnected and internet lines are slow, there are inconveniences in doing business and when he sent the notifications to relevant service industry, he received no answer and encountered that mobile phones were turned off, said Ko Thaik, a company staff who lives in Kamaryut Township to CNI News.

An internet user who looks for a place that internet can be used (GETTY IMAGES)

" We have installed MBT. When its service broke down for two or three days, they told us it's because the main cable was broken in Myawady. They hardly recompense for the days that the service failed. When we phoned them, they hardly answered the phone. I send e-mails to my boss. When to send the e-mails, it's not convenient when the Wi-Fi was not available. We have to pay them 25,000 kyats a month. I think there should be an equivalent service worth 25,000 kyats." he said.

When internet wifi was not working, service providers didn't repair real time, because mobile data had to be used, more cost him and it was annoying, said Ko Chit Min Tun, a private business person to CNI News.

A person who is using internet

I have installed Myanmar Net at my home. If it's broken once, it tends to take about five days. During the days Myanmar Net was broken, I had to use my mobile data. It cost me more than I use Myanmar Net for a month because I work until midnight online. And I have installed MBT and True Net at my office. True Net is rarely broken. MBT is broken 10 times a month. I'm disappointed because it's broken very often. Businesses are delayed." he said.

So, internet service providers need to take responsibility and accountability and because there is no good service, businesses are hurt, he added.

" I want then to provide good service. As people accepted designated price, they installed. Service providers should carry out to be the best service.  Responsibility and accountability are weak here in Myanmar. They never reduced the monthly charge for the days the service failed. So, it's not convenient to use internet in Myanmar." he said.

There are fibre lines and Wi-Fis _ Myanmar Net, 5 BB, Hi Internet, welink, Unilink, Yangon Net, Mahar Net and True Net and so on in Myanmar. 

Moreover, Mytel, Ooredo, Telenor and MPT wi-fis are being used. Internet is used in performing businesses, ordering food and medicine, online shopping and trading activities. Students also are learning online.

CNI News

15 August 2023

Myanmar Airways International (MAI) is set to launch the first direct flight from Mandalay Tadar Oo Airport and Yangon Airport to Novosibirsk of Russia on the 5th of September 2023. 

Although the launch of the direct flight between Myanmar and Russia was good, an airline would be able to exist long-term only if the set number of passengers was full, said U That Lwin Toe,a tourism entrepreneur to CNI News.

" Now Russian airlines are hurt a lot in business when, in any case, the Myanmar side takes risk by flying. The Russian side also is trying to fly, but it's not successful yet. Just negotiation is under way. As an airline from the Myanmar side launches the direct flight, we'll have to watch how long the airline will sustain the direct flight. Third countries also are important. Myanmar alone cannot be relied upon. It will be okay only when 70 percent of the seats are taken. We welcome the MAI's expansion of the Russian tour. But it needs to prepare a lot in order to be sustainable for long. It's not predictable because both countries have their own difficulties", he said

Foreign tourists

Because Russia is among the countries that Myanmar has given Visa Free, direct flight between the two countries can make Myanmar tourism improve, said some people. 
The airline will fly from Myanmar to Russia every Tuesday and Saturday and the ticket fare is 409 US dollars. Myanmar-Russia direct flight will be connected with the famous domestic trips - Ngapali, Heho, Bagan, Nyaung U reportedly.

Russian tourists from that direct flight can go to Suwunna Bumi and Donmuang airports in Thailand, Singapore, Hanoi in Vietnam, Phnom Peng in Cambodia and Kolkata in India reportedly.

Foreign tourists

" Because it's the rainy season. Some hotels have been closed and they re-open only when the open season starts. All the hotels will be get ready in the open season. And they are to arrange a FAM-trip (familiarization trip) with Russian tourism organizations." said U Tin Tun Aung, Shan State Hotel and Tourism Directorate.

Moreover, in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic, the rate of going to Russia from Myanmar was about 400 people and that of coming to Myanmar from Russia was about 4,000 people. 

However, due to economy and other reasons, it is questionable if Russian tourists will be able to come on which tourism entrepreneurs comment.

CNI News

August 14, 2023

The All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) accepted the announcement of the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) and the National Unity Government that a multi-ethnic federal army would be built, said Yebaw Aye Lwin, spokesperson of ABSDF to CNI News.

If a federal union was built in the future, an army that is consistent with the union would be built, he said.

" If we build a democratic federal union, there must be the federal army that is consistent with the union that we have accepted. We'll have to consider how the defense sector will be re-built. When we consider, PDFs and EAOs must be included in the federal army. In short, we need to carry out carefully when we re-build one of the most important sectors." he said.

A meeting of NUG and NUCC

The multi-ethnic federal army that will unconditionally abide by the civilian government's management and that bears only the duty of defense against foreign enemies in the future democratic federal union will be built, said in a statement released by the the NUCC and the NUG on the 6th August of 2023. 

Having built a federal union army, the movement that will topple down the current State Administration Council will come in the near future, said U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar politic analyst to CNI News.

ABSDF Force

" An army is essential to a country. That army needs to obey to the federal union government. So, when it's very drawing near to build the federal union, they prepare to build the federal army, I think. Now NUG has over 300 battalions and 250 regional security groups. And various EAOs have collaborated with NUG. Having built a federal union army after gathering all these forces, the movement that will terminate the military council will come soon." he said.

Because there are armed organizations by the hundred, which arose from the political landscape after February 2021 before which various EAOs had already existed, it might be difficult to form the federal union army, said the people from the political community. Currently, battles are breaking out between the Tatmadaw and some EAOs/PDF joint forces in Kayin, Kayah, Chin States, Magway and Sagaing Regions.

CNI News

14 August 2023

Migrant workers including Myanmar workers who have registered in the name list at the end of July in Thailand are allowed to stay until the end of September, those who are helping migrant workers said to CNI News. 

But currently, because brokers are saying that migrant workers are allowed to register in the name list any more, migrant workers should not believe that, said Ko Thar Gyi helping Myanmar migrant workers to CNI News.

" At present the news is out that people who have not registered in the name list can register. It is what brokers lie. Those who have not registered in the name list are not allowed. 

Those who have registered only are allowed to stay until September.Before that, if the government changes something, work permits will be issued any more. When Thailand is not ready to form a new government,migrant workers have been allowed to stay in Thailand until September with the name list, I think. The period for submitting evidence has been closed. Some migrant workers who left behind without registering in the name list might be able to register, paying a lot of money through Thai brokers or agents who get on well with Thai companies and Thai ministry of labor That migrant workers who have registered in the name list are allowed until September, it's kind of issuing work permits during that period. For example, will work permits be issued as smart cards? Will the cards called the pink cards be issued? It's not sure. So, Thai authorities put off the time until a new government has been formed, I think." he said. 

Thai security force

There were inspections and arrests since before the period of nomination and they still exist after the period of nomination reportedly.

Migrant workers with MoU expired are not included in those who are allowed to stay until September reportedly. 

Relevant officials have stated they would perform to enable Myanmar migrant workers with a full four year term of MoU to re-enter Thailand under the U-turn program conducted before the Covid-19 pandemic, said U Min Oo, workers in charge from FED to CNI News. 

" After the meeting between Thailand and Myanmar.The Myanmar side also released the news. Thailand also released the news. There are two groups - a 4 year group and 6 year group. Workers from the 6 year group must return. 4 year workers are called U-turn. They had to go to the border especially Maesot-Myawady in the past and renew the MoU with agencies and re-enter Thailand and their employers recalled. This is called a U-turn. But time and money are not convenient to do such a thing.It took time. If you do such a thing, your work also can be damaged. So, most migrant workers will register in the list of new workers. New worker list applies to MoU workers, non-MoU workers and any kind of worker. In any case, they will do this, I think." he said.

Some Myanmar migrant workers are overstaying without going back to Myanmar although their passports had one year term left, that Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok released a statement a few days ago. 

So, Myanmar migrant workers could apply for new passports from 31st July on after paying the designated fine and the fine such as one for passport loss or damage was 3,650 bahts, said in the statement.

CNI News

14 August 2023

Commodity price cannot be controlled by selling rice and oil in the public square, said U Thet Zaw, an economic analysts to CNI News.

Myanmar Rice Federation is selling 5 pyis of rice (one pyi is equal to about 4.375 lb) on an unlimited basis and 1,000 viss of edible oil from which one viss (3.6lb) for a person each day reportedly. 

It is daily selling a person one pyi of Aemahta at 2,500 kyats, Ayeyarwady Pawsan at 4,000 kyats and one viss of edible oil at 4,400 kyats if a buyer have a container and at 5,500 kyats for a buyer without a container reportedly. 

Edible oil is being sold at a lower price

Residents from other townships that is far away from the public square would find it difficult to cmoe and buy the rice and edible oil, said U Thet Zaw, an economic analyst to CNI News.    

" How a Hlaing Thar Yar resident can come and buy the rice and edible oil? Why are the shops in the quarters selling goods at higher prices? Authorities must investigate why. So that commodity prices will fall. How a person in South Dagon or North Dagon will come for 4 or 5 pyis of rice" he said.

Going to the townships in which most of grassroots and factory workers and selling rice at about three places per township at lower rate could fall commodity prices, said U Thein Aung, chairman of the Farmers Development Association to CNI News.

Edible oil is being sold

" It's not easy to come to the public square. For example, if you go and sell the rice to Hlaing Thar Yar by about three cars, commodity price will fall in Yangon." he said.

Although the Myanmar Rice Federation sold 50,000 bags of reserve rice (a bag of rice is equal to 105 lb) to the people in July to stabilize the commodity price, rice prices did not fall and has gone up any more.

In the next 2 months, new rainfed rice will appear abundantly. So, high rice prices can be controlled by selling the State reserve rice sufficiently now and other prices may fall, said traders and farmers.

CNI News

14 August 2023

Parties that have not got registered have not been able to campaign yet, said political parties. 

The Union Election Commission (UEC) had forbidden the right to meet with their party members and If a multi-party democratic system was practiced, UEC would have to support to make the political parties strong, said U Ko Ko Gyi, chairman of the People's Party (PP) to CNI News.

" If we are going to practice a multi-party democratic system, authorities must allow the parties to campaign and support to make the parties strong. If we are not disturbed at least, we can speak freely in public. Even normal procedures of a legal party like ours are forbidden. For example, when I presented to hold a party meeting in Taikkyi, we were forbidden since the registration is still being verified. In the instructions of the previous commission, we would need to let them know if we held a party meeting in our office without asking permission from them. We let them know that we would hold a party meeting, but we were forbidden." he said.

The office of the union election commission

UEC released laws and regulations relating to re-registration of political parties on 31st January 2023 and asked the parties to re-register within 60 days. 

Authorities were responsible to make political parties strong if a multi-party system was practiced, said U Thar Tun Hla, chairman of the Arakan National Party to CNI News.

" In fact, authorities are responsible to make political parties strong if the multi-party politics is practiced. Only when political parties are strong, the people will trust and rely on the political process. But in the current situation, there are more restrictions on political parties. Any more of restrictions might be coming. Political parties are facing with a very difficult situation, I comment like that." he said.

A list of political parties and UEC stamp

At present, although 12 political parties have registered, seven parties only got registrations and the rest five parties are under scrutiny, said UEC to CNI News.

" There are questions and discussions among political parties in relation to what policies the current UEC is applying. As.a matter of fact, we don't find in the laws and regulations that legal parties must suspend their processes." said U Ko Ko Gyi.

At present, the People's Party (PP),  the Arakan National Party (ANP) and Mon Unity Party have registered as the parties that will organize all over the country, but they have not got registrations reportedly.

CNI News
12 August 2023

United Overseas Bank, one of Singapore's major banks, would carry out operations with Myanmar banks on a limited basis from 1st September on, that Nikkei Asia News Agency reported.

UOB is used most to transfer money received from Myanmar trade and other businesses and salaries of Myanmar migrant workers in Singapore.

Although UOB suspends operations with Myanmar banks, other banks in Singapore could be connected and used and only when all the banks in Singapore took action like UOB, there could be difficulties, said U Htay Aung Kyi, a banking expert to CNI News.

A bank transfer

" I have deposited my money at UOB. The bank can't seize my money. But they have the rights not to transit my money. UOB doesn't allow me to transit, but DBS allows me to transit. If that's so, I'll change and deposit my money at DBS. There will be no problem if there's one or two banks that we can transit. If all the banks in Singapore suspend operations with Myanmar banks, we can find it difficult. Another thing is prospect. Singapore is third biggest financial hub in the world after London and New York. Will the Singaporean government take accountability for the case relating to UOB? Singapore has a lot of overseas banks. Among them, which bank are you working with most? There's a problem with that bank. But if you can work with other banks, it's no problem. Just change. Changing from a bank to another is no difficulty at all in a foreign country like Singapore." he said.

All deposits and withdrawals through banks in Myanmar will be limited by UOB and transferring money can be performed between the UOBs only. Moreover, Visa card and
Master card will be controlled that the bank reported last week, according to Nikkei Asia news agency.

Because money transfers to private banks in Myanmar through UOB are limited, it could impact on money transfers of Myanmar migrant workers, said businessmen.

However, because there are other banks and financial service agents that can be used alternatively, there might be a little difficulty only reportedly. When international community imposes economic sanctions on Myanmar, restrictions on private businesses should not be done with the government's bank accounts, said U Thet Zaw, an economic analyst to CNI News.

" It is their policy to close the government accounts, but they shouldn't restrict the private sector. But other banks still can be used. There are about 15 overseas banks in Singapore. We have to change and use. For example, like oil, if Petronas left, another oil company would come. Just like that." he said.  

Foreign currency accounts opened at the UOB branch in Hong Kong to make the trading activities fast and easy will be controlled and UOB is a bank that senior officials of the State Administration Council and wealthy entrepreneurs are mainly using, according to Niikkei Asia.