CNI News

16 October 2023

Some commodities have been restricted at the Rakhine-Bangladesh border trade relating to export and as they must be traded at the Sittwe border only, there is hardly any trade now, said traders in Maungdaw. 

Aqua products - various kinds of fish from fresh and saltwater and agricultural products - rice, broken rice, various pea and bean, sesame, onion and so on must be trades at the Sittwe border trade only starting from 4th September, the government restricted. Traders in Maungdaw don't export a lot of other products and the situation must be watched in the coming open season, said U San Thein, vice chairman of the Maungdaw border trade association, to CNI News.

" Because the restriction has been conducted, traders have to export the goods from the convenient places. There are no restricted products here in Maungdaw and they haven't been able to export other products. It is drawing near thee open season. We have to go on trading based on open season." he said.

While loading bags of onions onto a truck at the Sittwe border trade camp

So, there is hardly any trade at the Maungdaw border trade and the trade is almost stopping, said traders.

Because the goods ordered from Bangladesh must be exported from the Sittwe border trade, traders in Maungdaw are finding it difficult. 

Some traders whose license period have not expired could export.

As Rakhine-Bangladesh trade depends on the orders from Bangladesh, at present, exporting goods from the Sittwe border trade is just in the normal position, said U Tin Aung Oo, Rakhine State Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, to CNI News.

Cargo workers at the Maungdaw border trade camp

" At present, we can regularly export, but it depend on the orders from Bangladesh.  The export has not increased a lot. When the open season comes in the end of this month, we will export more, I think." he said.

Although it was not difficult to export other products from the Sittwe border trade, when the aqua products were exported through Sittwe, because it took long to cross the sea, the quality of aqua products declined and the price also declined, said traders.

So, traders and fish entrepreneurs are requesting to allow then to export through both Maungdaw and Sittwe border trade camps.

The export value from the two border trade camps was 8.77 million US dollars from April to September in the 2023-24 fiscal year. 

Goods were exported for 1.42 million US dollars from Maungdaw and import value was 0.004 million US dollars. And Sittwe exported goods for 0.518 million US dollars, according to the Rakhine State Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

CNI News

13 October 2023

As Malaysian authorities are checking by surprise and arresting illegal foreign workers, Myanmar embassy has warned its citizens to take passports and necessary documents with them. 
Myanmar people need to take care of their steps for the time being and when they have to go unavoidably, they are asked to carry the evidence in order to show them when there are checks.

" Currently, as Malaysians are putting so much pressure on their government relating to foreigners through social media such as Facebook or Tiktok, their government is also conducting checks and arrests. In Malaysia, authorities tend to check motorcycles and cars first. It's finished. For the time being, the customs department is checking illegal shops. The immigration department will start checking in about December. But the places that have been complained is being checked." said Hmwar Michael who is living in Malaysia, to CNI News.

Three entertainment centers that had been opened illegally were arrested by Malaysian immigration department and police on 16 September 2023 and 92 so-called Myanmar people were arrested reportedly.

" Authorities are currently checking licenses and illegal goods of the shops. At present, if you are arrested, you can't negotiate at all or you can't give money like in the past. You'll be sentenced to 7 month imprisonment or you must pay 100,000 ringgits as a fine at a court." he added.

While foreigners were being arrested in Malaysia

Although there were a lot of arrests in Malaysia after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, because Myanmar embassy did not release any warning statements, Myanmar people in Malaysia were taken aback by this warning statement. 
However, the embassy should find ways that could help Myanmar people in Malaysia instead of releasing the statement like that, said U Nyi Nyi Lwin, director general of the Center for Arakan Refugees, to CNI News.

" If you apply for a new passport, you'll have wait from three months to one year to get it. So, most of Myanmar people here have no documents. And if you register at the UNHCR for protection and care, you'll have to wait about one year. There is nothing that is served quickly. There are one hundred thousand above Myanmar workers here. 70 percent of them have no documents. That the embassy has released a statement like this is right. But rather than the statement, Myanmar Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should find ways that can help Myanmar citizens. How can they do to issue passports quickly? To the best of my knowledge,if a Bangladeshi applies for a passport today at the Bangladeshi embassy, he will get the passport tomorrow. But he needs to have necessary facts." said U Nyi Nyi Lwin.

Myanmar illegal workers should apply for Rekalibrasi permit that allows illegal foreign workers to officially work if convenient, urged Myanmar embassy.

Although the program will be served until 30th December, it probably will be extended and arrests will increase when it is drawing near to the period designated, said Myanmar citizens in Malaysia.

CNI News

13 October 2023

The 8th Anniversary Celebration of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) will be attended by the seven NCA signatories, said Nan Yin Yin Soe, spokesperson of the Peace Process Steering Team that is made up of the NCA signatory EAOs, to CNI News. 

EAOs that will attend the event are discussing about peace with the State Administration Council (SAC), she added.

" 7 NCA signatory EAOs will attend the 8th Anniversary Celebration of the NCA and they are the Arakan Liberation (ALP), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), KNU/KNLA Peace Council, the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and they are also discussing about peace with the military council." she said to CNI News.

While The NCA was being signed on 15 October 2023

The 8th Anniversary Celebration of the NCA will be held on 15 October 2023 and not only NCA signatory EAOs but also NCA non-signatory EAOs have been invited to attend the event, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC.

The 8th anniversary celebration of the NCA would be able to find a solution for peace, said Nan Yin Yin Soe. It was difficult to believe that the peace would arise from that event, said Naing Than Shwe, spokesperson of the Mon Unity Party (MUP), to CNI News.

While NSPNC and 7 NCA signatories were discussing

" it's difficult to believe that peace will come out from the 8th anniversary celebration. We have heard that discussions are underway. Based on the result from the discussion, we can say if it is possible. We can't say based on the event alone." he said.

Only if the involvement of the Tatmadaw in politics could be ended, would they be able to meet and discuss, said in the statement released by the NCA signatories - the Karen National Union (KNU), the Chin National Front (CNF) and the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) on 12 October 2023.

The NCA was signed by the KNU, CNF, ABSDF, RCSS, DKBA, KNU/KNLA-Peace Council, ALP and PNLO on 15 October 2015. After that, NMSP and LDU signed the NCA on 12 February 2018.

CNI News

13 October  2023

The agencies that fail to submit the list of workers who are sent abroad will be taken action against, the Ministry of Labor has announced. 

Agencies must submit the list of workers who are sent abroad with the names of countries within the first five days of every month and the agencies that fail to submit will be suspended temporarily and if they failed to submit for the second time, their licenses would be lifted reportedly.

“This is good practice. If they don't comply with that, then this business won't be convenient for them. They aren't interested in the business. what they have to do is just to send e-mail.  Because the department had to know there are people who have not been sent abroad for 4 to 7 months when the agencies didn't submit the list, the department had to announce. Private media are also reporting it's because the department didn't take action. So, the department has issued the statement. The agencies that don't submit the list possibly haven't sent the workers abroad." said Myat Hayman Lin, managing director of the Pwint Phu Aung Overseas Employment Agency.

Myanmar workers who will go abroad

The agencies have to inform the department of the list of workers who are sent abroad by e-mail or letter. 

If they have no workers to send, they need to let. the department know reportedly. Moreover, Safe Migration have stated that there are 81 agencies that have not submitted the list for September. 

The agencies that have held the licenses for overseas employment agencies must carry out compulsorily in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Labor, said U Win Myint, managing director of the Lucky Overseas Employment Agency, to CNI News.

" The department has asked the list of workers who are sent abroad for about three months. Some agencies don't give the list. Perhaps they haven't given or they don't know. If you have taken the license, you must do that. I can't say for sure if some agencies might not have staff. Now there have been up to about 470 agencies." said U Win Myint.

Myanmar workers

As calling jobs from Thailand and Malaysia has reduced at present, the workers need to wait patiently and if they wanted to go abroad urgently, they probably would be cheated, suggested some overseas employment agencies.

There were 484 overseas employment agencies in September 2023 and of them, 10 were suspended temporarily. So, there are 474 licensed agencies now, according to the Ministry of Labor.

CNI News

13 October 2023

Armed organizations should weigh to minimize the public casualty, said Lway Chee Sangar, spokesperson of the Ta'ang Women Organization (TWO), to CNI News. 

Fighting should be avoided in urban areas and villages where the people are living and the organizations should have known that the public causality can arise if the battles break out in these places, she added.

" Fighting or other military operations should not be conducted near towns or cities and villages. The organizations should consider or study how much battles can harm the public in advance. Considering this in advance can reduce the public causality a bit, I think." she said.

Because of the political landscapes that arose after 1 February 2021, armed conflicts have been breaking out across the country. 

IDPs who arrived in Shinletwa, Paletwa Township because of the battles between the Tatmadaw and the AA in 2017

Due to these conflicts, people were killed and houses were set on fire and hospitals, schools and religious buildings were damaged and people had to be displaced.

Any armed organization needed to carry out so as not to raise civilian casualty, said U Kun Gawng Awng Hkam, a Kachin politician, to CNI News. 

" It depends on both the military council and revolutionary organization. Many villages of our Kachin people were all damaged and set on fire. Armed organization and revolution are unavoidable. If the organizations want to be o?one with the public, they need to avoid fighting near towns and villages. Otherwise, after the hatred grows, these images will remain for generations to come. How should it be done? How should it be avoided? It depends on the Tatmadaw. No matter what organization killed or set fire, we don't like doing these things. So, I'd like to tell them to avoid doing these things." said U Kun Gawng Awng Hkam.

According to the latest UN figures as of October 2, 2023, there are nearly 2 million IDPs across the country, the UNOCHA stated on 12 October 2023. 

1.7 million people had to be displaced because of conflicts and insecurities that have appeared after the civilian government was toppled down by the Tatmadaw on 1 February 2021, said in the statement.

CNI News

12 October 2023

Although some sugar mills opened the price of sugar cane with 110,000 kyats per ton last month,  at present, the price has been increased up to 120,000 kyats per ton. 

Ngwe Yi Palei Sugar Mill and Mai Rel Sugar Mill have said that they will buy sugar cane at 120,000 kyats per ton.

Because the current sugar price is going up, sugar cane price has risen and the price can rise any more until the sugar cane cutting season, said U Win Htay, vice chairman of the Myanmar Sugar and Cane Related Products Association, to CNI News.

“The two mills that paid 110,000 kyats per ton in the past have raised the price now. The price might rise anymore. In comparison with the current sugar price, there is a situation that can raise the price anymore. The farmers are saying even the price of 130,000 kyats per ton doesn't make them earn a lot of profit. But according to our calculation, this rate is not too bad for farmers. The price could rise anymore." said U Win Htay.

The price of 120,000 kyats per ton of sugar cane is the one the sugar mills will buy the sugar cane that has arrived in the mills. In the same way, sugar mills in Sagaing Region will pay the price that sugar mills in Shan State pay, said sugar cane farmers in Sagaing Region.

Sugar cane sticks

Although the price of 120,000 kyats per ton of sugar cane is suitable for the farmers, according to the current sugar price, the farmers should get more than 120,000 kyats and the farmers have expected to get at least 130,000 kyats, said U Maung Swe, a sugar cane farmer from Sagaing Region, to CNI News. 

Because 120,000 kyats per ton of sugar cane is the price that the farmers will have to send to the factory, the farmers get only about 100,000 kyats for a ton of sugar cane reportedly.

" Wemar sugar mill in our region will surely pay the price of 120,000 kuyats as Ngwe Yi Palei does. It did pay last year as Ngwe Yi Palei. The farmers are saying that they should get at least 130,000 kyats per ton in comparison with the current sugar price. In fact, they want to get 135,000 kyats." he said.

 Because the price of sugarcane was high in the last sugarcane season, the farmers expanded sugarcane cultivation.

In the same way, the current price of sugarcane is beneficial to the farmers, the cultivation will increase 20 percent in the coming sugarcane season, estimated the Myanmar Sugar and Cane Related Products Association.

Sugarcane is mainly grown in Shan State, Sagaing, Magway and Bago Regions and sugar mills have also expanded and opened reportedly.

CNI News

12 October 2023

Former Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun and former Brig-Gen Yan Naung Soe were sentenced to life imprisonment that equals to 20 years because they committed high treason, violation of the military rules and corruptions, the State Administration Council (SAC) stated. 

Former Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun served as the member of the SAC, chairman of the Myanmar Investment Commission, chairman of the Foreign Exchange Supervisory Committee and chairman of the Central Committee on Ensuring Smooth Flow of Trade and Goods.

While he was serving the above duties, he committed high treason because he carried out against the prior processes and objectives laid down by the State by procuring personal profit against the State policies on foreign exchange, important commodity and other economic affairs.

Although the government sold US dollars at a reference price to import palm oil from abroad for the amount designated, he failed to take action against those who were selling palm oil at a higher price than the reference rate and took part in selling like that. 

Moreover, he abused power by receiving bribes from companies, and committed holding foreign currencies illegally, breaking the military rules and participating in civilian business activities after which he was charged with relevant law sections and he was sentenced to life imprisonment by a military court, the SAC stated on 10 October 2023.

In the same way, former Brig-Gen Yan Naung Soe served as the joint secretary of the Central Committee on Ensuring Smooth Flow of Trade and Goods. 

While he was serving the duty, he procured personal profit against the State economic policy and he committed high treason in collaboration with former Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun by carrying out deviating from the State policies on foreign exchange, important commodity and other economic affairs and also committed abusing power by allowing businessmen to exchange foreign currencies with Myanmar kyat.

Moreover, he received foreign currencies and Myanmar kyat from businessmen as bribes and he illegally acted as a liaison between former Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun and businessmen. 

Besides he committed holding foreign currencies illegally, breaking the military rules and taking part in civilian business activities. So, he was charged with relevant law sections and sentenced to life imprisonment by a military court, the SAC stated.

CNI News

12 October 2023

Although Southwest Monsoon has already retreated in Northern and Central Myanmar, as it is at a standstill in the delta, rainfalls will continue, said U Hla Tun, Director of the Directorate of Meteorology and Hydrology, to CNI News.

So, the rain will not stop in the delta areas in coming days, he said.

" The monsoon at a standstill on the delta, so the delta region gets much rain. The delta region contains Bago, Yangon and Ayeyarwady Regions. It will rain in Bago for a few days. But it won't rain as much as before. If it rains heavily within a very short time, floods can arise. When the monsoon is going to retreat, it may rain heavily within a few days." he said.

Flooding in Bago City

Although the monsoon has retreated in northern and central regions, there will be a lot to rain. Sometimes, there will be kind of intermittent rain, he added.

Due to record flooding after it has been raining heavily starting from a few days ago in Bago Region as the monsoon at a standstill, there are more than fourteen thousand people affected by the flood from the 3,465 households in 36 relief camps, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement has stated.

Moreover, there has been floods in Hlegu Town on 10th October, Ko Zwe Yan Naing, chairman of the Shwe Yaung Thamaing Emergence Relief Association, to CNI News.

While being transported by rescue workers

" Now the water is rising between the entrance to Hlegu Town and the Hlegu Market. Now we are evacuating the elderly. The amount of rising water is high. The water has risen up to waist level and higher than it in some places. We and other social organizations including red cross and fire brigade are helping." he said.

According to the nature of monsoon, when it enters and retreat, due to atmospheric turbulence, it tends to rain heavily and the monsoon probably will retreat on 20th October, said U Hla Tun.

Although the monsoon retreats from Myanmar, as lower air pressure areas may appear in the Bay of Bengal and remnant rain clouds of the storm from the South China Sea may move, it is less likely that the rain will stop reportedly.

CNI News

12 October 2023

The 8th anniversary celebration of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) would find a solution to peace in the country, which she believed, siad Nan Yin Yin Soe, spokesperson of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST), to CNI News. 

There were difficulties when the NCA was implemented. Discussions about how to carry out to be able to build a federal democratic union would be conducted at the event, she said.

Nan Yin Yin Soe, spokesperson of the PPST

" We are joint owners who signed the NCA and throughout the period of implementation, we had strengths and weaknesses, challenges and difficulties. Taking lessons from these things, we will discuss at the 8th anniversary celebration of the NCA about how to go on carrying out for the peace and building a federal democratic union that our citizens have wanted and we will be able to find a solution, I believe." said Nan Yin Yin Soe.

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC has said that both NCA signatories and NCA non-signatories had been invited to attend the 8th anniversary celebration of the NCA that will be held on 15 October 2023. Seven NCA signatories would attend the event, said Nan Yin Yin Soe, spokesperson of the PPST. 

While the 6th anniversary celebration of the NCA was being held

" Seven NCA signatories that will attend the event are the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), KNU/KNLA-Peace Council, the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the New Mon State Party and they are currently discussing with the military council." she said to CNI News.

The Karen National Union (KNU), the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) and the Chin National Front (CNF) that have signed the NCA will not attend the event reportedly. However, some members will personally attend the event.

The NCA was signed by the KNU, CNF, ABSDF, RCSS, DKBA, KNU/KNLA-Peace Council, ALP and PNLO on 15 October 2015. After that, NMSP and LDU signed the NCA on 12 February 2018.