CNI News

12 July 2023

There are reviews among the political and business circles relating to which border trade route is more stable between Myanmar-China border trade route and Myanmar-Thailand border trade route. 

There are armed conflicts in many parts of the country, which, sometimes, force to close the border trade routes. 
Because roads and bridges are often destroyed and explosions and battles take place on the Thailand-Myanmar border trade route, this trade route is forced to be closed often.

But China-Myanmar border trade route does not experience the situations of Thailand-Myanmar border trade route. 
There are China-owned interests along the border trade route and ethnic armed groups abstain from actions that can affect Chinese interest. Because Thailand has no influence on ethnic armed groups along its border, Thailand-Myanmar border trade route is not stable, said U Ye Tun, Myanmar political analyst to CNI News.

trucks that were set fire somewhere on the toad between Myawady and Kokkreik on 29th March, 2022 (CJ)

" But Thailand doesn't have so much influence on armed organizations along its border. NUG,PDF and KNU seem to want the trade with Thailand to be interrupted  because this trade can pay the tax a lot to the State Administration Council (SAC), so they fight against the SAC troops along the trade route..Thai government had arrested some people who fled to Thailand and handed over to the SAC not long ago. But Thailand doesn't have so much influence on armed groups from here" he said.  

Because China has influence on most of armed organizations along the Myanmar-China border trade route, armed organizations abstain from doing actions that can affect the Myanmar-China border trade, said political analysts.

However, Myanmar-china trade route was not very different from  Myanmar-Thailand trade route and battles took place, trucks were fired, drivers were killed and cars were set fire on the Myanmar-China trade route, said U Thant Zin Tun, a corn trader to CNI News.

TNLA organization seen on the China-Myanmar border trade route

"When I exported corn to China, cow trucks were very often fired at Nam Fekka between Kutkai and Thibaw and drivers were killed. Battles took place. Cars were set fire during battles..Express cars were set fire. China only said. Battles are taking place on the ground. Armed groups collect money on the way. Not very long ago, an armed group collected money.between Thibaw and Lashio. Armed organizations asked each other which group collected money.When there is a conflict between locals and militia at Jinshan Jiao, trade routes are often closed for about one week or ten days. It's not very different. We have to play by ear" he said.

More armed organizations build checkpoints and ask for money on the two border trade routes on which battles tend to take place since the political change took place two years ago, said traders and drivers.

CNI News

12 July 2023

Prohibited medicine and cosmetics in Myanmar cannot be controlled in the market because of corruption, said consumer rights and food experts to CNI News. 

Prohibited products have become more widespread in the market, so it was difficult to control them, said U Ba Oke Khaing, a consumer rights and food expert.

"In the past, there were food and drug administration (FDA) camps at the border gates. It's not easy to enable the FDA to go and check at the gates in a situation like this. Organizations such as FDA must inspect strictly at the border gates so that prohibited products can't enter. It's not easy to control prohibited products in the market for the time being because there are corruption everywhere.Some prohibited products are being smuggled into Myanmar and other prohibited products are being imported by paying bribes." he said.

 FDA officials were inspecting foodstuff

To educate the people about the use of prohibited products was needed and there are people using those products up to now because there was not adequate awareness , said Ko Than Htike Zaw, a health staff member from Insein Township in Yangon Region.

" First, we must let the people know. There will be sellers as long as there are many users. We must carry out till there are no more users. We want them to know widely why they shouldn't use it. We had read the FDA statements relating to prohibited products in newspapers in the past. And then we have found the statements relating to prohibited products on facebook and social media. But their awareness is still weak. Because there were no uploads on the pages of social media giants, many people don't know that prohibited products cannot be used or sold." he said to CNI News.

prohibited cosmetics

Some cosmetics imported from China and Thailand contain mercury that affects the kidney and steroids that affect skin. Moreover, hair dye and hair straighteners contain ammonia that can damage the nervous system. So, these products are prohibited. In the same way, some roll-ons contain substances that can clog pores and cause breast cancer.
And lipsticks contain lead toxins that can cause stomach cancer. So, prohibited products should not be used, said consumer rights and food experts.

To reduce affecting the public, relevant officials should inspect strictly and perform adequate awareness, said health analysts.

CNI News

12 July 2023

Efforts to be united inside and outside the army were needed and when a region sufferred natural disasters,the Tatmadaw carried out for the benefit of the region in cooperation with the government, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC).

He said as above when he met with departmental staff from Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships, elders of town, officers, other ranks and their families in cantonments.

"local people are our national ethnic people and all local residents live on the same land, drink the same water and breathe the same air. So, if they live in a way of mutual-help, it will support for the regional development. And efforts to be united inside and outside the army are needed. when the natural disaster hit, the Tatmadaw  carried out for the benefit of the region in cooperation with the government" he said. 

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing was observing for the restoration of cyclone-hit regions in Rakhine State

adding that if the government, the Tatmadaw and the people carried out unitedly, the whole State would develop, startin from each region.

As the chairman of the SAC was carrying out military affairs, he didn't want to comment on the SAC chairman's speech, said a Rakhine politician. 

The chairman of the SAC meaned the Tatmadaw needed to overcome the psychological warfares from outside media and other organizations, said U Thein Tun Oo, director of Grand Strategy Studies to CNI News.

a spring revolution campaign

"Throughout history, whenever the army was weak, the country became weak in security and defense. when Myanmar is trying to be a democratic country, the Tatmadaw need to be strong and firm to balance.Here means that ideologies from outside must not penetrate the Tatmadaw's philosophy. Unity is like that, mainly speaking." he said.

The Tatmadaw toppled down the NLD government on 1st February, 2021 and announced a state of emergency after saying that NLD tried to form a government without solving the ballot dispute in the 2020 general election.

After that, democratic elements are launching revolutionary attacks to topple down the Tatmadaw and pereforming to disintegrate the Tatmadaw, said political analysts.

CNI News

11 July 2023

There are questions about why the State Administration Council(SAC) that is regulating the need of USD by restricting exports and controlling foreign currencies needs USD. 
The SAC is in need of USD to buy weapons and ammunitions from abroad to use in the internal armed conflicts, said some politicians.  

May be the SAC needs USD because it has to import fuel, medicine, fertilizer, cooking oil and other commodities which cannot be sufficiently produced in local, said U Thiha Paing, founder of Via Logistics and Supply Chain to CNI News.

" SAC doesn't have to buy weapons so much Many weapons are being produced in local. Some weapons can be even exported, I heard. Buying from abroad in relation to weapon is that technologies and new weapons. I don't think it's main. Mainly there are things we must import, such as fuel that has to be bought with USD and the ministry of health has to designate how much medicine will be imported yearly. We can't say the army alone is spending USD. There are things we must import. Fuel is used for the people as well. We must import medicine. Some countries sell controlled drugs according to the recommendation by the government. Fertilizer and cooking oil must be imported" he said.

US Dollar and Myanmar currency

Controlling USD from import and export activities due to the domestic dollar demand may cause export business to delay, so it should be reviewed, said businesspeople. Although Myanmar Kyat is directly exchanged to Yuan or Baht in payment at the border trade in order to reduce the Dollar demand, there is still Dollar demand.

The SAC has to pay the debt borrowed from international by Dollar and only if you knew exactly, you could say why the SAC needed USD, said U Ye Tun to CNI News.

" We don't know exactly what the paticulars are to find out why the government needs USD. So, we have to estimate. May be they need to pay the deby by Dollar. If it buys the weapons from Israel or Middle East, it will have to pay by Dollar. If it buys the weapons from Russia, it can pay by Ruble." he said.

US Dollars are being earned from oil and gas sales and foreign investments. But at present because foreign investments have left and there is little chance that foreign investment will enter, the SAC is looking for USD in many ways, he added.

natural gas is being produced

" The government is earning USD from selling natural resources such as oil and gas. And it earns USD from China for oil and gas pipelines passing the country. Under a democratically elected government, when foreign investments enter the country, because they would take US Dollars with them, they would exchange Dollars with Myanmar Kyats and would hire land lots and they would build buildings and but they would pay Myanmar citizen staff by Kyats. If the investments like that entered the country, the government would earn Dollars and its people could be employed. But as there is little chance that foreign investments will enter the country again after they has left, the government seems to be looking for USD by all means" he said.

The country had to spend USD 2,496.652 million to import 4.12 million tons of fuel in 2021 and the situation in 2022-2023 has not been reported as yet. And over 900,000 tons of cooking oil are being imported yearly.

CNI News

11 July 2023

As the number of young people who wanted to go on working in the pottery industry, a traditional business of Myanmar, became very few, they were worried that the business would disappear, said those who do the business of pottery. 

At present, although pottery industries are being operated, because the number of youths who want to work in the pottery industry become very few and raw materials are scarce, he is worried that the pottery industry will disappear, said a trader from Soe Thitsar Pottery Industry in Bago Region to CNI News.  

"Firewood as raw matterials is scarce. Young people don't want to work in this kind of job. Current workers are those who have been working since before. Because they are old, they can't work hard. So, potteries may be gradually scarce." he said. 

a woman making a pottery

Although the pottery business was doing well, because the transportation charges were expensive, the profit was low, said Ma Sandar from Doh Yoe Yar Pottery and Various Types of Terracotta Retail and Wholesale Trading Business in Sagaing Region. 

" Raw matterials are scarce. Transportation charges are costly as well. Transportation charges are expensive because transporters don't dare go. If the truck fare was 100,000 Kyats in the past, now it is 200,000 Kyats or 300,000 Kyats. The business is going well. But in the past the profit was two times. If we bought potteries for 5,000 Kyats, we would be able to sell them for 10,000 Kyats. Now if we have to pay 8,000Kyats to buy, we don't dare sell at a higher price because we are worried that customers won't buy. As you know, we are not selling foodstuff." she said to CNI News.

As potteries are used not only in rural areas but also in towns and cities, pottery business is doing well, according to the people doing in the business of pottery.

potteries

In Sagaing Region, because transportation charges are very expensive, pottery industry is almost dying out, said Ma Sandar.

" We had to buy earth from Oe Bo Ward before. Now we have to buy earth from the Shwe Min Wun Industrial Zone. So, we have to pay more for transportation. If you add the costs for firewood and workers, you can't make much profit from pottery industry in Sagaing. Sagaing pottery has become scarce gradually. They rarely produce potteries once a month only." she said.

Traditional potteries and terracottas are being produced in Ayeyarwady, Sagaing, Bago Regions, Pathein Township, Dawei Township, Chin State, Twante Township and Rakhine State. Potteries produced in Myanmar are not only sold in local but also exported to Thailand and China, said the people who do the business of pottery.

Apart from scarce workers, scarce raw materials and expensive transport, regional instability has worsened the pottery industry, so they are worried that pottery industry will die out, said the people from pottery industry.

CNI News

11 July 2023

May be the Tatmadaw attacked an area near to Laiza, the headquarters of Kachin Independent Army (KIA) because it wanted to put pressure on the KIA-PDF(People's Defense Force) collaboration, said U Ye Tun, Myanmar political analyst to CNI. 

KIA has penetrated the Sagaing Region after collaborating with PDF, so the Tatmadaw seemed to put pressure on KIA, he said.

"Now that C in C has taken'the head of State' position, the army won't dare to answer why it attacked that area. A sure thing is that the Tatmadaw wants to pressure KIA because KIA has penetrated upper country such as Sagaing Region and fighting against the Tatmadaw after collaborating with PDF. In relation to the matter about attack by PDF collaborating with TNLA and MNDAA in northeastern country, as the Tatmadaw requested China to ask TNLA and MNDAA to stop collaborating and fighting, they seemed to do as they were told.  We hardly heard that many battles are taking place there. But may be KIA is pressured by military means because it didn't do as it was told."he said.  

KIA was providing PDFs and LDF(Local Defense Force) inside Sagaing Region with military trainings and supporting weapons and ammunitions. Moreover, KIA is conducting joint operations with PDF and LDF and is selling weapons and ammunitions as well, said locals.

Maj-Gen Gun Maw, a leader of KIA

Battles between the Tatmadaw and KIA have been taking place in Nam San Yang since on the 1st of July, 2023 and it is reported that the two sides have been in military tension until now. Although CNI contaced Col. Naw Bu, information officer of KIA, it has not got any reply from him.

At present, the military situation between the two sides is calm. But the Tatmadaw had reinforced, locals were worried that fierce battles would take place, said a local in Kachin State to CNI News. 

Unless the Tatmadaw launched offensive attacks, KIA would remain calm. I wonder if the Tatmadaw might come massively after gathering the forces coming from Bamaw and Myitkyina. 

If they come, their war planes will come with them, I think. I heard that their plane came and dropped some bombs the other night. The Tatmadaw has deployed at Aoja, on the other side of Nant San creek and at Lwemauk village as well.

It is said that the Tatmadaw has launched offensive attacks against KIA to put pressure on the KIA-PDF collaboration

I heard that some landmines exploded at the top of the village the other day and all the villagers were called and gathered." he said.

The two sides should negotiate not to arise fierce battles and there are still IDPs who have not been able to return to their homes due to previous battles, he added.

Nam San Yang village where the fighting is currently taking place is located on the Myitkyina-Bamaw road and it is the nearest village to the KIA's headquarters. It is just 10 miles away from the headquarters reportedly.

CNI News

8 July 2023

Among the Rakhine armed organizations acting on behalf of the Rakhine people, only armed organization supported by the people would survive in the end, said U Tin Htoo Aung from the Arakan National Network, to CNI News.

Armed organizations have to work for the sake of the public and only the armed organization that has been supported by the public has the upper hand, he said. 

" An armed organization needs to have the public support. Only the armed organization that works for the public will survive in the end. According to not only tradition and current events but also the situation that will happen in the future , I believe like that. The fact that who works for the public or who wins the public support more than others is the most important fact to decide who will survive. Not to change the conflicts between armed organizations into public conflicts is important." he said.

Daw Saw Mya Raza Lin and delegation from ALP in Maijayan, second headquarters of KIA in 2016

Rakhine armed organizations are Arakan Army (ULA/AA), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) and Arakan National Council (ANC). ALP and ULA/AA are being active in Rakhine and helping  in the rehabilitation activities after cyclone Mocha.

ULA/AA and ALP are competing for more public support in the rehabilitation activities. Khaing Ni Raung, vice chairman of ALP, the commander of No. 101 battalion, a private were assassinated in Sittwe in the early July after which there were mutual-accusations between the AA and the ALP.

leaders from AA and ALP in Maijayan, second headquarters of KIA in 2016

"ULA/AA officials go and see in person to the people in trouble and support a lot. Public support on AA has increased.It's partly because of their capacity. We've heard that ALP helps the people in towns but not in rural areas. And more Rakhine public believe in AA." said a Rakhine local

Rakhine public wants a reliable armed force and at present more Rakhine people are supporting ULA/AA, he added. ALP has signed on the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and ULA/AA and ANC/AA are Rakhine armed organizations fighting with the Tatmadaw.  

CNI News

8 July 2023

There are arguments whether Myanmar is the same as Burma or totally different from each other while the stakeholders are striving to build Myanmar as a federal union.

At present, Myanmar is called Burma as well and Bamar race and Myanmar are used and called.

When the British ruled the country, Bamar or Burma became the name of the country, but later,the name had been changed and called, said Col. Khun Okka, a leader of an ethnic armed group to CNI News.

stakeholders having discussion about building a federal union

" In my opinion,when the British ruled th country, they called our country Burma. But on the Bagan stone inscriptions were written Myanmar, a little different from the currently-used spelling. So, Myanmar was the name of a race and Burma was a country under the rule of the British. But, later Myanmar has become the country and Bamar (Burma) is the name of a race. In any case, what we are currently using is Burmese language. I think we can call like that." he said.

The word 'Burma' represented all the races _ Shan, Kachin, Kayin, Chin, Mon, Rakhine and so on all over the country. But since the time of General Ne Win, Bamar has become the name of a race and Myanmar, a country reportedly.

The matter whether Myanmar was the same as Bamar or not would be solved only when the revolution is finished, said a person close to revolution.

While seeing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

"The reason was not strong. Burma represents Myanmar people and Myanmar applies to all the ethnic people. That's not right. According to literature ideology, you have to write Myanmar when you want to mean Bamar. But Myanmar is Bamar. It's not true that Myanmar applies to all the ethnic people" said Daw Aung San Suu Kyi when she met with Myanmar citizens in Japan.

" Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said in Japan that Myamar was equal with Bamar. Myanmar literature and Bamar literature are the same, which we have already known. But Myanmar is sweeter for ears" said U Pe Than, a Rakhine politician to CNI News.  

Dobama Asiayone which played an role in striving to gain independence arose in 1292 (Myanmar Era) and proclaimed "we, Burmans, are masters. Burma is our land.

Burmese language is our langusge. Burmese speech is our speech and so on"
At present there are arguments whether Burma and Myanmar are the same,Burmese language and Myanmar language are the same, and Burmese speech and Myanmar speech are the same, or not. Myanmar and Burma, which expression represents all the ethnic people all over the country has not been exactly described.  

CNI News

8 July, 2023

New Mon State Party (NMSP) discussed with the State Administration Council (SAC) in Naypyidaw on 5th July, 2023 while facing with military and political crises.  

The discussion were attended by Naing Aung Min, vice chairman of NMSP, Naing Aung Mangay and Naing Banyar Lae, members of NMSP's Central Executive Committe, and delegates from SAC _ Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, chairman of the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC), Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun, member of SAC, Lt-Gen Win Bo Shein, secretary of NSPNC. 
The discussion was held from 6th to 7th July, 2023.

At present, NMSP is facing with political and military crises because KNU (Karen National Unin) and PDFs (People's Defense Forces) have increased their military activities in Mon, Kayin States and Tanintharyi Region  where it has been active.

 delegates of the New Mon State Party

Because KNU is making preparations to form Brigade (8) while new Mon armed organizations have arisen im Mon State, NMSP is worried that there will be.regional instability.

If all the ethnic armed organizations fought against the Tatmadaw at the same time, NMSP would also fight against the Tatmadaw, said Naing Han Thar, chairman of NMSP to Mon News Agency a few days ago.

NMSP is one of the ethnic armed organizations that have signed on the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and is carrying out carefully for the regional stability reportedly.