CNI News
4 July 2023

Local manufacturing industries need to be increased in order to substitute imports with manufacturers producing finished products from raw materials produced by agricultural and livestock industries, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC).

He sad as above while he was meeting businesspeople from the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) in Yangon on 2nd July, 2023.

To produce high quality and value-added products in local, just issueing loans by the government was not enough, said U Aung Pyae Sone, a businessman to CNI News, adding that not only manufacturing policies but also economic policies needed to change.

products of Myanmar are being looked

"Whether you import a product from abroad or produce the product locally, only if consumers buy it, you can go on producing and sell it as a businessman.You are manufacturing a product in local because you love your race and religion too much, but if nobody buys it, you won't be able to stand for long. The government didn't give you the money free of charge. Small and medium enterprise (SME) businesspeople must be encouraged, but talking of encouragement, Just lending money is not enough. Manufacturing and economic policies need to change. Products that can keep abreast of the products from abroad must be produced in local such as value-added products. For example, peanut coming from Thailand is being sold at 2,000, but if local peanut can't overcome the level of salted peanut, our economy will surely be salted peanut economy" he said.

Moreover, he added that the government should connect foreign investors with local businesspeople so that qualified products can be produced and needed to open business opportunities for joint-ventures.

Myanmar is a country that relies on imports without manufacturing products and should increase domestic production. So, SAC is planning and carrying out to be able to export the excess after producing to meet the domestic need, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Although the government issued loans for SMEs, because they were not long term loans, it was just a little help.So, it was needed to review, said U Thet Zaw, an economic analyst to CNI News.

a businessperson asking some questions at the meeting with Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

" No.1 is that we can't compete with imports at price, and local products can't compete with imports at composition and quality. So, domestic Industrial businesspeople had to stop their businesses.And technolgy is so much progressing abroad. We need money badly to buy machines. With the money an entrepreneur has and loan, it's difficult for an entrepreneur who wants to start a business. If someone in a foreigne country can show a product, everything can be arranged about it, including a sufficient loan. So, we need sufficient loans. We are largely issued one year loans or two year loans. There are rarely long term loans here in Myanmar. We need to review if an entrepreneur can operate his business during a short ternm like that." he said.

The businesspeople who have borrowed loans need to spend correctly so that their businesses can improve and they can repay the loans, said businessmen and economic analysts.

When products are manufactured in local, manufacturers need help from the ministry of commerce, including machines and technologies, said businesspeople.

CNA News

4 July 2023

Killings among Rakhine people made a setback for Rakhine State, said Major Khaing Thurein, secretary member of Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) to CNI News.

Rakhine organizations have maintained weapons for the development of Rakhine people and disharmonies among Rakhine organizations affact Rakhine People, he said. 

" it affacts Rakhine people most. Rakhine armed organizations have their intensions. In any case, we want our state to develope and our Rakhine people to develope. We wage armed revolutions with the good intentions like that. An armed revolution can make you die anytime. We have maintained arms risking our lives representing Rakhine people. Everyone who has a common sense knows that killings among Rakhine people make a big setback for Rakhine State" he said.

 A junction in Rakhine State 

Khaing Ni Raung, vice chaieperson of ALP, Khaing Kyaw Min, commander of No. (101) Battalion from ALP's armed wing, Kyaw Kyaw Naing, a private were shot dead by AA outside of the Sittwe University on 1st July, said in a statement released by ALP.

Although CNI made a contact to AA by phone to know AA's reply relating to the ALP's statement saying that AA killed ALP's members, AA made no answer. 

After that, CNI asked Rakhine politicians, Rakhine political parties and Rakhine civil societies by phone, they all replied that they didn't want to comment about it. At present, ALP was going with a peaceful method and but AA was going with armed method. 

So, there was no reason why there was any problem between the two organizations, said Maj. Khaing Thurein.  

Rakhine State

"There are many ways that can be solved. But I wonder how they will solve the problem relating to what our people shed blood in order to satisfy us. We have questions to ask them about it. We are Rakhine and so are they. If AA kills a member of ALP, that member is Rakhine and vice versa. They should have known that. Intelligent persons are included in their leadership. So, their leaders should keep their men under control. Keep in mind to solve the problem. That's all I want to say." he said.    

Moreover, Maj-Gen Khaing Soe Mya, ALP's commander in chief, Lt-Col Kaing Kyaw Soe, commander of No.(101) battalion and Capt. Khaing Thureinda were killed by AA on 4th January, 2023 said in a statement released by ALP.

ALP, a Rakhine armed organization, is one of the nine ethnic armed groups that signed on the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and AA, another Rakhine armed organization,is still discussing and negotiating with the State Administration Council for peace without signing on the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).

CNI News

4 July 2023

Thosew who disturb and disrupt international investment projects will be effectively taken action against, said in a joint statement released by Three Brotherhoods ( Northern Alliance) on 1st July, 2023. The joint statement was intended for peace and stability in the territories controlled by them reportedly.

"In order to carry out holy duties - to keep regional peace and stability, and to protect the lives and properties of the entire people,  and to better and collaborate  actively in anti-terrorism and putting down the crimes in the territories controlled by us, we have issued our attitudes as followed," said Three Brotherhoods - Arakan Army (AA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in the statement.

 statement released by three EAOs of Northern Alliance

They would never encourage any terrorisms and culprits affacting regional peace and stability,and lives and properties of the people and would stop and put down any terrorisms and their culprits. Moreover, properties and assets relating to crimes would be kept in accord with the law and would be systematically taken action against, said in the joint-statement.

Those who disrupt international investment projects or international investment companies or individuals and any person who commits crimes such as extortion would be taken action against according to the law. And Those who commit or encourage terrorism would be fought against, said the statement.

Besides, if you see those who commit terrorism, we request you to inform us before it's too late and we, three brotherhood alliance, have urged the Myanmar entire people and supporters of our revolutionary organizations to collaborate actively in the tasks of anti-terrorisms and anti-criminal activities, said in the joint statement.

a civilian ship used in the Kaladan River Project in 2019 was being burnt after being fired by AA with a big gun

AA is mainly active in Rakhine State and Paletwa Township in Chin State and building controlled areas. In those places, there are India's Kaladam River Project and China's Kyauk Phyu Deep Water Port Project.

AA arrested two Indian citizens working in the Kaladan River Project in November 2019 and burned several civilian ships that were being used in the Kaladan River Project reportedly.

TNLA and MNDAA are mainly active in Northern Shan state and building controlled areas and had fought against the Sino-Myanmar trade routes under the previous two civilian governments. At present, AA, MNDAA and TNLA are providing the People's Defense Force (PDF), Local Defense Force (LDF), Bamar People Liberation Army (BPLA)  and Kareni National Defense Force (KNDF) with weapons and military trainings The Three Brotherhood Alliance is influenced by China, said some participants in the armed revolution.

CNI News

3 July 2023

Three people including Khaing Ni Raung, vice chairperson of Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) were killed by Arakan Army (AA), said in a statement released by ALP. 

Khaing Ni Raung, vice chaieperson of ALP, Khaing Kyaw Min, commander of No. (101) Battalion from ALP's armed wing, Kyaw Kyaw Naing, a private were shot dead by AA outside of Sittwe University on 1st July, said ALP. 

The three people were killed on the way back from the home of Daw Saw Mya Rarzar Lin, chairperson of ALP after a meeting on relief affairs for people affected by Cyclone Mokha was held, according to ALP.

a statement released by ALP

That kind of behaviour which AA repeatedly committed between armed organizations for Rakhine people was very rude and should not be done because of which ALP has strongly condemned, said in the statement released by ALP. 

Moreover, Maj-Gen Khaing Soe Mya, ALP's commander in chief, Lt-Col Kaing Kyaw Soe, commander of No.(101) battalion and Capt. Khaing Thureinda were killed by AA on 4th January, 2023 said in a statement released by ALP.  

ALP, a Rakhine armed organization, is one of the nine ethnic armed groups that signed on the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and AA, another Rakhine armed organization, is still discussing with the State Administration Council for peace.

CNI News
2 July 2023

The students who failed in the Matric examinations in the 2022-2023 academic year (old system) were not allowed to attend high schools in the 2023-2024 academic year and they could sit for the Matric examination as external students, said the ministry of education.

The students who failed in the old matriculation system would need to learn the lessons of Grade 11 and Grade 12 from new system when they attend external tuitions, said a townshp education officer in northern Shan State to CNI News.

" An official statement has not been issued. We have told that they have to attend external tuitions and sit for Matric exam as external students. They have to learn the lessons from Grade 10 to Grade 12 for three years and then they have to sit for Grade 12 examination of new matriculation system." he said.

 high school students

2022-2023 academic year was the last for old matriculation system, said in a statement released by the ministry of education. In the previous years those who failed in the Matric exam for the first time were allowed to school again for a year.

As an official statement relating to whether the students who failed in the Matric exam were allowed to attend school again or not has not been issued, it would be convenient for them to rely on external tuitions, said U Aung Din, a local from Samee Township in Chin State to CNI News.

"I'm not sure whether they can attend school again. I've heard that they have to sit for Grade 12 exam. I think they will rely on external tuitions. They will be getting on well with externaml tuitions, I think" he said.

There is just a little difference between the cuuriculum of new system and that of old system.  

161,850 students sat for Matric exam in 2023 and those who passed the exam were 109,851. 67.87 persent passed.

CNI News
2 July 2023

There are some discussions among political communities about which social classes are affacted by American sanctions on two state-owned banks, Myanmar Fireign Trade Bank (MFTB) and Myanmar Investment and Commercial Bank (MICB).

The sanctions may impact on the people so much and but not much on the Tatmadaw because it has strongly established its institution, said Dr.Aye Maung, chairman of Arakan Front Party (AFP) to CNI News.

"The sanctions affact the people more than the State Administration Council (SAC). SAC will follow the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and the State Peace and Development Council. The time of U Ne Win is different from that of U Than Shwe. U Ne Win led. After their times, as you know, civil war has been long for many reasons. I wonder the civil war has been created to be long or they aren't able to finish the civil war. The Tatmadaw has built everything that it needs. In other words, it has built its institution in a large scale after SLORC. SPDC start openning military engineering university and military medical university. Outstanding students were sent to abroad especially to Russia and China.and building Myanmar Economic Holdings" he said.

The Tatmadaw created Myanmar Economic Holding Ltd and other businesses since before, he said.

the Myanmar Tatmadaw

USA released a statement that it has imposed sanctions on Myanmar's ministry of defense including MFTB and MICB on 21st June 2023. Soon after that, In the local currency market, one dollar rose to 3,800 kyats.American sanctions affect not only the two banks but also the entire people, said U Thiha Paing, Myanmar Economy analyst to CNI.

When the sanctions are imposed, exact targets should be designated. Because the foreign currency has been controlled, it is affecting the whole country. But there might be some exits, he added.

Because the two state-owned banks have been sanctioned, the Tatmadaw's arms perchasing channels might be affected, said some people. On the other hand, the Tatmadaw had been internationally sanctioned in the past and it might have some exits, said some people in the political community.  

CNI News
2 July 2023

If everything necessary was imported without exporting anything, the need of foreign currency would increase, said Sn.Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council during the national economic promotion meeting that was held on 30th June 2023.

Although Myanmar has a good basis for domestic production, because the production was not encouraged, a lot of products are imported. For example, millions of dollars are being spent on dairy products, papers, bicycle and motorcycle tires which were produced in local in the past. But because the production was not encouraged, the factories had to stop, he said.

The GDP will increase in the agricultural sector and the industrial sector by increasing paper manufacturing industry, dairy production industry; rubber-based industries and cotton textile manufacturing industry, he added.

" When the State Administration Council has taken the responsibilities of the State, international sanctions have imposed. Various sanctions have imposed so as not to enable us to spend foreign currencies that we have already had and not to enable us to gain the foreign currencies earned from exporting products.    

If everything necessary is imported without having any exports,the need of foreign currencies will increase. So, manufacturing industries are responsible to manufacture products as able as they can." he said.

Then, he said that to spend frugally and systematically in order to avoid waste was needed and only when austerity could be conducted in detail, local budget deficits and foreign currency deficits could be reduced.

So, rather than purchasing products from abroad, Myanmmar people need to purchase and use local products State and regional governments needed to promote regional production to meet the regional consumption and then to meet domestic consumption and then to export.

The most reliable industries for domestic production are agricultural and livestock industries which must be promoted without failure by the states and regions, said Sn.Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

After that, paper, rubber, dairy products and cotton textile should be produced in local as able as the people concerned can to replace imports, said chairman of SAC.

CNI News

1 July 2023

NCA signatory EAOs currently discussing with SAC could not discuss on behalf of PPST( Peace Process Steering Team) anymore, said Col. Saw Kyaw Nyunt, spokesperson of PPST to CNI. 

The processes of Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) have stopped since the Tatmadaw took power on the first of February, 2021, he said.

"That we are now discussing is not to implement the processes of NCA. And we were never able to go to discuss because we were invited on behalf of PPST. We just were able to go as seven groups of NCA-S EAOs or five groups of NCA-s EAOs that we call." Col. Saw Kyaw Nyunt.

Delegates from seven NCA signatory groups of PPST and ones from NSPNC

The discussions between five groups of PPST and SAC's peace committee were held from 26th to 28th June in Naypyidaw. Col.Khun Okka told at the discussion that they were discussing for the policy of the ten groups of PPST.

In the past, PPST contained 10 NCA signatory EAOs and they were the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), Karen National Union(KNU), Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), KNU/KNLA Peace Council, Chin National Front (CNF), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), New Mon State Party (NMSP) and Lahu Democratic Union.

But KNU, RCSS, ABSDF and CNF reduced their levels of participation after the Tatmadaw took power. After that, NMSP reduces its participation level in May 2022 reportedly. The processes of NCA cannot be implemented at present and the organization of PPST is variously viewed, said Col.Saw Kyaw Nyunt.

Five NCA signatories that attended the discussion with NSPNC on 26th June 2023

" Seven groups will fully take part in PPST and the rest three groups - KNU, CNF and RCSS will still be as joint groups since April 2022 that we agreed." he said.

Currently, KNU, CNF and ABSDF that signed at CNA are actively fighting against the Tatmadaw.

CNI News

1 July 2023

Foreigner overstayers including Myanmar citizens in Malaysia have not yet been allowed to return home officially, which the people helping Myanmar citizens in Malaysia told CNI News.

Although Malaysia allowed overstayers to return home officially before the Covid period, because official repatriation has been closed since the Covid-19 period, overstayers are finding it difficult to go home, said Ko Thet, chairman of Lovely Heart Philantropic Myanmar Youth Blood Donor Group to CNI News.

people who are repatriated

"Those who can't walk and the people with broken backs want to go back to Myanmar, but they can't. Malaysian immigration department has blocked their return. Myanmar Embassy there, sometimes, help the patients. Even when you go to the Myanmar Embassy, you will be inspected so much that I've heard. That's why it's very difficult. There are about five patients whom we have taken care of. Some pregnant women don't want to give birth here. The patients can't go home as well. Even if they give money, they can't go back.Myanmar Embassy has not taken any action. Malaysia has blocked any foreigner overstayers" he said.

If they get medical treatment in Malaysia, it will cost them a lot of money, Myanmar citizens want to go back home and receive health treatment. But because they have not been allowed to return home officially up to now, most of overstayers go back home through unofficial routes and are arrested on purpose and are punished after which they are sent back to their countries reportedly.

Many overstayers who went back home through unofficial routes were arrested, said U Nyi Nyi Lwin, Director General of Center for Arakan Refugees to CNI.

people who are to be repatriated are being brought

"Especially many pregnant women went back when they were three to five months pregnant. They were arrested on the way back home especially on the Malaysian border. And unhealthy persons have to get the recommendations from physicians and the documents from their embassies. Afer that, they have to submit the documents to the immigration department.It costs a lot. It costs a person about 6 to 7 thousand ringgits. Those who want to go home go home by unofficial routes, giving money. It costs them a great deal of money. They earn about 1,500 each a month. They can only save about five hundreds a month. They have to send the money to their family in their country as well. When they go back home, they have to spend about seven thousand which means they will have to save money for a year if they want to go home. It shouldn't cost them a lot like that" he said.    

Some of the people who want to go home because of bad health cannot afford even if they go back through unofficial routes reportedly.

So, Myanmar Embassy should co-ordinate and negotiate with the Malaysian government for the legal repatriation of overstayers , said the people helping Myanmar citizens in Malaysia.