CNI News

24 Dec 2022

As the United Nation Security Council adopted the resolution calling for the release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, political observers in Myanmar are debating over whether they will be released or not.

Some observers think that they will be released on the upcoming Independence Day.

If Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is released, the current political crisis will be alleviated, Spokesperson Naing Shwe Than of the Mon Unity Party told the CNI.

Demonstrators calling for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. (Hkun Latt)

He said, "She might be released under the current political circumstances. A general election could be held in 2023. If she is released, political situation is likely to improve because Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that violence was not the policy of the National League for Democracy. It is an exit from the circle of the violence if the NLD can persuade the anti-junta forces."

As the international community has called for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, she should be released, Kachin Politician U Kwan Gaung Awng Kham told the CNI.

He said, "It is an issue to be decided by the junta. It can decide whether to release her or not. However, it should release her on humanitarian grounds or as a political or national leader. The international community has called for her release. The UN has called for her release. The UNSC has approved the resolution. So, the junta should release her from the political perspective."

As no one is above the law in a democracy, the issue should be handled in accordance with the law, Chairman U Sein Win of the National United Democracy Party told the CNI.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing. (GETTY IMAGES)

He said, " As no one is above the law, the issue should be handled by the law. action must be taken against the offenders of the law. There are many accusations of vote-rigging. The accusations must be verified whether they are true or not. If the accusations are wrong, she should be released. Without such considerations, they should think about whether such a person should be released in their countries. As no one is above the law, she should not be released if she violated the law. If she did not violate the law, measures must be taken to release her by providing evidence."

The military ousted the National League for Democracy government after accusing it of trying to take office without settling voters' list disputes and detained Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and some NLD leaders.

CNI News

24 Dec 2022

Twenty-seven cattle from Taungpyo Letwe of Maungdaw in Rakhine State were stolen by criminals in Bangladesh on 13th December, cow owners told the CNI.

The bulls owned by nine owners were stolen by criminals from Bangladesh and taken away, Local Resident U Aye Muang, whose five cows were stolen, told the NCI.

He said, "We release the bulls for pasturing. When we collected them at about 3 pm, we could not find them. We found the foodprints. We found that criminals from Bangladesh stole our bulls. We learnt that the Bangladesh Border Guard had seized our bulls from the thieves."

An archway to Taungpyo Letwe.

Taung Pyo town is the nearest town to Bangladesh divided only by a fence.

Owners followed the footsteps of their bulls and found that the fence was breached.

Local residents have reported the case to the Border Guard Forces but they have not responded to the reports, a ward administrator told the CNI.

He said, " A total of 27 bulls were stolen on 13th December and brought to the Bangladesh side. The cows were seen at the Bangladesh Border Guard posts but they have not returned the bulls. We have reported the case to Myanmar Border Guard forces but have not received any replies."

A security guard manning the Myanmar-Bangladesh border.

It was the first time bulls from Myanmar were stolen from Myanmar by Bangladeshi criminals and owners were stolen one to five bulls. A bull fetches between MMK 800,000 to one million, added U Aye Maung.

He told the CNI, "We had to feed as much as we can, spending what we could earned. Our assets are only these bulls. So, we did not leave them when fighting took place in our areas. We want our bull backs as soon as possible."

Residents expect that the bull will be returned soon as they have raised them for farming.

CNI News

23 Dec 2022

He will call on the new Malaysian government to issue temporary work permits for Myanmar refugees who have UNHCR cards in Malaysia, Director General U Nyi Nyi Lwin of the Centre for Arakan Refugees told the CNI.

He had discussed the issue with the previous government unsuccessfully and he is again trying to raise the issue with the new government, he added.

He told, "I discussed the issue with the previous government. Due to conflicts in Myanmar, hundreds of thousands of Myanmar nationals crossed the border to Malaysia. It is likely to take a long time to resolve the Myanmar political crisis. However, it is certain that political changes will take place in Myanmar one day. When political changes take place in Myanmar, refugees will go back to Myanmar. Meanwhile, authorities are arresting refugees but they cannot deport refugees to Myanmar because of international pressures. So, the government should allow them to work in Malaysia in the same way as Thailand.

Hundreds of thousands of migrants are applying for refugee cards with the UNHCR online. We will urge the government to allow Myanmar refugees to work in Malaysia."

The UNHCR collects lists of migrant workers.

The CAR will cooperate with other ethnic communities, labour organizations and NGOs for the issue.

Although the new government took office recently, the number of arrests has not decreased, according to activists for refugees and workers.

The number of arrests has increased not because of the new government but because of authorities who usually make arrests at year ends.

Only a few ethnic refugees from Myanmar who were arrested in Malaysia have UNHCR cards and most of them are undocumented, according to activists for refugees.

Secretary Steven of the Alliance of Chin Refugees told the CNI, "There is a 50-50 chance that the new government will allow refugees to work in Malaysia because it has not announced its foreign policies or refugee policies officially. On the other hand, newly elected politicians are not strangers to NGOs. It is expected that the situation of refugees will improve a little. The new government will have to adopt a policy to deal with the UN. They may discuss the refugee issue with the UN but they have not announced the discussion publicly. We hope that the new government will cooperate with the UN and the situation of refugees will improve."

Myanmar migrant workers.

If the new government allows refugees to work in Malaysia, only those who have UNHCR cards will have the chance to work in Malaysia.

Therefore, activists and ethnic communities have urged illegal migrants to apply for ethnic community cards and UNHCR cards.

Some illegal migrants were arrested because their neighbours reported to the police about their disturbance.

Activists have urged illegal migrants not to be involved in disturbances, brawls and drinking alcohol.

CNI News

23 Dec 2022

As substandard products and foodstuffs are imported from Thailand and China, the Food and Drug Administration has been urged to take action against importing such products, according to economists and public health workers.

Importing substandard products hurts the interests of consumers.

The FDA of Myanmar has failed to inspect substandard and expired products and seems to be working only for companies seeking approvals for imports of drugs and foodstuffs, an economist told the CNI.

 FDA announces substandard foodstuffs.

He told the CNI, "The FDA is responsible for suppression of harmful food and drugs in the market. And the Consumer Protection Department under the Ministry of Commerce is also responsible for protection of consumers. They have to take action against importing products that hurt the interests of consumers such as substandard products in terms of quality and fake goods when complaints are made to them and they are required to inspect such products. They work only when they are pressured by their superiors. They are just prioritizing applications for approvals from food and pharmaceutical companies."

Thailand manufactures products that are 18 percent lower in quality than the domestic market to exports to neighbouring countries, according to a Myanmar national manufacturing cosmetics in Thailand.

China is also known for exporting cheap and low quality products to less developing countries.

 An FDA team inspects foodstuffs.

As Myanmar has been importing low quality consumer products and foodstuffs from Thailand and China for many years and the FDA has failed to inspect them, such products are still imported into Myanmar, Ko Thar Gyi, a labour activist for Myanmar workers in Thailand told the CNI.

He said, "Government employees, especially those from the FDA, are responsible for imported goods. They should not be corrupt. When expired or harmful products are imported into the country, they cannot conduct proper inspections. No one pays custom duties for all products they import from Thailand. Customs officers collect duties per truckload of goods. They never think about goods that are harmful for the public. The FDA also fails to inspect the products in markets."

Myanmar imports more low quality products from Thailand as the people think Chinese products are lower in quality than Thailand, according to importers.

CNI News

23 Dec 2022

The joint statement issued by the summit of European Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders failed to support the National Unity Government as the legitimate representatives of the Myanmar people, according to a statement issued by the NUG.

The summit held on 14 December, 2022 called on the military to end violence immediately, to release all political prisoners and to provide humanitarian assistance to all without discrimination.

The NUG issued a statement on 19 December stating that the demands are not new and significant opportunities were missed.

 Pro-democracy demonstrators. (GETTY IMAGES)

The NUG said EU-ASEAN leaders had failed to support the NUG as the legitimate representatives of the Myanmar people, as well as failing to condemn the junta's atrocities against civilians.
The NUG should mainly try to gain domestic support, Myanmar Political Observer Dr Hla Kyaw Zaw told the CNI.

Dr Hla Kyaw Zaw said, "It does not matter whether the international community supports the NUG or not. What is important for it is the continued support of the people. So, the NUG try to unite the people and gain the support of the people. I am not saying not to deal with the international community. It is necessary. It needs to understand the policies of powerful countries."

The NUG said in its statement that Myanmar is in chaos and it is ready to cooperate in the efforts of the EU and the ASEAN to resolve the crisis in Myanmar.

Pro-democracy demonstrators confront security forces. (GETTY IMAGES)

The NUG is elected by the people and will gradually gain the support of the international community, Ko Thar Gyi, a labour activist for Myanmar workers, told the CNI.

He said, "The NUG has announced to the world that it is the government elected by the people and countries will support it gradually. This is because it is not a government that seized power by force but a government took office based on its reasoning. It will become a government that deserves the support of the people."

Currently, the SAC and the NUG are competing diplomatically for international recognition.

CNI News

23 Dec 2022

Most restaurants owned by Myanmar nationals in Mae Sot had to close due to complaints about failure to comply with the law, Myanmar nationals who live in Thailand told the CNI.

A large number of Myanmar restaurants popped up in various parts of Thailand including Mae Sot and Bangkok six months ago, Ko Thar Gyi, an activist for Myanmar workers in Thailand, told the CNI.

He said, "As there were so many Myanmar restaurants in Mae Sot that it looked like a town in Myanmar. Wherever you went in Mae Sot, there were Myanmar restaurants and cafes. Myanmar nationals thought they could open restaurants and hire workers as they had money, pink cards and passports while some police officers guaranteed permits for their businesses. In Thailand, private businesses can be established only in accordance with the law. As Myanmar nationals did not understand the details of the law, there were complaints about them and a large number of Myanmar restaurants were forced to close. Myanmar nationals in Thailand fail to study and abide by the rules and regulations of Thailand and did everything they wanted. They thought they could establish private businesses if they had places. Moreover, they sold beer and famous wines at their restaurants. They needed licenses to do so. As they did not understand the law, they sold beer and wines, which are not available at Thai restaurants."

He added that Myanmar restaurants sold foodstuffs at higher prices than the set ones, local residents were dissatisfied with them and made complaints about them to authorities.

A night market in Thailand.

He said, " Myanmar nationals in Thailand did not know that they could be arrested if they sold food items in their restaurants at higher prices than the set ones. So, Myanmar restaurants sold a can of soft drink, which is available at Baht 15 at 7 Eleven stores, at Baht 20 to 25. So, local residents could make a complaint about them officially to authorities, who would come to them to levy taxes and then check their identities. They checked whether the restaurant had paid taxes, where it bought its food items and it had income and expenditure accounts. The problem was very complicated.

In hiring workers, restaurants are required to employ workers at the posts they are hired for. However, some Myanmar restaurants failed to comply with the requirement and were subject to complaints and investigations.

Moreover, under existing laws in Thailand, employment visa holders in Thailand are not allowed to establish shops and restaurants, Consultant U Aung Kyaw of the Migrant Workers Right Network told the CNI.
He said, "Business visa holders can open shops without any interference by authorities. Those who open shops and restaurants by themselves are subject to arrests and legal actions at any time as they have violated the law. There are restrictions for employment visa holders. They are not allowed to set up businesses at all. So, some employment visa holders were arrested for doing business and deported.

Most Myanmar nationals who opened restaurants in Thailand registered their businesses under the name of Thai nationals but they have faced problems since October.

The activists have urged Myanmar nationals who want to open restaurants in Thailand to study relevant laws, rules and regulations.

CNI News

23 Dec 2022

Most restaurants owned by Myanmar nationals in Mae Sot had to close due to complaints about failure to comply with the law, Myanmar nationals who live in Thailand told the CNI.

A large number of Myanmar restaurants popped up in various parts of Thailand including Mae Sot and Bangkok six months ago, Ko Thar Gyi, an activist for Myanmar workers in Thailand, told the CNI.

He said, "As there were so many Myanmar restaurants in Mae Sot that it looked like a town in Myanmar. Wherever you went in Mae Sot, there were Myanmar restaurants and cafes. Myanmar nationals thought they could open restaurants and hire workers as they had money, pink cards and passports while some police officers guaranteed permits for their businesses. In Thailand, private businesses can be established only in accordance with the law. As Myanmar nationals did not understand the details of the law, there were complaints about them and a large number of Myanmar restaurants were forced to close. Myanmar nationals in Thailand fail to study and abide by the rules and regulations of Thailand and did everything they wanted. They thought they could establish private businesses if they had places. Moreover, they sold beer and famous wines at their restaurants. They needed licenses to do so. As they did not understand the law, they sold beer and wines, which are not available at Thai restaurants."

He added that Myanmar restaurants sold foodstuffs at higher prices than the set ones, local residents were dissatisfied with them and made complaints about them to authorities.

A night market in Thailand.

He said, " Myanmar nationals in Thailand did not know that they could be arrested if they sold food items in their restaurants at higher prices than the set ones. So, Myanmar restaurants sold a can of soft drink, which is available at Baht 15 at 7 Eleven stores, at Baht 20 to 25. So, local residents could make a complaint about them officially to authorities, who would come to them to levy taxes and then check their identities. They checked whether the restaurant had paid taxes, where it bought its food items and it had income and expenditure accounts. The problem was very complicated.

In hiring workers, restaurants are required to employ workers at the posts they are hired for. However, some Myanmar restaurants failed to comply with the requirement and were subject to complaints and investigations.

Moreover, under existing laws in Thailand, employment visa holders in Thailand are not allowed to establish shops and restaurants, Consultant U Aung Kyaw of the Migrant Workers Right Network told the CNI.
He said, "Business visa holders can open shops without any interference by authorities. Those who open shops and restaurants by themselves are subject to arrests and legal actions at any time as they have violated the law. There are restrictions for employment visa holders. They are not allowed to set up businesses at all. So, some employment visa holders were arrested for doing business and deported.

Most Myanmar nationals who opened restaurants in Thailand registered their businesses under the name of Thai nationals but they have faced problems since October.

The activists have urged Myanmar nationals who want to open restaurants in Thailand to study relevant laws, rules and regulations.

CNI News

23 Dec 2022

A new Sittwe port, which is a part of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project, will be opened soon.

The port is ready to handle international ships and necessary measures are being taken to serve domestic ships, Chairman U Tin Aung Oo of Rakhine State Chamber of Commerce and Industry told the CNI.
He said, "As far as we know, Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project has been completed and it is ready to provide services to ships. They are preparing documents required to provide services for international and domestic vessels."

When the new port is opened, 2,500 tons of quality rice harvested from Rakhine State will be exported from the port.

Paletwa port.

Merchants in Rakhine State said that the new port could be opened in January.

The project includes upgrading the Sittwe port, dredging the Kaladan River for international ships and construction of a highway from Paletwa in Chin State to Mizoram State in India.

Goods from India will be transported from Sittwe to Paletwa via waterway and products from Myanmar will also be exported to Mizoram State via Paletwa, according to merchants.

When the new port is opened, Myanmar merchants will be able to export goods to India and trade will be facilitated, Rakhine Merchant U Than Naing told the CNI.

People travelling along the Kaladan River.

He said, "The port mainly connects Sittwe and Calcutta in India. It will bring benefits for merchants in Rakhine and Myanmar. It takes at least a week to transport goods from Yangon to India. If we transport goods from Sittwe to India, it will take only one to two days. Goods will arrive in India quickly and can be distributed in the market. Trade is facilitated. We can also import products like construction materials. India is a powerful country politically and economically. We are looking forward to the opening of the port. Authorities often said that they would open the port soon but it has not happened so far. So, we don't know what to do.

Merchants and entrepreneurs are also discussing with Indian authorities to operate ships between the port and those in India weekly or monthly, according to the Rakhine State Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The MOU for the project was signed between the two countries in 2008 and implementation started in September 2010.

India invested US$ 484 million for the project.

CNI News

23 Dec 2022

The National Unity Government and the State Administration Council have exchanged accusations over a bomb explosion on Yangon-Dala ferry Cherry (2) in Yangon Region.

A bomb went off on the ferry which left Pansodan Jetty for Dala Jetty in the evening of 18th December, 2022, injuring 17 civilians.

The SAC announced on 19th December that the bomb was laid on the ferry by local People's Defence Forces while the NUG said on 20th December that it had nothing to do with the terrorist act.

Laying bombs at Public places intends to instill fears among the people and control them, Director U Thein Tun Oo of the Strategic Studies told the CNI.

Statement issued by the SAC on the explosion and civilians injured in the explosion.

He said, "It can be assumed that it is a violent act committed by terrorists out of terrorism because there were ordinary civilians, who were returning home after work, on the ferry. In theory, terrorists target a public place for bombing when they want to instill fears among the public and control them."

Based on past experience, she did not think the PDF was responsible for the bomb explosion, Political Observer Dr Hla Kyaw Zaw told the CNI.

She said, "I don't think the PDFs were responsible for the bomb explosion. We have seen such incidents since the term of the BSPP. During the anti-Chinese riots in Myanmar, an agent from the MRS stabbed a Chinese technician. So, we cannot say that the junta did not do it. They did whatever they wanted in successive eras including the terms of the SLORC and the SPDC."

Statement issued by the NUG on the explosion on a Yangon-Dala ferry and civilians injured in the explosion.

All armed organizations should abide by military code of conduct in their operations, Vice Chairperson Daw Saw Mya Yazar Lin of the Arakan Liberation Army told the CNI.

She said, "Like all other armed organizations, we abide by the Geneva Convention. We are working for the people. We are launching armed struggles for the people. So, we need to avoid activities that harm the interests of the people as much as possible."

The grassroots, especially those who come to work in Yangon from Dala, mainly take Yangon-Dala ferries.