CNI News

12 May 2025

The political status of the United Wa State Army (UWSA), which is designated as a “Wa” self-administered division under the 2008 constitution, is “full sovereignty” except for not declaring independence, U Khun Sai, who is involved in the peace process, told CNI News.

The six townships of Hopan, Mong Maw, Pan Wai, Nar Phan, Matman, and Pan Kham (Pang Sang) in Shan State have been divided into two districts and designated as “Wa” self-administered divisions under the 2008 constitution.

Other ethnic armed groups (EAOs) have sought political status like the Wa, but have failed to achieve it. They only want to be designated as a special region.

"The “Wa” situation is that they just didn’t declare independence. They have everything. They have sovereignty. They have their own army. So what China is talking about is one country, two systems. Whether our country is democratic, federal or unitary, they will remain independent. They will simply not declare independence. When the “Wa” hold a ceremony, they raise both a union flag and a “Wa” flag. But the union army cannot enter their region." said U Khun Sai.

While seeing leader of the UWSA and former Chinese Special Envoy Mr. Sun Guoxiang

The Arakan Army (AA) has stated that it wants to achieve confederation status like the “Wa” as the lowest political level and its highest goal is to establish an independent territory. 
Therefore, starting in November 2023, the AA has been waging battles in Rakhine State and has been able to occupy 14 of the 17 townships in Rakhine State during the past over a year.

The “Wa” has achieved the political status it currently enjoys because of the actions it has taken to defend the country, U Thein Tun Oo, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNI News.

While seeing two leaders of the AA

“In the past, there was a border issue with Thailand, and at that time it was SURA. When we were fighting with the groups led by U Yaw Sit, who has now made peace, the “Wa” used to be part of the Myanmar military as a national defense force. That's why the Myanmar Tatmadaw had created a self-administered zone for the "Wa". The existence of the "Wa" and its place depend on it. If the AA wants a level like "Wa", we have to ask what the AA has done for the defense of the country. That's why when the constitution was drafted, the "Wa" self-administered division was included. If the AA wants to achieve a status beyond “Wa”, it first needs to answer the question of what the AA did to achieve “Wa” status. If AA can't answer that, I think they will have to try to stay in their current position." he said.

In Myanmar, the “Wa” Self-Administered Division, the Kokang Self-Administered Zone, the Danu Self-Administered Zone, the Palaung Self-Administered Zone, the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone, and the Naga Self-Administered Zone have been designated.

CNI News

12 May 2025

the current situation in Myanmar, which is on the path to building a federal democracy, is a "form of armed federalism," and that the combination of armed forces and federalism is very dangerous, the People's Party (PP) Chairman U Ko Ko Gyi told CNI News. 

He also said that there can be no federalism without democracy, and therefore, democracy and federalism need to go hand in hand.

“The words demanded by the ethnic groups in the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) are a union based on democracy and federalism, and then it is not a democratic federalism, but a federal democracy - they change the words back and forth. So the current situation is, in other words, it has become a Military Federal. To tell you the truth, if you can capture more territories, you can have it your own way in the territories. Democracy has disappeared kind of. In fact, there can be no federalism without democracy. So, if someone who can occupy territories without a federation does whatever they want, the essence of the federation will be destroyed. That is why democracy and federalism need to go hand in hand with equality. The current situation is that democracy has almost disappeared. So I see the situation where weapons and the federalism are intertwined as very dangerous." said U Ko Ko Gyi.

U Ko Ko Gyi and the SAC Chairman

Nine armed resistance groups, including the Karen National Union (KNU), Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), and Chin National Front (CNF), announced on September 19, 2024, that they had reached a four-point agreement to move from a state-strengthening approach to a union-strengthening approach to build a federal democratic union in the future.

These armed groups are engaged in fierce fighting with the Myanmar Tatmadaw and are attempting to overthrow the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the SAC.
The SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said on September 10, 2023, that a regionally-based federal system is the most suitable for implementing democracy and federal governance.

Furthermore, the SAC chairman said that in the peace talks, ethnic armed groups are only demanding ethnic issues and are not demanding regional issues. 

They should not be organizations that represent a group of people but rather organizations that represent the region. Ethnic armed groups are trying to gain their own territories and the Myanmar Tatmadaw will continue to wage war, said the SAC Chairman.

While seeing those who attended the 8th Anniversary Celebration of the NCA

U Sai Htay Aung, chairman of the Tai Leng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party (TNDP), told CNI News that as long as there are armed groups, there can be neither federalism nor democracy; and then, the country will stay away from federalism.

“We should only keep armed groups within the framework of the law. As long as there are armed groups without rules, we cannot have federalism or democracy. In a federal system, states have the right to govern themselves, and then they will have the right to speak by connecting with the central government. You will have many of the powers of the state. "If armed groups are forcing to do this, then we'll be far from federalism. As long as they are armed, we will remain under a dictatorship." he said.

Federalism is a solution, so they need to work towards it. However, if they go beyond that, the union will collapse, and the impact could be problematic not only for domestic affairs but also for the entire Southeast Asia, military and political analysts have considered. In Myanmar, efforts are being made to build a federal and democratically based union.

Some ethnic armed groups are even expressing goals such as confederation and independence. In Myanmar, the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) have achieved a confederation status that goes beyond federalism through armed resistance.

Similarly, the Kokang National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) has regained Special Region (1), which it lost in 2009, through armed resistance. Then, armed groups such as the TNLA, AA, KIA, and CNF are also trying to achieve their own system of governance through armed resistance.

CNI News
11 May 2025

Chinese President Xi Jinping said he will continue to assist Myanmar's peace efforts.

He said the above during his meeting with the SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Moscow, Russia, on May 9, 2025.

“China has always supported Myanmar’s development, sovereignty, and stability and will continue to assist Myanmar in its development and peace efforts.” said Xi Jinping.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the SAC, said that he thanked China for standing with Myanmar on regional and international fronts.

He said, “Myanmar is making preparations to successfully hold a multi-party democratic election by the end of this year, and is also planning to invite international observation teams during the election.”

The SAC Chairman then said that Myanmar supports China's efforts to build a community of shared future with neighboring countries and to lay down new foundations for cooperation with neighboring countries.

Fierce fighting is ongoing across Myanmar between ethnic armed organizations (EAOs)/the People's Defense Forces (PDF), and the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

During these clashes, the AA-TNLA-MNDAA jointly launched Operation 1027 in northern Shan State on October 27, 2023. During that operation, the AA-TNLA-MNDAA captured almost the entire northern region of Shan State and the Northeast Command.

On the other hand, in collaboration with the PDF, the KIA is fighting ‌against the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Kachin State and Sagaing Region to capture towns. Therefore, China is trying to mediate between the KIA-AA-TNLA-MNDAA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw to negotiate peace.

Currently, a peace agreement has been reached between the MNDAA and the Myanmar Army, thanks to Chinese mediation, and talks are ongoing between the TNLA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw, and between the KIA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

CNI News
11 May 2025

Chinese President Xi Jinping said he will continue to assist Myanmar's peace efforts.

He said the above during his meeting with the SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Moscow, Russia, on May 9, 2025.

“China has always supported Myanmar’s development, sovereignty, and stability and will continue to assist Myanmar in its development and peace efforts.” said Xi Jinping.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the SAC, said that he thanked China for standing with Myanmar on regional and international fronts.

He said, “Myanmar is making preparations to successfully hold a multi-party democratic election by the end of this year, and is also planning to invite international observation teams during the election.”

The SAC Chairman then said that Myanmar supports China's efforts to build a community of shared future with neighboring countries and to lay down new foundations for cooperation with neighboring countries.

Fierce fighting is ongoing across Myanmar between ethnic armed organizations (EAOs)/the People's Defense Forces (PDF), and the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

During these clashes, the AA-TNLA-MNDAA jointly launched Operation 1027 in northern Shan State on October 27, 2023. During that operation, the AA-TNLA-MNDAA captured almost the entire northern region of Shan State and the Northeast Command.

On the other hand, in collaboration with the PDF, the KIA is fighting ‌against the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Kachin State and Sagaing Region to capture towns. Therefore, China is trying to mediate between the KIA-AA-TNLA-MNDAA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw to negotiate peace.

Currently, a peace agreement has been reached between the MNDAA and the Myanmar Army, thanks to Chinese mediation, and talks are ongoing between the TNLA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw, and between the KIA and the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

CNI News
11 May 2025

Democracy is facing a major challenge in the current era, the People's Party (PP) Chairman U Ko Ko Gyi told CNI News.

Politicians point out that just as efforts to establish democracy were made during the Industrial Revolution, efforts to establish democracy in the AI era have changed in a different way than before.

People's Party (PP) Chairman U Ko Ko Gyi said that society needs to understand that democracy is not a transfer of power but a process of practice.

“ I think we need to understand democracy correctly. Democracy is not a transfer of power, it is just a practice or rules of conduct. It does not become democracy immediately after a five-year term. In European countries and the United States, democracy has been gradually practiced for hundreds of years or many decades to reach the current. situation. Yet, they are facing the issue of democracy being transformed in every country. Democracy in the Industrial Revolution and democracy in the AI era have changed in many ways. In other words, society cannot keep up with technological advances. Especially the legal structures and law enforcement structures cannot keep up with technology. That's why democracy is being challenged these days." he said.

The Karen National Union (KNU), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the Chin National Front (CNF) and the National Unity Government (NUG) which are all revolutionary organizations jointly announced that holding elections under the 2008 constitution would not implement democracy on January 31, 2024.
The SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said on January 1, 2025 that some ethnic leaders are demanding federal rights and ethnic rights, but they are ignoring the nature of democracy and are working towards the disintegration of the Union.

While seeing those who are demanding democracy

He also said that the armed groups should consider what they want and what they should do, and act democratically, for the interests of the Union.

Democracy is not a goal, but a system used to achieve the goal. The system is being used as a goal, which is causing problems that should not have happened, U Htet Aung Kyaw, vice chairman of the National Democratic Forces (NDF), told CNI News.

"Democracy is being challenged not only in Myanmar but also around the world. Democracy is being sought as as goal in our country, but democracy is not the goal, it is just a vehicle we use to get to our goal. A peaceful and prosperous country should be the goal, and how will we achieve that? We will do it with democracy. China goes with the communist system. We consider the vehicle that will take us to this goal as the goal. That's why things that shouldn't happen in our country are happening." he said.

The SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said on December 22, 2024 that he believed that only a democratic method of dialogue and finding solutions to the problems faced by a society where people live together could be successfully resolved.

While the NSPNC and political parties were discussing

The National Unity Government (NUG) said on January 1, 2025, that it would boldly implement the changes needed to achieve the revolution in 2025.

Furthermore, the NUG Union Chief Minister Mahn Win Khaing Than said that Myanmar is not a country that would fall apart without the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

Currently,  some ethnic armed organizations no longer want democracy and prefer a one-party system or the unitary system, military and political analysts point out.

If ILO imposes economic sanctions on Myanmar, hundreds of thousands of workers may face hardship

CNI News

10 May 2025

Due to reports that the International Labor Organization (ILO) will impose economic sanctions on Myanmar, if the ILO actually do so, hundreds of thousands of workers could face hardship, Secretary of the National Democratic Force Party (NDF) told CNI News.

The ILO usually imposes sanctions on countries that do not comply with the provisions of Article 33, so Myanmar will be scrutinized in June to determine whether it complies with Articles 29, 87, 111, and 138. 

Sanctions will be imposed if violations are found, according to reports circulating among domestic and foreign diplomats.

U Htet Aung Kyaw

“These four articles, Article 33, Article 29, Article 87, Article 111, and Article 138, must be followed. If Myanmar Fails to comply, it will be taken action. There are many workers in the garment industry. If Myanmar is taken action against, about four or five hundred thousand workers can lose their jobs. That's why I hope the government and the Ministry of Labor will handle these issues carefully and diligently." said U Htet Aung Kyaw.

The Central Statistics Office reported that the garment industry earned $994.

1 million in export revenue during the first quarter of the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

Myanmar's garment industry is exporting to more than 80 countries, with major exports to Japan, Poland, Spain, Germany, Korea, the UK, the Netherlands, Italy, the US, France, Denmark, and Belgium, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

CNI News

10 May 2025

There are ongoing pressures from the SAC and China, and those pressures are affecting the people more than their organization, said Col. Tar Pan La, Joint General Secretary (2) of the TNLA. 

He made the remarks at a press conference held by the TNLA on May 4, 2025.

"The pressure is ongoing, which is having a severe impact on the public. Starting in January 2024, SAC has blocked all routes from lower Myanmar to northern Shan State, and also all routes from northern Shan State to lower Myanmar. It is made in the form of a Four Cuts pattern. (The name Four Cuts refers to the cuts in four types of support: food, funding, information, and recruitment.) This is why the people face difficulties in traveling, trading, and solving food and living problems. In the same way, China also has carried out. As the people living in the Chinese border are making a living based on the border, blocking the border adversely affect the people. Pressures from China and the SAC mainly affect the public." said Col. Tar Pan La.

While seeing the public meeting with the TNLA

The Kokang forces, which had seized Lashio and begun administration, were forced to hand over Lashio to the SAC on April 21, 2025, due to Chinese intervention. 

There are speculations that the TNLA may hand over some of the townships it has captured to the SAC as a result of this incident. Col. Ta Pan La, Joint General Secretary (2) of the TNLA, said that the transfer of Lashio has caused harm to the Ta’ang people.

A comrade of the TNLA

“The Lashio incident has affected our region. In particular, there are Ta’ang people and Ta’ang communities in Lashio. We have also heard that they are affected there.I heard that there are many restrictions on public movement, shopping, buying food, and buying equipment. "he said.

The SAC and the TNLA met to discuss the issue thanks to China's mediation, but the differences in approaches to Myanmar politics between China and the TNLA led to differences in finding solutions, said the TNLA. 

Delegates from the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the TNLA met in Kunming, China, on April 28-29, 2025, but the talks ended without reaching an agreement. The two sides agreed to meet again in August this year.

CNI News

9 May 2025

If they do not accept the elections being prepared by the SAC, they will have to consider whether to cancel them and remain under martial law, the People's Party (PP) chairman U Ko Ko Gyi told CNI News.

Since the SAC has taken power, it is necessary to consider whether or not to accept the election that the SAC will hold; they will have to consider realistically what will happen if they accept it and what will happen if they do not accept it, he said.

"If the 2008 constitution is not accepted, will it be abolished?" If it has been abolished, the 1974 constitution was abolished in 1988 and martial law was imposed until 2010. We need to think about how we will deal with the consequences if we don't accept this. When we founded a political party, we had to accept some things as a matter of course, but not because we liked the current situation. We need to accept and then think of ways to change the situations we don't like. In the current situation, all three powers are in the hands of one person for as long as the state of emergency is declared. We can fight that and eliminate it, that's the revolutionary way. We have been in the revolution for over four years. We have also carried out things for our expectations," said U Ko Ko Gyi.

While seeing those who were casting votes

On February 1, 2021, the Myanmar military ousted the National League for Democracy (NLD) government and declared a state of emergency, claiming that it was attempting to form a government without resolving the 2020 general election voter list dispute. 

Between February 1, 2021 and 2025, the people of Myanmar had to face and overcome many disasters, including war, COVID, floods, storms, and earthquakes; If the people suffer more, they will have to consider whether there will be explosions, he added.

“As a dissenting force, they need to present a broader response than just opposing the election, saying it was unfair. What can we do if we don't oppose the election?

We cancel and don't hold elections. The SAC renews every 6 months. How can we do that? We need to be honest and open with the people about what we will do if we continue to live under martial law after the constitution has been abolished. I would like to urge the public to work together to strengthen non-violent domestic politics," he said.

While seeing political parties and the chairman of the SAC

The general election will be held between December 2025 and January 2026, the SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said at a joint press conference with Belarusian President Lukashenko on March 7, 2025. 

The ethnic armed groups and the National Unity Government (NUG) have announced that they will completely disrupt the elections that will be held by the SAC.

However, neighboring countries such as China, Thailand, Laos, India, and Bangladesh support the elections to be held by the SAC and accept that the political crisis in Myanmar can only be overcome through elections. 

If elections cannot be held in Myanmar, the SAC can extend the nationwide state of emergency for six consecutive months, indefinitely.

CNI News

9 May 2025

If talks between the SAC and the Arakan Army (AA) take place, the AA may make higher demands than the “Wa” and Kokang, Colonel Khun Okkar, chairman of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO-NCA/S), which signed the NCA, told CNI News.

The AA could mainly demand that the Rakhine State would be governed by the Rakhine State government, he said.

"If there is a dialogue, I think AA can demand more than what the “Wa” and the Kokang ask for because it has already had Rakhine State. It can demand more power and authority because it has seized control of most of the territories in Rakhine State. When it comes to the distribution of natural resources in Rakhine, Rakhine State should take 70 percent and the central government should take 30 percent for example. The AA has reached a point where it can discuss these issues. If the talks agree on both political and financial terms, the AA can cease fire if it wants to. But it doesn't look like he will give up the Rakhine region he has gained. Rakhine has already attained state status, which is higher than the autonomous region. It's a state that can form its own government. The Rakhine State government will govern Rakhine State. But it will share with the Union in some places. But the main thing is that Rakhine State will be governed by the Rakhine State government. One country, two systems.” said Col. Khun Okkar.

While seeing the UWSA

The United Wa State Army (UWSA) governs the areas designated as “Wa” Self-Administered Division under the 2008 constitution, which include six townships in Shan State: Hopan, Mong Maw, Pang Wai, Nar Phan, Matman, and Pang Kham (Pang Sang).

Similarly, the Kokang Force, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) has been administering the Kokang Autonomous Region, which includes Laukkai and Kon Kyan in Shan State, after the city of Lashio was handed back to the Tatmadaw through Chinese mediation.

It would not be easy for the AA to achieve a position like the “Wa” without a negotiation process, Dr. Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), told CNI News.

A crossroads in Rakhine State

"It's much less likely that Rakhine will become what the armed groups hope for. It's not easy (for the AA) to achieve a "Wa" status without a negotiation. The AA is not the same as the Wa. The Wa had been trying to rule its region since 1989. So, they negotiated with Sr-Gen Than Shwe. The Wa region had been a special region before the 2008 Constitution. After the constitution, self-administered division and special regions were enacted. The Wa and Rakhine are different. Rakhine is a state according to the constitution. Before that, there were no negotiations between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and Rakhine armed groups. Can Rakhine become like “Wa” or not?" When the current government considers the constitution, it is difficult for Rakhine to become like the Wa region." he said.

Currently, in collaboration with other armed groups, the AA is fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Ayeyarwady Region, Magway Region, Bago Region, Sagaing Region, Rakhine State, and Chin State.

The AA has stated that it wants to achieve confederation status like the “Wa” at the minimum level and that it has the ambition of establishing an independent territory at the maximum level.

Currently, the AA controls the townships of Thandwe, Gwa, Ann, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Maungdaw, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Kyauktaw, Punnakyun, Manaung, Pauktaw, Taung Goat, and Myebon in Rakhine State.