CNI News

8 July 2025

The Myanmar Tatmadaw might be considering a gradual withdrawal from politics in Myanmar, but politicians need to avoid challenging the Myanmar Tatmadaw, U Myo Set Thwe, general secretary of the People's Pioneer Party (PPP), told CNI News.

There are considerations that politicians should be careful not to challenge the Myanmar Tatmadaw, as the Myanmar Tatmadaw tends to seize power whenever political problems in Myanmar become complicated.

Retaining power in 2021 by the Tatmadaw might be because of electoral fraud as well as because it was worried that the country's future prospects would worsen, said U Myo Set Thwe. 

“According to the 2008 constitution, the Tatmadaw seems to intend to gradually withdraw from politics. The reason why the Tatmadaw is involved is because it is concerned about the security of the country and the dignity of the Tatmadaw. If you don't want it to happen like that,  you need to avoid challenging the Tatmadaw. If politicians challenge the Tatmadaw, the Tatmadaw may maintain power even more. After building good relations between the Tatmadaw and political parties or civil society, we have to make the Tatmadaw retreat gradually from politics. What I mean is that you can't go and talk to the military like a thug. We will have to recognize the existence of the Tatmadaw and persuade it to gradually withdraw from politics. If we can do that, we hope that the Tatmadaw will gradually withdraw from politics," he said.

While seeing representatives from political parties

In Myanmar, the Tatmadaw  ruled the country after forming a caretaker government since the U Nu government handed over power to the Tatmadaw in 1958, and then seized power for various reasons, once on March 2, 1962, once in September 1989, and once after the 1990 elections.

And the Tatmadaw overthrew the NLD government on the first of February, 2021, claiming that the NLD was attempting to form a government without solving the vote list dispute that took place in the 2020 general election after which it took power and has been ruling the country after announcing the state of emergency.

In order to prolong its power, the Tatmadaw tends to play a trick on the public by using words 'election' and 'peace talks' whenever it encounters difficulties, said a China-Myanmar affairs analyst, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, told CNI News.

While the SAC Chairman was meeting with political parties

“We don’t regard such people as politicians. We don’t have any hope for the elections that the military will hold. The military deceives people with the words 'elections' and 'peace talks' whenever it finds it difficult. So-called politicians who talk about things that the military wants are not real politicians. They are trying to eat the leftovers from the military. They want to earn money from politics. I don't comment on what these people say, I don't care, and I don't recognize the election in any way. This military is trying to survive in this politics. They have enjoyed a taste of ruling this country. So, to survive this military dictatorship, this military is deceiving the people in various ways." she said.

The SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has said that elections will be held in December 2025 and January 2026, and power will be transferred to the winning political party. 

Some political party leaders have pointed out that a stable transition can be achieved only if the election results of what the military accepts come out.

CNI News

8 July 2025

The Myanmar Tatmadaw announced that it had regained control of the entire town of Mobye on July 6, 2025, after 615 major and minor battles to regain control of Mobye, Kayah State.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw had been conducting a Counter Terrorism Operation to regain control of Mobye since early 2025 and after 615 major and minor battles took place during the entire operation, the Myanmar Tatmadaw was able to regain control of the entire town of Mobye, it announced.

The statement said that important documents and video files including 24 bodies and 63 weapons from the KNPP-PDF joint force  were seized.

The Loikaw-Mobye-Pekon-Pinlaung road was scheduled to reopen soon after the remaining 4.5 km of the road that connects Mobye with Loikaw was completely cleared, said in the statement.

The Free Burma Ranger sided with the KNPP-PDF joint force against the Myanmar Tatmadaw in the Mobye Batttle, stated the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

CNI News

7 July 2025

The National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) and the National Unity Government (NUG) jointly issued a statement on July 5, 2025, calling on the revolutionary elements to stand together and oppose the illegal, sham elections and sham peace process.

The statement was issued by the Joint Working Committee Against Illegal and Fraudulent Elections, claiming to be an appeal to the revolutionary forces.

Then, the NUCC and the NUG urged revolutionary groups to work together with the local people to prevent the SAC (originally described: Military Group) from organizing and holding elections in various revolutionary areas, including ethnic areas.

On July 4, 2025, the SAC invited the PDFs and armed groups to join hands in building a union based on democracy and federalism, as well as holding elections.

Military and political analysts point out that the public is left with no choice, and that both sides need to provide an outlet for the public.

In Myanmar elections will be held in 267 townships in separate phases between December 2025 and January 2026, and state power will be handed over to the political party that wins the election, said Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the SAC.

CNI News

7 July 2025

The SAC invited the People's Defense Force (PDF) and armed groups to cooperate with the SAC to hold the elections that have been planned by the SAC, it announced on July 4, 2025.

The Hluttaw and government that will emerge from the multi-party democratic general election to be held will continue to negotiate and discuss the emergence of a union based on democracy and federalism, and the amendment of the constitution in accordance with that union, announced the SAC Information Team.

The government and the Tatmadaw will welcome and accept armed groups, including the PDF, if they stand legally within the framework of the law and work together with the government and the Tatmadaw to achieve national and regional benefits, anticipating the emergence of a union based on democracy and federalism, said in the statement.

If the actions of the CRPH and NUG go against their (PDF and armed groups) expectations, they should change their course and take the right path, said the SAC.  “Continuing on the armed path will not benefit the country and will only be a step backwards for democracy,” the SAC said.

In Myanmar, elections will be held in 267 townships in December 2025 and January 2026, and state power will be handed over to the political party that wins the elections, the SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has said.

However, CRPH, NUG, PDF, and some ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) have announced that they will disrupt the elections to be held by the SAC. 

There are currently a total of 54 political parties that will compete in the elections to be held by the SAC, according to the Union Election Commission (UEC).

CNI News
6 July 2025

Planting trees and preserving them is very important for the present and future generations of the nation, said the SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, at the second rainy season tree planting event in Nay Pyi Taw on July 4, 2025.

Everyone knows that trees provide numerous benefits to the earth and humans, and according to researchers, an environment with trees and greenery can reduce stress and improve mental health, said the SAC Chairman.

“Parks, streets, and rural and urban areas filled with trees provide opportunities for walking, relaxing, and finding shade, as well as providing a peaceful and beautiful natural environment, which has positive effects on human health. Therefore, planting and preserving trees is a very important and beneficial natural investment for the present and future generations of the country,” he said.

In the second rainy season trees planting event, the plan has been made to grow 3,000 trees for 2025. On June 15, 3,000 trees including 16 tree species were planted for the first time in the Yan Aung Myin Forest Reserve.

The SAC chairman said that the SAC has planned to designate 30 percent of the country's area as forest reserves and protected public forests and 10 percent as natural conservation area to increase the country's forest coverage area and conserve wildlife and unique geophysical sites.

During its tenure, the SAC has formed more than 660,000 acres of 61 forest reserves and protected public forests and more than 610,000 acres of 16 natural conservation areas.

And it has established 1,324 forest reserves and protected public forests on 25.94 per cent of land areas and 62 natural conservation areas on 6.43 per cent of the land areas, it is necessary to strive to meet the target areas of the forest coverage, he added.

It is pointed out that due to excessive timber production in Myanmar, droughts and floods occur almost every year.

CNI News

5 July 2025

 After the expansion of Mobile Force No. 6, it would carry out security and protection operations along the Chindwin River Basin, announced the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Kaplan/Ang Mai (NSCN-K/AM) on July 3, 2025. 

The NSCN-K/AM also said that it maintains good relations with other armed groups in the Naga region and adjacent areas in Myanmar.

“We have expanded the formation of Mobile Force No. 6, which will operate in strategically important areas. It will mainly operate in  Khiamniungan areas, Khanti Township , and will also carry out security and defense duties for the people living along the Chindwin River Basin,” it said.

Currently, the NSCN-K/AM has an understanding with the Myanmar Tatmadaw, is maintaining a neutral stance in the Myanmar political conflict, and is also engaged in peace talks with the Myanmar government.

NSCN-K/AM is active in Upper Sagaing Region, the Naga Self-Administered Zone, Khamti Township, and the Myanmar-India border. 

U Aung Mai, who led the NSCN-K/AM group, was expelled by the NSCN-K/YA group, and U Ang Mai formed the NSCN-K/AM as a new group on July 2, 2023.

U Ann Mai reportedly served as the personal officer and Home Minister of U Kaplang who led the NSCN-K until U Kaplang died.

CNI News

4 July 2025

They wanted the 1.8 million Myanmar migrant workers whose documents expired to be granted an extension as soon as possible under the new Thai labor minister, migrant workers' rights activists told CNI News. 

The Thai government has temporarily suspended the extension of visas and other documents for these 1.8 million Myanmar migrant workers who expired since February 13, 2025.

Amidst the current change in government in Thailand, no announcement has been made regarding the extension, but he hopes it will be implemented quickly, U Aung Kyaw, a labor activist, told CNI News.
 

"In the change of Thai politics, our labor affairs manager resigned, and now, 1.8 million of our migrant workers in Thailand are struggling with document renewal issues. I hope that when the new Minister of Labor takes office, the issue of extending the term of these workers will be quickly resolved. The 1.8 million Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand expired on February 13, 2025. There has been no implementation on extending their documents so far. "The Thai government has allowed these workers to work regularly until August 13 under the liberalization law. When will they be extended? I hope that the extension issues will be handled quickly under the new minister," he said.

While seeing Thai PM Paetongtarn who has been suspended from her post

Thai Labor Minister Phipat Ratchakitprakarn resigned on June 19 following a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, and has been replaced by a new minister, Pongkawin Juangroongruangkit. Despite the change in the Minister of Labor, the labor issues will likely continue as planned under the previous minister, but if parliament is dissolved, changes could occur, said U Min Oo, who is helping with labor issues, to CNI News.

“The new Minister of Labor is continuing to work on labor issues as usual. Although the Ministry of Labor website states that the minister has changed, the 400 baht wage that was designated starting from July 1 has been officially approved. The new cabinet is expected to continue the work planned previously. If parliament is dissolved and elections are held, change could happen. For the time being, they will continue to implement the measures set by previous ministers," he said.

Thailand is currently in a political crisis due to the Thai-Cambodian border conflict, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn has been suspended from office and is under investigation by the court. 
Then, Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit  (70) took over as interim Prime Minister. 

Currently, Paetongtarn has been suspended from her post until the court's final ruling, but remains in the government as Minister of Culture.

CNI News

4 July 2025

Mr. Liu Zhongyi, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Public Security of China, met with U Than Swe, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the SAC, in Nay Pyi Taw on July 3, 2025.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that they discussed further strengthening the existing friendly relations between Myanmar and China, promoting legal cooperation to combat cross-border crimes, and promoting cooperation between relevant departments of the two countries to combat online gambling and fraud networks along the border region.

In addition, they discussed issues such as enhancing cooperation  among Myanmar, China and Thailand, including cooperation with the regional and international community, and maintaining peace and stability along the Myanmar-China border.

China is a country that supports the SAC's peace processes and the elections that will be held by the SAC.

CNI News

4 July 2025

If elections were held, it would be an exit for the people, and politicians would have to convince the people to vote in the elections, the National Democratic Force Party (NDF) Vice Chairman U Htet Aung Kyaw told CNI News. 

The SAC chairman said that elections will be held in Myanmar in December 2025 and January 2026, and that state power would be hand over to  the party that wins the elections.

The current situation is a crisis for everyone, and there is a question of what other way out is there, but what needs to be done must be done, National Democratic Force Party(NDF) Vice Chairman U Htet Aung Kyaw told CNI News. 

While seeing political parties and the SAC Chairman

"We politicians need to make sure that the public understands that voting in this election is their way out. We need to do what we have to do. At the current level, what other way out is there? The public is in a lot of trouble. The election is an important step towards returning to normalcy. This is a turning point. I am talking about holding an election because it can change the situation without causing any harm to the public. We need to tell the public how to vote. Public voting is the way out. We also have to say that their voting is their way out. I hope that the public's regular hearing of the election will wake them up to vote in the election," he said.

The 2008 Constitution does not stipulate a quorum for an election, depending on the voting percentage. So if an election was held, a quorum would be reached, said Sai Htay Aung, chairman of the Tai Leng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party, to CNI News. 

While seeing those who will vote

"The 2008 Constitution does not stipulate a quorum for an election depending on the voting percentage. so as soon as the election was finished, it would be quorum. We presented and discussed it. We are discussing how those who have fled the war and those who are abroad can also vote." he said.

The NUG, the PDFs, and the EAO have announced that they will completely disrupt the upcoming elections that will be held by the SAC. 

Then, the public is considering whether they should vote in the election or not. However, some people have decided not to vote at all, due to concerns that polling stations will be attacked.

In addition, some people have decided not to vote because they do not like the stance and history of the political parties that will run the election.