CNI News

17 September 2024

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC), went to flood-hit places inside Bagan region and the Naypyidaw Council Territory on 15th September and told officials concerned to speed up reconstruction tasks.

He went and looked at the situations of the roads, bridges, small dams, agricultural and livestock industries that were damaged by the flood and instructed officials concerned to carry out reconstruction tasks as soon as possible.

And then, he went to Bagan region and looked at pagodas and stupas that were ruined by the flood and instructed officials concerned to speed up maintenance tasks. 

After was raining cats and dogs due to the Yagi storm in Myanmar, 34 townships were flooded and there are over 200,000 flood-victims.

So, the SAC has opened 187 rescue camps to help flood-hit victims, and 59413 households and 236649 people were moved.

At present, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing is exercising close supervision to minimize damage and loss in the flood-hit regions as well as to carry out recue tasks as soon as possible.

CNI News

17 September 2024

While the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) is complying with the Nationwide Ceasefire agreement and striving for the interests of the people, the current chairman of the PNLO doesn't use the collective leadership policy but his own policy, abusing the policy, said Col. Khun Okkar.

The current chairman of the PNLO, Col. Khun Thurein is ruling the organization with his own policy and breaking the NCA. 

Moreover, he is fighting against the Pa-O National Organization (PNO/PNA) and the State Administration Council (SAC). 

So, damages and losses of towns and villages, and an increase in the number of IDPs could be obviously seen, stated Col. Khun Okkar on 10th September.

Col.Khun Thurein

So, he had made a decision to resign from the PNLO offshoot led by Khun Thurein for good because as a patron of the PNLO/PNLA, he was unavoidably responsible, stated Col. Khun Okkar. He would have nothing to do with the PNLO offshoot in future, reported Col. Khun Okkar.

He would continue to carry out for the national politics after resigning from the PNLO offshoot, said Col. Khun Okkar. The PPLO led by Col. 

Khun Okkar who seceded from  the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) and elements led by Col. Khun Thurein who seceded from the SNPLO re-organized and established the PNLO with small other Pa-O forces at a national conference held somewhere on the Thai-Myanmar border in 2009.

And then, the PNLO/PNLA re-entered the Pa-O region 2012 and it collaborated with the PNO/PNA in carrying out the Pa-O national political tasks until the end of 2023; Col. Khun Okkar, Khun Myint Tun and Col. Khun Thurein took responsibility as rotating chairmen of the PNLO from 2009 to 2023, said the statement released on 10th September 2024 by Col. Khun Okkar.

While seeing the 7 EAO Alliance and the NSPNC

The PNLO signed the bilateral ceasefire agreement at the state level and the union level under the government led by President U Thein Sein. Moreover, it signed the NCA on 15th October 2015. 

And then, as a representative of the PNLO, Col. Khun Okkar took part in the 7 EAO Alliance and is holding peace talks with the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

So, the PNLO led by Col. Khun Thurein has stopped participating in the NCA since it started military conflict with the Myanmar Tatmadaw on 21st January 2024; so it has not sent its representatives to both the 7 EAO Alliance and the NCA signatory PNLO, said in a statement released on 13th September 2024.

The only decision of five leaders represents the PNLO from that day on and they are three chairmen, a general secretary and a member of the Central Executive Committee, stated the PNLO led by Col. Khun Thurein.

14 September 2024

Because it was continuously raining heavily, wards in low lying land in Maukme Town has been flooded, the people in the wards are needing help, said locals.

Low lying places in Zaydan Ward, Kon Kyaing, Mwedaw, Taung Myo Wards have been flooded since 12th September and around 1,000 people in those places have been flood victims and they are desperately in need of help.

Because of the floods, seven cows were killed and the bridge connecting Seesone Ward with Taung Myo Ward drifted. 

While Maukme Town in southern Shan State is being flooded  (Num Hpa Leng)

Moreover, telecommunication and electricity have been cut out; there were some landslides and big trees collapsed and they have blocked the roads; paddy fields were also flooded, said locals.

Floods are currently taking place in southern Shan State, eastern Shan State, Mon, Karen States, Mandalay, Magway Regions and Naypyidaw, and the flood victims in those places are in need of help.

CNI News

14 September 2024

A general election that contains all ethnic groups should be created because the multiparty democratic system is based, Naing Than Shwe, spokesperson of the Mon Unity Party (MUP), told CNI News.

The ethnic political parties that have been refused by the Union Election Commission have got entangled with what facts, which should be verified, he said.

" Multiparty democratic system will be based. And the State Administration Council has said that will be all inclusive. We must hold an all inclusive election. But some ethnic political parties have been refused. What sections of the law have these parties got entangled with? Is it related to individuals or the whole party. .It should be examined thoroughly. If an individual gets entangled with the law, what should we do? it's very important. Especially, all ethnic groups should take part in the election. Only if so, can we enjoy the essence of federal democracy, I think." said Naing Than Shwe to CNI News.

While seeing ethnic youths

Laws and bylaws relating to re-registration of political parties were released by the UEC on 31st January 2023 and the UEC instructed political parties to re-register within 60 days. 

However, some political parties including the Arakan National Party (ANP) and the Zomi Congress for Democracy Party (ZCD) have been refused to register.

Because the ANP had been refused to register, it weaken the interest of Rakhine people in democracy and politics, U Tun Aung Kyaw, member of the policy steering committee of the ANP, told CNI News.

While the UEC was explaining how to vote

" The intention of our party is that we will express or point out for the interest of the people if necessary. If we don't have the right to do so, as a party that has gained the support of most people in Rakhine State, we feel that the UEC's performance has a lot of necessities. Moreover, our Rakhine people won't be interested in the matters that will be carried out politically because the party they support has been refused the right to exist." he said.

The chairman of the SAC has said that the census-taking will be conducted in October this year and a general election will be held in 2025.

CNI News

14 September 2024

Although the prices of foreign currencies including US dollar have been falling since the past week, the prices of fuel oil have not fallen, which is being reviewed and discussed by businessmen and banking experts.

The prices of fuel oil have not fallen possibly because the current price of global petroleum is on the rise; when fuel oil is bought on contract, because oil tankers take about 30 days to arrive in Myanmar, fuel oil that are being currently sold might have been bought while the price of dollar was going up.

However, the price of dollar has declined to an extent now, fuel oil supervisory committee should exercise close supervision on fuel oil entrepreneurs, U Aung Pyit Sone, a businessman, told CNI News.

" The price of dollar has fallen today. One dollar is 5,200 kyats. But an oil tanker that will sell fuel oil at 5.200 kyats per dollar doesn't arrive in Thilwa Port at once. We have to wait for about one month. Oil tankers that have arrived already have been ordered at previous price. The fuel oil supervisory committee has known that already. But when the price of dollar was high, fuel oil was sold at high price. It's necessary to sell fuel oil at a lower price when the price of dollar falls for the sake of people. The supervisory committee needs to exercise close supervision on the entrepreneurs." he said.

While seeing an oil tanker

Because it was hard to estimate how the trade was going, although the price of dollar falls, the prices of products related to dollar have not fallen; it was likely because the products were bought at a higher price, pointed out businessmen and banking experts. However, the root cause why the prices have not fallen might be due to other causes rather than having bought at high prices, U Htay Aung Kyi, a banking expert, told CNI News.

" The price of dollar falls, but the price of fuel oil hasn't fallen yet. We are buying fuel oil at 3,200 kyats per litter. People generally think the price will fall if there are a lot of supply. Is it because the products were bought at a higher price? Reasons are related to one another in detail. It will be convenient to tackle only if this ideology is seen." he said.

The prices of foreign currencies including dollar are stable at present to an extent not because Myanmar kyat becomes strong again, but because the Central Bank of Myanmar is selling out dollars at a large scale, reviewed some people.

CNI news

14 September 2024

Because of mountain torrent flood after it was raining heavily, Kalaw Town was sunk until 15 to 20 feet and about 100 people were killed, said locals. 

At present, 40 dead bodies have been found and about 500 houses were destroyed, said locals.

" The reason why many people died is that older people refused to move to safety, saying the flood takes place every year. People had no time to do anything because the flood came so fast. Now some phone connections have been available again. Because the electricity is not available, phone batteries are running out. We can use MPT. But the sound is not clear. It's not convenient to eat out because all the restaurants have been sunk. People are helping one another as able as they can. Streets are being cleaned." said Thin Zar Htet Facebook account.

Floods are taking place in eastern and southern Shan State, Karen, Mon States, Bago, Mandalay, Magway Regions, Naypyidaw and locals are avoiding flood.

CNI News

13 September 2024

Taking a dim view of the Myanmar migrants by the Thai citizens has recently increased, those who are carrying out for the issues of migrant workers, told CNI News.

The number of the Myanmar migrant people has inflated more and because they are selling goods online, providing service for documents, working as brokers in an obvious manner and it's making the Thai citizens take a dim view of Myanmar migrants, those who are carrying out for the issues of migrant workers, told CNI News.

" Our citizens are robbing the market share kind of. For example, many Myanmar people are doing business of online shopping which is included in the forbidden businesses. Because of many Myanmar people who are doing business of online shopping, goods from the shops that are owned by the Thai citizens are not sold out a lot. So, they demanded the government to forbid the Myanmar people doing like that. That's why, later the Thai authorities take action against or arrest Myanmar migrants who were selling online." said U Aung Kyaw from the Labor Right Foundation (LRF).

While the Thai authorities have arrested migrant workers

Both documented and undocumented migrants are working forbidden jobs in Thailand and a few days ago, some Myanmar citizens were arrested because they were selling goods, broadcasting 'Live'.

Moreover, the matter regarding the woman who took video of making a document and posted online would be taken action against, reported the Thai Ministry of Labor.

Because the Thai authorities are able to look for those who break the law by using AI technology, the Myanmar citizens should stay carefully, in charge of labor affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) U Min Oo told CNI news.

While the Thai authorities are checking a migrant worker

" Taking action may increase in future because Myanmar people think there will be no problem after they say what they want to. But these days, the AI technology is more exact to look for those who break the law. Frankly speaking, Myanmar migrants have to stay carefully. Bad consequences emerge from what Myanmar people did without knowing that. It will take a bit time to behave well, I think." he said.

Moreover, it is necessary to watch the policies of the new Thai government and the Myanmar citizens should work only after studying the Thai laws thoroughly, pointed out those who are helping migrant workers.

CNI News

13 September 2024

Members of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP ) were not in Maungdaw Township, chairperson of the ALP, Daw Saw Mya Raza Lin told CNI News. 

While 4 mile (NaKhaKha-2) in Maungdaw was attacked by air strike, those who were related to the ALP were included in those killed, which was not correct and their troops had not been there since 2020, she said.

" Our troops have not been in Maungdaw area since 2020 because there were many arrests and various difficulties. Our men left there and many people who left the Indian border were arrested on the way by the Arakan Army (AA). Last year, a man called Khine Chin Lin and a comrade of the ALP were arrested by the AA. We don't believe that he was not in the place that was bombed. We believe he was taken away to another place. We are worried the people thought that our troops were with the troops of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA)." said Daw Saw Mya Raza Lin.

The ALP force

4 mile (NaKhaKha-2) Camp, Maungdaw where prisoners of war and other prisoners were detained temporarily was bombed on the night of 9th September 2024 and prisoners of war, troops from the ARSA and the RSO, armed Muslims who had already attended military training who were all detained there by the AA were killed, released the AA on 11th September, 2024. 

Moreover, those who were arrested because they disturbed the AA and the Arakan National Revolution, those who were related to the ALP and those arrested with suspicion were included those killed because of bomb attack, said in the statement.

" We don't think our men were arrested in the place in Maungdaw that was bombed. They might be in Ponnagyun or between Buthidaung and Rathedaung. We still don't know if they were killed or lost. The place in Maungdaw where prisoners of war were detained may be the place where the troops arrested during the battles that were recently broke out in Buthidaung and Maungdaw were detained. People from various religions may be included." said Daw Saw Mya Raza Lin.

The ALP is an NCA signatory and it is based on Sittwe and mainly active in southern Rakhine State.

CNI News

13 September 2024

Because of the political instability and worrying security conditions, travelling within the country in the open season could decrease, according to tourism entrepreneurs. 

As the restricted area has been more spacious because of territorial instability, trips within the country have decreased, U Thet Lwin Toe, a tourism entrepreneur, told CNI news.

" Now there has been an increase in the number of restricted territories. When we are in Mandalay, we are not allowed to climb up the Mandalay Hill. And we can't go to Mingun as well. In addition, we can't go to Pekon. Moreover, We can't go to Chin, Kayah, Rakhine States and the Ngapali Beach. And we can't say it's safe in northern and southern Shan State. But we can go to Inle Lake. We can't send our tourists to Tanintharyi. But we can go to Kyaiktiyo." he said.

Although there were about seven million domestic tourists in previous years, there might be a decrease in the number of domestic tourists by road because commodity prices are going up and there has been a shortage of fuel oil, reviewed people. Moreover, young and middle aged people are checked and asked on the way.

While seeing some tourists at a beach

For the time being, it is reportedly convenient to go on a trip to Bagan, Inle, Kalaw, Yangon, Bago, Kyaiktiyo, Ngwe Saung and Chaungtha. 

Moreover, with the political instability, because there is a lack of security, the number of tourists from abroad could decrease, said U Thet Lwin Toe.

" The number of international visitors who entered Myanmar last year was 1.2 million. Of them, only 250,000 entered from the Yangon Airport. The rest entered from border gates such as Muse, Tachileik, Kawthaung. But now, Muse gate has been closed down. I think the number of international visitors will decrease this year." he said.

However, more tourists within the country would enter Bagan in the open season to come although there has been an decrease in the number of tourists who enter Bagan at present, Ko Kyaw Swar Lin, a hotel and tourism entrepreneur, told CNI News.

" According to the current situation, there are some groups that come from abroad as well. But we mainly hope more local pilgrim groups will come to Bagan." he said.

While there has been a sharp decrease in the number of tourists from local and abroad, only a few foreigners who live within the country can be found. So, Those who make a living in the tourism industry are facing crises.