CNI News

6 Dec 2022

Electricity should be supplied to hotels in busy tour destinations in the same way as factories are supplied with electricity, tour operators and hoteliers told the CNI.

Currently, electricity is supplied to the public in a rationing system in some regions but some areas do not have access to the electricity throughout the day or night. Therefore, hotels have to resort to generators and have difficulties, Chairman U Zaw Weit of the Myanmar Hoteliers Association (Bagan Zone) told the CNI.

A generator running during blackouts.

He told the CNI, "As fuel prices have risen to MMK 12,000 and 13,000 per gallon, it is not profitable for us. Generators used in hotels consume four gallons of fuel per hour. So, we have to spend MMK 50,000 per hour. We get MMK 25,000, 35,000 or 45,000 room charges and have to spend all our room charges for fuel. If we have to run generators for five or six hours, we suffer losses. We are facing such difficulties at present. It would be beneficial for us if authorities supplied electricity to hotels, especially at night. Lawpita hydropower station cannot run to its full capacity during the dry seasons as it does not have enough water. If it run all its three generators, electricity will not be available during many months in the entire summer.

Electricity has been supplied to wards in the entire country alternatively every four hours since November and some areas are suffering electricity shortages severely.

Lack of electricity supply in tour destinations which are popular among foreigners tarnish the image of the country, Chairman U Naung Naung Han of the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.

A woman riding a bicycle among pagodas in Bagan.

He told the CNI, "The entire world will come to know that we have electricity shortages. This will tarnish the image of the country. Some tourists are visiting Myanmar to study investment opportunities. Public services should be available at such destinations. Electricity should be available so that services will not be disrupted. Priority should be given to such destinations in supplying electricity. The hotel and tourism industry should have access to electricity supply in the same way as industrial zones."

As hotels may raise service charges, this will have an impact on travellers, according to tour operators and hoteliers.

People crossing to Sagaing.

Chairman U Zaw Zaw of the Shan State (North) Hoteliers Association told the CNI, "If we have to run generators when we have only a few guests, we suffer losses. We haven't raised service charges but are closely watching the situation with the hope that electricity will be supplied more regularly. If the situation does not improve, we will have to raise room charges. Hoteliers will face challenges. Meanwhile, fuel prices have risen again recently. The fuel demand exceeds the supply. Hotels will be forced to raise room charges. So, tourists will stay at guest houses or may decide to stop travelling."

Hoteliers said they would call on the authorities to supply electricity to them as a priority.

Currently, there are only a few travellers at present but it is expected that the number of tourists will crease during the Christmas and New Year, according to tour operators and hoteliers.

CNI News

6 Dec 2022

As the Kyauktaw-Paletwa waterway has been reopened since 3 Dec, rice and commodity prices have dropped in Paletwa, according to residents.

Although the waterway has been reopened, small boats have not been allowed to use the waterway and authorities are just operating state-owned z-craft twice a week, Paletwa resident U Aung Aung Khin told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "A few days ago, rice price rose to MMK 100,000 per bag but rice was not available. We could not buy rice anywhere. Now, rice is available at MMK 71,000 per bag at present. Rice consumed here is not the first class Pawsanhmwe, which is popular in lower parts of the country. We consume second class Pawsanhmwe here. Fuel supply has arrived but fuel prices have dropped. It still costs MMK 20,000 or 21,000 to buy a gallon of fuel."

As fighting had resumed between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, the waterway were shut down as of August but the waterway has been reopened after the two sides reached a ceasefire deal on 26th November, 2022.

A z-craft operating along Kyauktaw-Paletwa waterway.

U Aung Aung Khin told the CNI, "The waterway has been reopened. A vessel arrived at Paletwa on Saturday and went back to Kyauktaw on Sunday. Authorities said the vessel will arrive in Paletwa on Tuesday again. They said they would operate the vessels twice a week. When the vessel arrived on Saturday, it carried full of commodities"

However, the vessels are operated only twice a week and each of them can transport only about 100 passengers, residents are still facing difficulties.

Therefore, residents are calling on authorities to allow small boats to run along the water way and to reopen the land route which has been blockaded for years, according to residents.

Kyauktaw-Paletwa waterway is the major route for health, food and basic needs and business.

CNI News

6 Dec 2022

If the ASEAN special envoy is allowed to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, negotiations between the junta and the ousted leader are likely to take place, Political Observer U Ye Tun told the CNI.

The current political crisis can only be resolved through negotiations with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the National League for Democracy had announced, he added.

U Ye Tun told the CNI, "The focal point of the international community, especially the ASEAN, and political observers is Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. They will hold negotiation with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and if she and the NLD agree to contest the 2023 general election, I think the NLD will win the elections and the NUG and the PDF will wither away. The NLD has aready announced that they will accept the decision of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and negotiation with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is essential. So, I think negotiations with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi matter."

Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing meets ASEAN Envoy Prak Sokhonn.

Whether negotiations between the SAC and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will take place or not depends on the support of the ASEAN, Chairman Dr. Aye Maung of the Arakan Front Party told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said that nothing is impossible in politics. Under the current circumstances, the SAC will think about the potential benefits from negotiations with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. We will have to think about what Daw Aung San Suu Kyi can do for them. She may be able to mediate between the SAC and the NUG. How shall we overcome the current political crisis? Whether negotiations between her and the SAC will take place depends on the support of the ASEAN and how the SAC views the current crisis. I think the SAC seems to be prepared."

ASEAN Special Envoy Prat Sokhonn has called on the SAC to allow him to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the SAC has promised him to do so on his next visit.

Meanwhile, some observers in the political circle viewed that if negotiations between the special envoy and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were successful, the conducive environment for dialogue would emerge.

Demonstrations supporting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. (GETTY IMAGES)

It is impossible for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to hold negotiations with SAC without consulting with the NUG, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "I don't think there will be any dialogue. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would not hold any negotiations with the SAC without consulting with the CRPH and the NUG."

Since the military staged a coup on 1st February, 2021, protests and armed conflicts have broken out in the entire country.

Since then, Myanmar has faced crises in various fronts including the political, economic, social, health and educational fields.

CNI News

5 Dec 2022

It has been a hot issue in the Myanmar political circle how to negotiate terms to prevent the Myanmar military from repeatedly seizing power.

Col Khun Okkar, an EAO leader, told the CNI that the issue would be resolved if the military was put under civilian control after a civilian government had been formed.

He said, "If the armed forces are placed under the democratic civilian government and they abide by the law of supremacy, such scenarios will not occur. However, it will take a certain time for the military to accept the law."

Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI that the military upheld the view that the country would collapse if it did not play in a dominant role in politics and as long as the military is not under the control of a civilian president, it would frequently stage coups.

 Anti-coup pro-democracy demonstrators. (Frontier Myanmar)

He said, "As long as the military is involved in the politics of the country, it will stage coups frequently at will. Whenever a coup takes place, the country will continue to lag far behind others. The country will not escape from the vicious circle of poverty. If military and political leaders understand this and give the right to rule the country to the civilian government alone. The military is responsible only for the national defence. Only then, will the country escape from the vicious circle of coups. The military clearly understood the consequences of coups but it felt offended when it was not recognized and staged the coup based on its prejudice, saying the country was going to collapse. We have already proved theoretically and practically that it was wrong. So, its mindset is important."

Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Vice President Henry Vanthio.

In 1958, then prime minister U Nu transferred power to Gen Ne Win, who again seized power in 1962 by ousting the civilian government led by U Nu. During the 1988 student movement, the military took power again. On 1st February, 2021, the military again ousted the NLD government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi after accusing it of attempting to form a new government without settling voters' list disputes in the 2020 general election.

As the military has declared a state of emergency and seized power, an interim government will emerge, Chairman Sai Aik Paung of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party told the CNI.

He said, "It is a period during a state of emergency declared in accordance with the constitution. The military did not seize power but has assumed it. If it seized power, the constitution would have been abolished. A state of emergency expires within two years and an interim government will be formed. Vice President U Myint Swe will lead the interim government and everything will depend on him. State power will be transferred to the National Defence and Security Council. U Myint Swe will be the most powerful in the NDSC, in accordance with the constitution.

Anti-coup pro-democracy demonstrators. (Frontier Myanmar)

The military and some political parties had announced that the political changes that took place on 1st February, 2021 did not constitute a coup but the assumption of power by the military in accordance with the constitution.

However, the NLD and other democracy forces as well as other countries said that the military staged a coup against the civilian government.

The military formed the State Administration and announced a fresh general election in 2023.

CNI News

5 Dec 2022

The road linking Kalay in Sagaing Region and Indian border town Tamu, which was closed in November, has been reopened since early December, according to Tamu residents.

Tamu resident Ko Nyein Chan told the CNI that the road had been reopened for three days and fuel was entering into the market but prices did not fall.

He said, "It has been three days since the road was reopened. Fuel tanker trucks have returned to towns but fuel is still expensive. I think it will take a week for commodity prices to be stable. Prices have not fallen significantly at present.

An archway to Kalay

The Kalay-Tamu road is an important route for the border trade with India and transportation between Tamu and Yangon and Mandalay.

The road was closed on 20 November due to armed conflicts in Sagaing Region.

However, as curfew has been imposed in Kalay and Tamu from 8 pm, the road can be used between 6 am and 6 pm, according to a local resident.

A market in Tamu

He told the CNI, "The road can be used as usual. There are checkpoints along the road but the traffic flow has not been delayed for a long time. However, curfew is imposed from 8 pm in both Kalay and Tamu, it is impossible to use the road between 6 pm to 6 am."

During the road blockade, fuel prices rose to MMK 22,500 per gallon while other commodities were in short supply and prices went up.

Moreover, there is a shortage of doctors in Tamu and residents have to go to Kalay for treatments, according to residents.

CNI News

3 Dec 2022

Stopping RDTs for COVID-19 on international tourists at airports may increase their arrivals in Myanmar, the Myanmar Tour Operators and Hoteliers Association told the CNI.

As conducting RTD tests on international tourists at the airport had been a hindrance for them, stopping the practice is beneficial to the tourism industry, Chairman U Naung Naung Han of the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.

He told the CNI, most neighbouring ASEAN countries abandoned the practice of taking samples from tourists' noses. Some of them do not even require tourists to submit their vaccine certificates. COVID restrictions in our country seem to be tighter. There are some tourists who want to visit Myanmar urgently. The restrictions had been a hindrance for them. For example, they may visit Bangkok and when they arrive in Thailand, they may decide to visit Myanmar suddenly after learning that the country is beautiful. The practice of conducting RDTs made them hesitate and cancel the plan. So, abandoning the practice is of great benefit."

Tour operators had been demanding the government to end the practice for some time.

The Ministry of Health announced that it would stop conducting RDTs on foreign tourists who do not show symptoms like high body temperatures as of 1st December.

Foreign tourists on U Bein Bridge.

However, tourists who show symptoms of COVID-19 are still required to take RDTs and they will be allowed to continue their tours when they test negative, according to the announcement of the ministry.
In the same way as easing COVID-19 restrictions for foreign tourists, search operations at checkpoints along land travels should also be eased, Chairman U Zaw Wate of Myanmar Hoteliers Association (Bagan Zone) told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "There are checkpoints along roads. Soldiers and the police conduct search operations there. They should change their practices for foreign tourists. Senior officers should take care of search operations for foreigners. Soldiers are not educated and some of them are drunk the whole day and are rude. Such behaviours tarnish the image of the country. Moreover, such soldiers have never seen passports and they don't know how to check the documents but they talk about irrelevant facts. Such manners hurt the image of the country and should be changed."

Tour operators and hoteliers said that easing COVID-19 restrictions at Myanmar airports must be made known to foreign tourists widely.

"Normally, inbound tourist arrivals drop in Christmas and New Year. In other countries, air tickets are more expensive during Christmas and New Year. So, they just return to their families and do not travel abroad during this period. As a result, tourist arrivals are not likely to increase significantly at present. However, it is the highest season for outbound tours and domestic tourism in 2022. Outbound tourists are preparing to travel abroad during the Christmas and the New Year while domestic tourists are making bookings for hotel rooms and vehicles. It is the highest season for domestic and outbound tourism," U Naung Naung Han told the CNI.

Although foreign tourists are no longer required to take RDTs at the airport, they are still required to submit their vaccine certificates and negative test results conducted within the past 48 hours.

CNI News

3 Dec 2022

Trucks exporting watermelons to China were forced to turn back to the local market due to COVID-19 restrictions in China, according to watermelon exporters and farmers.

As lockdowns have been imposed in various parts of China to prevent the spread of the virus while some COVID-19 cases were detected in the watermelon trading market, trucks exporting watermelons were forced to turn back, Ko Thitsar, a watermelon farmer in Sagaing Region, told the CNI.

Conducting RDTs in China. (GETTY IMAGES)

He said, "Watermelon trucks were forced to turn back due to the zero COVID-19 policy of China. Under the policy, lockdowns have been imposed in various parts of China. So, Chinese merchants failed to get to the trading market. First, some COVID-19 cases were detected in the trading market and the lockdown was imposed there. Then, lockdowns were also imposed in other areas. Chinese merchants who had bought watermelons from us could not transports the fruit to other parts of the country. So, truck drivers had to turn back."

It has been about a week since the first truck turned back and about 300 trucks have turned back to the local market within a week.

Trucks preparing to transport watermelons to China. (GETTY IMAGES)

The returning watermelons were distributed to nearby townships along the road such as Lashio, Mandalay and Meiktila as well as to Yangon, according to a watermelon merchant.

He told the CNI, "It has been about a week since the first truck turned back to the local market and about 300 truckloads have come back during the week. The fruit can be damaged if it is not eaten for a long time. So, we sold them in towns along the road such as Lashio, Mandalay and Meiktila. Some watermelons were taken back to Yangon and other regions."

The current outbreak of COVID-19 in China may lead to changes in trade policy and watermelon farmers are required to closely watch the policy and market of China before they grow winter season watermelons, according to Chinese policy and market experts.

CNI News

3 Dec 2022

The NUG would probably have dialogue if the military agreed to five conditions including putting an end to killing civilians, vowing to withdraw from politics and abolishing the constitution, said Acting President Duwa Lashi La of the National Unity Government.

He made the remarks during the Reuters Next online conference organized by Reuters.

The five conditions called on the military to stop killing civilians, vow to withdraw from politics, abolish the 2008 constitution, not to hinder humanitarian assistance and allow international mediation.

Acting President participates in Reuters Next online conference.

Under the current circumstances, the military will not withdraw from politics but it said it would withdraw from politics one day, Political Observer U Ye Tun told the CNI.

He said, "It is impossible under the current circumstances. The military previously said that it would withdraw from politics when perpetuation of the union and non-disintegration of union and non-disintegration of national unity can be guaranteed and the union military has been formed with all EAOs. So, its withdrawal from politics is impossible under the current circumstances. It would not agree to do so."

Similarly, abolishing the 2008 constitution would allow the military to rule the country for an unlimited term and it is difficult to say exactly how long it would take to adopt a new constitution, he added.

Myanmar troops.

As the military cannot accept the conditions set by the acting president, there is no conducive environment for dialogue, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

He said, "It is just a probability. The NUG sets conditions, which cannot be accepted by the SAC. So, nothing will happen. Forces of the military dictatorship will never agree to abolish the 2008 constitution and to force the military to withdraw from politics. So, there is no conducive environment for dialogue."

After the military seized power on 1st February, 2021, democracy activists and lawmakers formed the National Unity Government.

Therefore, the SAC and the NUG are competing on the administrative, legislative and diplomatic front.

CNI News

2 Dec 2022

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has been urged not to recognize the elections held by the State Administration Council, Chairman Khun Myint Tun of the Pa-O National Federal Council told the CNI.

Only when the ASEAN does not recognize the elections, can the association take the path it wants to and the SAC does not have the right to hold elections under the 2008 constitution, he added.

Khun Myint Tun told the CNI, "The ASEAN needs to negotiate with the SAC based on their consensus and to clearly express their view that they will not recognize the 2023 elections. Only then, will the ASEAN be able to take the path it wants to. The junta does not have the right to hold the 2023 elections because it seized power from a civilian government. As the junta is holding elections to take its own path, the international community must not recognize the elections. The ASEAN must express its views clearly. Only then, will we be able to resolve the crisis. Otherwise, we will not escape from the vicious circle. The ASEAN must implement their views firmly and comprehensively."

Voters' list for the 2020 generaL election are announced. (Anadolu Agency)

ASEAN Special Envoy Prak Sokhonn is planning to make his third visit to Myanmar soon.

Some political observers said that disrupting junta elections without the capability to topple it will lead to aggravating the political crisis because there is no other exit for it.

Spokesperson Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt of the Peace Process Steering Team told the CNI that he would advise the ASEAN special envoy to help overcome the political crisis if he had the chance to meet with the envoy.
He told the CNI, "We will discuss how the international community, especially the ASEAN, can help us to hold inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders to resolve political issues through political means and to overcome the political crisis we have been enduring for almost two years.

ASEAN Special Envoy Prak Sokhonn meets Srn Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

The ASEAN should discuss the issues that are accepted by both sides, Spokesperson Khun Tun Shwe of the Pa-O National Organization told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "The ASEAN should discuss with both sides. If it discusses with only one side, it will not be able to resolve the crisis. If it can create a conducive environment for discussions that can be accepted by both sides, it would be beneficial for all. When the ASEAN chairman visited Myanmar, I advised him to resolve the crisis on equal terms peacefully and said that one side views elections positively while the other side views them negatively."

The SAC chairman announced that elections would be held in August, 2023 and political power would be transferred to the winning party.

During his visit to Myanmar in July, 2022, the ASEAN special envoy met with the SAC chairman, the foreign minister, the PPST and some political parties.