CNI News

24 Nov 2022

There were no reports of right abuse against Myanmar workers who were sent to Thailand under the MOU between the two countries, Permanent Secretary U Nyunt Win of the Ministry of Labour told the CNI.

The Myanmar Embassy in Thailand received not a complaint about right abuse in a month, he added.

U Nyunt Win said, "Myanmar workers who were complaining about right abuse might be illegal workers. Every worker who was sent to Thailand under the MOU has their employment agencies in Thailand and Myanmar. We have collected all their personal data including addresses, ages, types of job. I think some illegal workers were pretending to be workers sent under the MOU and complaining about right abuses to tarnish the image of the country. Frankly speaking, we have not received a major complaint in a month. As we are responsible for the labour affairs of the country, we can firmly say this."

However, labour activists for Myanmar workers told the CNI that some Myanmar workers sent under the MOU are sometimes forced to work in jobs that are not stated in their contracts or jobs in contract as well as other jobs.

 A garment factory.

As hundreds of Myanmar workers make complaints to labour activists in Thailand, it is impossible that the embassy did not receive a complaint in a month, Labour activist U Min Oo of the Foundation for Education and Development told the CNI.

He said, "It is irresponsible to say that there is no right abuse against Myanmar workers because they did not receive any complaints. It is impossible that the embassy and the labour attache have not received any complaints. They must have received complaints. There is no smoke without fire."

Myanmar labour attaches might have reported no problem during their tenures to the ministry to show that they are capable of performing their duties, Ko Thar Gyi, a labour activist told the CNI.

He said, "The statement of the labour ministry is not true or they might have been refusing to help Myanmar workers. Four labour attaches sent to Thailand by the ministry do not welcome complaints from Myanmar workers. They do not answer phones. So, workers seek help from us, we post the incidents on social media. Only then, the labour officials communicate with the workers. It is completely wrong that the ministry receives not a complaint a month. Even now, some agencies are sending workers who have not received jobs officially and many of them are making complaints to us. This simply means that they are seeking help from organizations that really help them."

A work site for fishery workers. (AFP)

After resumption of sending workers to Thailand following the suspension due to COVID-19, they have helped hundreds of workers who did not get jobs stated in their contracts. They were sent by about seven Myanmar agencies under the MOU, Ko Thar Gyi added.

When Myanmar workers who came to Thailand under MOU quit the job which were not stated in their contracts, some employers sought compensation from such workers, according to the labour activists.

Some of such workers wanted to get another job arranged by their agencies but others sought help from labour activists to resolve the issues according to Thai laws.

CNI News

24 Nov 2022

Union Solidarity and Development Party Chairman U Khin Yee urged party members to wipe tears, hold swords and move forward one day.

U Khin Yee made the remarks at a meeting of party members and families of members who were killed from some districts and townships in Monywa Region at the regional headquarters in Monywa on 22nd November, 2022.

He said, "What you need to bear in your mind from now on is that you are not alone. We have a collective body called a political party. If we cannot carry out a task, we will cooperate with the strength of many others. At the back of and beside you, you have your father and your brothers, who are ready to sacrifice for you. You will have to think about what you are going to do for your children in the future. I have come here to offer help and to listen to you and to resolve your problems. Let's wipe tears, hold swords and move forward."

U Khin Yee meets party members in Monywa 21st November, 2022.

U Khin Yee was accompanied by Central Executive Committee Member U Myint Soe and advisor Dr. Myint Thein, according to a statement of the party.

U Khin Yee was elected chairman of the USDP at the third conference of the party held on 5th and 6th October.

Previously, he served as the vice chairman and the immigration minister of the SAC.

Recently, U Khin Yee has been travelling to states and regions for organizational tasks and offering condolences to families of party members who were killed.

More than 2,000 party members and over 2,000 civilians have been killed since the political crisis started on 1st February, 2022.

CNI News

23 Nov 2022

Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and local People's Defence Forces were collecting money from travellers in Tanai Region in Kachin State, according to locals.

The two armed groups has been separately collecting human taxes, Ko Myo Min, a local resident, told the CNI.

 Archway to Tanai.

He said, "They were collecting human taxes along Lawar route. The KIA asked for MMK 50,000 per person but we apologized to them and paid MMK 30,000 per head to them. They might collect MMK 200,000 to 300,000 per vehicle. Then, they issued us receipts. So, when we travelled past the area again, we showed our receipts to an armed groups but they said they were PDF and collected funds. So, each of us had to pay MMK 20,000 to them. So, it cost a total of MMK 50,000 to travel in the area that day."

Although amber miners have already paid taxes to the KIA, their amber was seized by KIA troops and the miners were forced to pay an amount set by the KIA to retrieve their amber.

KPDF troops under the command of the KIA. (KPDF-Hopin)

KIA Spokesperson Col Naw Bu did not respond to a request for comments.

The PDF did not used to collect money but they likely to do so beacuse of the instructions from their superior, Kachin Politician U Kwan Gaung Kham told the CNI.

The KIA levied MMK 5,000 taxes for a bag of amber but it has raised the taxes to MMK 20,000 per bag since the first week of this month, Ko Zaw Naing, a Tanai resident, told the CNI.

 Testing amber. (Hkun Lat)

He said, "KIA troops seized amber from the merchants. They all have already paid taxes set by the KIA at the transportation terminal but they KIA troops seized their ambur worth MMK 100 million because the taxes were not paid to them. They merchants were forced to retrieve their amber by paying more taxes two or three days ago."

Tanai area is under the control of KIA brigade (9) and joint forces the KIA and PDF are active in the area.

Fighting has frequently erupted between the KIA and the military

CNI News

23 Nov 2022

As transportation of medicines to Rakhine has been prohibited by Rakhine State Administration Council, some medicines have been in low stock or out of stock, according to local residents, medicine companies and merchants.

Residents have been forced to save medicines and well-to-do people are buying some medicines for chronic diseases from Yangon at high prices, Chairman U Tin Aung Oo of Rakhine State Chamber of Commerce told the CNI.

He said, "A large number of medicines have run out of stock and residents are using the remaining medicines thriftily. There is a serious shortage of medicine in Rakhine State. As some medicines for older people like those for heart diseases, diabetes and high blood pressures are indispensable, well-to-do people place orders for them in Yangon under their own arrangements at high prices."

People buy medicines at a pharmacy.

On 24th October, 2022, medicine companies and distributors called on the Rakhine State Chamber of Commerce to buy medicines and distribute them to companies but the Rakhine State Administration Council has not responded to the request.

Medicine companies and distributors in Rakhine State are running out not only of over-the-counter medicines but also of TB and HIV medicines. Hospitals in Rakhine State are also running out of antibiotics.
The shortage of medicines has almost doubled the prices, Ma Mya Mya Thein, a local resident from Kyauktaw, told the CNI.

She said, "We are running out of medicines because transportation of them has been prohibited. Medicine prices have doubled. We have to pay MMK 1,000 for medicines which were available at MMK 500 in the past. We cannot give Tetanus vaccines to pregnant women. Transportation of all medicines have been prohibited completely including those for tuberculosis.

AA troops.

Authorities should permit transportation of medicines by classifying their groups for the well-being of the public, U Tin Aung Oo told the CNI.

He said, "There are over-the-counter medicines that are needed for everyone. There are medicines for children. So, authorities should classify medicines into groups, some of which can be transported into Rakhine State without restrictions while others may require permissions. Such measures will be convenient for the public as well as medicine companies and distributors.

Clashes are going on in Rakhine State between the Arakan Army and the military.

Therefore, authorities have imposed restrictions on travels between the southern and northern parts of Rakhine State and transportation of medicines.

CNI News

23 Nov 2022

The Ministry of Labour has difficulty taking action against illegal overseas employment agencies if victims fail to make complaints to the ministry, Permanent Secretary U Nyunt Win of the Ministry of Labour told the CNI.

He said, "Our ministry is not a body that investigates and exposes illegal overseas employment agencies. So, victims are required to make complaints to us because we are not responsible for investigating and exposing them. If victims make complaints to us, we can take action against them under the Law relating to Overseas Employments - 1999, which allows the police to make arrests without warrants. If victims settle their cases with illegal agents and fail to make complaints to us, it is difficult for us to take action against them."

As more and more people in Myanmar are trying to work abroad at present, the number of illegal overseas employment agencies has increased. Those who fell victims to illegal agencies got into trouble and were swindled their money out of them.

Applicants at an overseas employment agency.

U Nyunt Win said that recruiting and sending workers abroad without licenses amounts to committing a serious crime punishable with both fines and prison terms.

The Ministry of Labour failed to take effective action against offenders in the past and is likely to do so more under the current circumstances, Labour Activist U Min Oo of the Foundation for Education and Development told the CNI.

Failure to take effective action against illegal overseas employment agencies has led to mushrooming of them and frauds at present, he added.

U Min Oo said, "If they really wanted to tackle the problem, they could do it. For example, if they had taken effective action against illegal employment agencies, no one would have dare to commit the crimes. The problems will persist. Under the current circumstances, illegal employment agencies will be emboldened and it amounts to a great opportunity for them. Another factor is that those illegal agencies have links with some authorities. I think the situation may have been aggravating. People are trying to working abroad either legally or illegally. They cannot think about what is true and false. They believe what they were told."

Applicants queuing at the passport office.

While illegal employment agencies are sending workers illegally, gangs are also swindling workers out of their money by using the name and data of employment agencies that were officially registered with authorities, according to overseas employment agencies.

Such frauds have negative impacts on overseas employment agencies that have registered with authorities, Managing Director Daw Myat Haymar Lin of Pwintphu Aung Overseas Employment Agency told the CNI.

"Some people who wanted to work abroad. The gangs told the workers to send money to them and made appointments to sign contracts. When they called us, we don't know anything about them. Most of the victims were people who wanted to work abroad as soon as possible. We don't have such jobs to offer. The gangs told the workers that they would send the latter abroad within 20 days. There are many agencies that are sending workers to Thailand, which can accept only 850 workers a day. We cannot send workers within such a short period. It will take at least 2 months to send a worker to Thailand."

Those who want to make complaints to the ministry are required to provide full information to the ministry whether they are registered with authorities legally or not. They are taking action against offences if victims provide complete information, the ministry added.

CNI News

22 Nov 2022

To promote tourism between Russia and Myanmar, Russia tour agencies should be invited to Myanmar first, Chairman U Naung Naung Han of the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "We have given our advice to authorities. We told them that it would be convenient to invite tour agents to learn for themselves. We need government cooperation. Although we are inviting Russian tourists, it is difficult for Russian tour companies to attract their customers if they have never travelled to Myanmar. So, they need familiarization trips to Myanmar. If the government, hotels and tour companies cooperate for FAM trips, Russia tour companies will be able to learn about Myanmar and to attract their customers to visit Myanmar.``

Russian tourists at the parliament building in Myanmar. (Russian)

The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism said on 18th November that it was cooperating with private organizations to promote tourism between the two countries.

Moreover, the ministry is taking measures to advertise tour destinations in Myanmar in the URAL Airline In-flight Magazine.

Myanmar is also planning to take part in a tourism fair in Russia in March 2023 to attract Russian tourists.

If Myanmar can advertise its tourism attractions to the international commumity, tourists not only from Russia but also from other countries will visit Myanmar, Chairman U Zaw Weit of the Myanmar Hoteliers Association (Bagan Zone) told the CNI.

A road sign to the Mingun Bell.

He said, "We should publicize major destinations like Bagan, the Inle Lake, Mandalay and Kyaiktiyo and famous beaches like Chaungthar, Ngwehsaung and Ngapali beaches. We should take measures to advertise such destinations to people in tourism sectors in other countries. There are so many ancient pagodas, mural paintings and glazed bricks in Bagan. Only then, will Bagan be a tour attraction. When foreign tourist visit Bagan, they are sent to the Shwezigon, Arnanda and Thabbenyu pagodas. If we can show them mural paintings at the Payathonzu and Nandarmanya pagodas, they will be able to learn mural paintings that they cannot see in Thailand and Cambodia. We need to take such measures."

Moreover, he said other countries have lifted requirements for COVID-19 RDT tests for tourists and Myanmar has imposed such measures. He added that tourist arrivals will increase if such restrictions are lifted.
Some tour agencies said that it is necessary to launch direct flights between Russia and Myanmar to increase the Russian tourist arrivals.

An archway to Mandalay.

U Naung Naung Han told the CNI, "Private airlines will launch direct flights between the two countries only based on the number of passengers. Russia airlines will launch direct flights if they get enouch passengers. However, the number of passengers between the two countries is still low. It takes about nine hour to fly direct flights from Myanmar to Russia. Myanmar does not have such planes. If tourists have to take transit flights, it costs more money for airlines. So, they are taking everything into consideration. When all requirements are met, Russian tourists will visit Myanmar. Airlines will launch direct flights."

Only a few Russian tourists visited Myanmar in the past. About 5,000 Russian tourists visit Myanmar annually.

Myanmar has offered visa exemption for Russian tourists for one year as of July, 2022 in an attempt to attract more Russian tourists but tourist arrivals from Russia have been low, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

CNI News

22 Nov 2022

The Central Bank of Myanmar has allowed exporters to sell 65 percent of their earnings not only in US dollars but also in Yuan and Baht to the CBM.

Previously, exporters were required to sell US dollars to the CBM even though they exported goods in Yuan and Baht.

Exchange rate gaps between Yuan and Baht against US dollars and MMK against US dollars will be narrowed, Vice Chairman U Thant Zin Tun of Myanmar Corn Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "We export corn. In the past, we had to sell 65 percent of our earnings and we could keep the rest for one month. However, we were required to sell US dollars to the CBM for out exports. Now, we can sell Yuan and Baht in addition to US dollars to the CBM because we exported corn in Yuan and Baht. In the past, we had to sell US dollars to the CBM. So, we needed to buy US dollars to sell to the CBM because we exported corn in Baht or Yuan. There are exchange rate gaps among currencies. The government has eased restrictions. Now, we can sell Baht or Yuan to CBM if we export corn in those currencies.

Yuan and US$ currencies.

The CBM will accept Yuan and Baht for pulses and beans, oil crops, rubber, fishery products, animals and animal products and exporters are required to apply licenses to export their goods in Yuan and Baht.
As exporters no longer need to pay for exchange rate gaps, they will be able to pay higher prices to farmers for their crops, an exporter told the CNI.

He said, "As we can sell Yuan and Baht to the CBM, we will be able to pay higher prices to farmers within one or two days. We have to buy export crops competitively on the ground. I think we will be able to pay MMK 5 to 10 more per viss of crops."

In the past, border trade to Thailand and China was allowed to carry out in only US dollars but Yuan-Kyat payments have been allowed in border trade with China and traders expected a boom in border trade.

CNI News

22 Nov 2022

Amid calls for withdrawal of the military from politics, Myanmar pundits have been debating issues over prior political agreements to be sought from the junta and implemented to pave the way for the withdrawal.

The way can be paved for the military to withdraw from politics by establishing regular civil-military relations but it is unlikely to do so currently as it has been involved in politics since 1962, Chairman U Ko Ko Gyi of the People's Party told the CNI.

Gen Yawd Serk and Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

He told the CNI, "Involvement of the military in politics is inconsistent with democratic norms. To be a genuine democracy, parliament must be formed only with elected representatives. It is our political objective. However, the military has played a dominant role in politics since 1962 due to the unique nature of our country. So, it is unlikely to withdraw from politics at present. I think we will have to pave the way for the military to withdraw from politics by trying to establish regular civil-military relations when political stability has been restored gradually."

Some ethnic armed organizations said that they would join peace talks after the military has withdrawn from politics.

Vice Chairperson Daw Saw Mya Yazar Ling of the Arakan Liberation Party told the CNI, "The constitution is vital. The constitution is just a book, which must be respected by people. It is important to enforce the constitution. It is about the division of power between the union and states. Ethnic revolutionary organizations are fighting for self-governance and development of their regions. So, how to negotiate power sharing is important."

 A protest against the military. (Frontier MYanmar)

Political parties have called on the military for its withdrawal from politics at the National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee and the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee.

Chairman U Thar Tun Hla of Arakan National Party told the CNI, "I don't think the military will agree to withdraw from politics. So, all stakeholders must be firm on building a federal democracy and seek political agreements. After reaching political agreements, they will have to build a federal democracy as soon as possible. Only then, will the political crisis be over. If the view of a particular group is implemented, the political crisis cannot be resolved. So, important stakeholders must try to reach political agreement, which must be implemented as soon as possible to overcome the current crisis."

The military has the right to appoint 25 percent of all parliament representatives.

It is stipulated in the section 6 (f) of constitution that the Union shall enable the defence services to be able to participate in the national political leadership role of the State.

Some political observers view that not only the military but also ethnic armed organizations should withdraw from politics. Otherwise, the military's withdrawal from politics is unlikely.

CNI News

22 Nov 2022

Indian foreign secretary Shri Vinay Mohan Kwatra visited Myanmar on 20th and 21st November and discussed border security issues with Myanmar officials, according to a press release issued by the Embassy of India in Myanmar today.

During his visit, the secretary discussed important bilateral issues such as border management and security, ongoing projects jointly implemented by the two countries and assistance for democratic transition in Myanmar, according to the press release.

Shri Vinay Mohan Kwatra pays a call on Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin.

He met with Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin and Chairman of the National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee and Member of the State Administration Council Lt-Gen Yar Pyae.

In December, 2021, then foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shirngla visited Myanmar and met with SAC officials.

Manipur and Naga rebels, who are fighting against the Indian government, and Spring Revolution armed groups, who are launching armed resistance against the Myanmar military, are active in Indo-Myanmar border areas.