CNI News

10 Nov 2022

The consequences of holding or cancelling the general election planned for 2023 by the State Administration Council are being debated because the opposition is disrupting the efforts.

The SAC announced that a general election would be held in 2023 while Acting President Duwa Lashi La of the National Unity Government, which has been fighting to topple the junta, said on 11th October, 2022 that the general election planned by the SAC must be disrupted without fail.

The success of the general election does not bode well for the country but cancelling it may aggravate the situation, EAO Leader Col Khun Okkar told the CNI.

He told the CNI, “Neither is good for the country. Holding the general election does not augur well for the country but cancellation of it may worsen the current situation. If the election is cancelled, lawlessness will prevail. If the election is held as scheduled, conflicts will prevail, causing enormous damage.”

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi cast her early vote in the 2020 general election. (AP)

Elections held by the SAC would not be free and fair and the majority of the public would not trust them, Spokesperson Lway Chi Sanga of Ta’ang Women Organization told the CNI.

She said, “No one trust them. If they hold a general election, it can’t be free and fair. The majority of the people will not support them. Very few people who do not understand politics will go to vote. I can’t say exactly whether the general election will be held or not. It depends only on their decision.”

Military rule is likely to be perpetuated if the general election cannot be held in 2023, Secretary Mai Ohn Khaing of the Ta’ang National Party told the CNI.

“There are many challenges and crises under current circumstances. The military junta will continue their rule if the general election is impossible. It is difficult and too early to say something about it because everything depends on whether the general election is possible or not.”

Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing cast his early vote in the 2020 general election. (AFP)

Some political analysts are worried that failure to hold the general election may pave the way for a total military seizure of power without time limitations similar to that of the SLORC and the SPDC.

They pointed out that the 2008 constitution will become null and void if the general election cannot be held in 2023 and the public will lose rights of citizens guaranteed by the constitution prohibiting the nationalization of private businesses and demonetization of the currency.

Comrade Aye Lwin of the ABSDF told the CNI, “Elections are indispensable for establishing a democratic system. There must be genuine elections that reflect the will of the people in a country. However, elections held by coup-makers will not bring about a system aspired by the people.”

Election volunteers carrying early ballot boxes. (AP)

On 1st February, 2021, the junta ousted the government of the NLD by accusing it of forming a new government without settling voter’s list disputes and declared a state of emergency.

Then, the NUG and the PDF launched the Spring Revolution to topple the junta and urged the public to boycott the elections to be held by the SAC.

The SAC chairman had promised to hold a general election in August, 2023 and vowed to transfer power to the winning party.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement on 7th November saying the general election planned by the SAC would not be free and fair and perpetuate the crisis and the US rejected the general election.

CNI News

9 Nov 2022

Prices of paddy hit about MMK 1.2 million per 100 baskets during the harvest of monsoon paddy but farmers were not able to enjoy benefits, farmers and their advocacy groups told the CNI.

Although paddy prices have risen this year, farmers are likely to reduce paddy cultivation acreages in summer due to falling yields and other reasons, Chairman U Thein Aung of Peasants’ Union told the CNI.

  Threshing paddy.

He said, “Paddy prices are higher this year but farmers were not able to use fertilizers and pesticides sufficiently during the cultivation and paddy yields dropped by 35 percent per acre. If they could harvest 100 baskets of paddy from an acre of farm in the past, they can harvest only 65 baskets this year. Paddy prices hit about MMK 1.2 million per 100 baskets recently but there may be paddy shortages. Although paddy prices are higher, farmers who cultivate a single crop will have to grow paddy but others will not raise paddy because they need five bags of fertilizer for an acre of farm. They are worried about the costs of inputs, which they cannot get through the BNPL system.”

Paddy yields fell this year because of the higher cost of inputs such as fertilizers, fuel and pesticides.

Moreover, farmers have to pay MMK 90,000 for labourers to reap an acre of paddy and will be able to enjoy benefits if they can harvest 50 baskets of paddy per acre, Farmer U Aye Naing told the CNI.

 Rice paddy.

He said, “MMK 1.2 million per 100 baskets is a good price for farmers but they cannot enjoy much benefit because of higher input and labour costs. If they can harvest only 35 baskets from an acre of farm, they suffer losses. If they can harvest 50 baskets of paddy per acre, they will get 15 baskets of paddy worth MMK 100,000 for them, according to farmers.

Farmers said total acreage of paddy may fall in the upcoming cultivation season and paddy acreage can expand when fertilizer prices fall.

Paddy prices have risen by about MMK 300,000 compared with last year’s paddy prices but yields have dropped and prices are not likely to decrease, according to farming experts.

CNI News

9 Nov 2022

As Thai authorities have ordered a crackdown on foreigners who overstay their visas, Myanmar migrants in Thailand have been urged to renew their expired visas, labour activists told the CNI.

Amid daily arrests of undocumented migrants, the crackdown will lead to more arrests and overstaying Myanmar migrants are required to renew their visas, Ko Thar Gyi, a labour activist for Myanmar migrant workers, told the CNI.

He told the CNI, “A large number of Myanmar migrants will be arrested because the largest number of migrants in Thailand are from Myanmar. Whether they hold tourist visas or business visas or work permits, authorities will check whether their documents are still valid. They can renew their visas easily without paying any fines even if they have overstayed for six months. but authorities do not extend their visas for one or two years and will permit them to stay in Thailand until 13th February, 2023. However, migrants whose visas have expired since March, 2021 will not be allowed to renew their visas and such migrants will be arrested and deported to Myanmar. If they are charged, they will not be allowed to enter Thailand for two years. Authorities will blacklist them by stamping in their passports and taking their finger prints for records.

Some Myanmar migrant workers in factories in Thailand renew their visas by themselves but there are some employers who help renew their workers’ visas.

Myanmar migrants in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand.

Near the end of every year, Thai authorities usually check visas of foreigners in accordance with their rules and regulations. Thai authorities treat foreigners as a source of revenue, U Ba Yee of the Migrant Workers’ Right Network told the CNI.

“Thai authorities see foreigners as a source of revenue. When their visas have almost expired, authorities warn them to renew their visas. They are made to pay new deposits. So, the government received a large sum of revenues.”

As the instructions do not refer to any kind of visas exactly, more arrests will be made at quarters resided by migrant workers, according to labour activists.

Ko Thar Gyi said, “Recently, arrests were made in Tak Province on a daily basis but authorities do not make any arrest on the full-moon day because Myanmar migrants went to pagodas and monasteries. I think they will target foreign workers in border areas. There will be more arrests.”

Moreover, the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok announced that it would issue the OWIC cards for Myanmar workers who applied for new passports for jobs as of 7th November.

Labour activists have warned Myanmar migrants of risks as authorities have launched a crackdown on undocumented migrant workers and overstaying foreigners.

CNI News

9 Nov 2022

Sticking to the results of the 2020 general election, in which the National League to Democracy won the majority of seats, is inconducive to negotiations even if the ASEAN and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi could hold discussions, Political Analyst U Ye Tun told the CNI.

The NLD issued a statement on 8th November saying it believes that the current crisis can only be resolved by holding discussions between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all envoys for Myanmar including the ASEAN special envoy.

U Ye Tun told the CNI, “After holding the discussions, the situation may change positively depending on the points of view of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on the ongoing armed conflict and the election announced by the SAC. Some political parties seem to accept the elections and if the NLD accepts them, the situation may change positively. If the party rejects the elections and sticks to the results of the 2020 elections, it is impossible to negotiate. The military will pursue its own agenda.”

He added that the NLD seemed to have released the statement over the issues in 2021 and ethnic issues must be resolved in the long run.

The NLD called for world leaders to give priority to the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners.

  Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

It is more viable to resolve the political crisis through political dialogues of all stakeholders, Spokesperson Naing Shwe Than of the Mon Unity Party told the CNI.

He told the CNI, “Dialogues of all stakeholders are more viable to resolve the current crisis. It is necessary for us to engage in negotiations without any prejudice. If Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is released and negotiations are held, it is more viable to resolve the crisis through dialogue.”The military ousted the NLD government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on 1st February, 2021 after accusing it of forming a new government without settling voters’ list disputes and detained some NLD leaders including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Myint.

CNI News

8 Nov 2022

Dialogue between the State Administration Council and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will not be able to resolve the current political crisis, Spokesperson Salai Timmy of the Chin National Defence Force told the CNI.

He pointed out that ethnic leaders and other organizations must also be invited to the dialogue.

Salai Timmy told the CNI, “As ethnic leaders want to build a federal democracy union, they are not likely to accept the situation under the DASSK government. So, the dialogue between the SAC and DASSK will not resolve the current crisis.”

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing and Gen Mutu Say Poe. (AFP)

The current political crisis in Myanmar cannot be resolved by the dialogue between only two individuals, Chairman U Thar Tun Hla of the Arakan National Party told the CNI.

He said, “It also depends on the attitude of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. However, the current political crisis in Myanmar cannot be resolved by the dialogue between only two individuals. The political issues that have gripped Myanmar since independence involve equality, self-determination and the right to decide their own political destiny of ethnic peoples. I think priority must be given to these issues. So, the dialogue between them will be only a part of the crisis.”

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to 26 years in prison under the Official Secret Act, the Natural Disaster Management Law, the Election Law and other laws but is still facing five charges of corruption.

Members of the KNDF launching the Spring Revolution to topple the military.

Chairman Dr Aye Maung of the Arakan Front Party told the CNI, “Whether the dialogue between the two is possible or not depends on the support of the ASEAN and how the SAC accesses the situation. The SAC seems to be preparing for such dialogue because they have handled the cases of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is different from other cases. They are trying to push the legal proceedings against her to complete so quickly that all charges against her are likely to be decided in the second week of November. After all legal proceedings against her have been completed, the SAC is likely to make a bargain with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi before the 75th Anniversary of the Independence Day. If the latter thinks she is also responsible for stability and peace of the country, they might hold talks. If she was to be released, they could cooperate for the stability and peace of the country.”

Pro-democracy protesters. (Frontier Myanmar)

Talks participated by all federal democracy forces can pave the way for sustainable peace, Spokesperson Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt of the Peace Process Steering Team told the CNI.

He said, “We understand that ethnic political parties as well as ethnic armed organizations have demanded all-inclusive talks to build a federal union. If we cannot invite all important figures, there might be weaknesses. If we are to build a federal union, all federal and democratic forces must find a solution together through dialogues so that we can pave the way that can guarantee sustainable peace.”

Since the military staged a coup on 1st February, 2021, Myanmar has been engulfed by armed conflicts and political protests.

Since then, the country has faced political, economic, social, health and education crises.

CNI News

8 Nov 2022

U Khin Yee, the chairman of the Union Solidarity and Development Party said that the party would protect its members even if his life is in danger.

He made the comment at a ceremony to issue membership cards to 518 new party members held in Tatkon Township on 3rd November, 2022, according to his official Facebook page.

USDP Chairman U Khin Yee meets new party members on 3rd November, 2022.

He said, “We will protect our party as much as possible. Regardless of the dangers we might face, we will stand up for our party members. This is the message I want to give you.”

Then, he promised to develop a new form of public relations that reflects the will of the people in the future of the party.

Since the political crisis that started on 1st February, 2021, over 2,000 USDP members have been killed and party members are under life threats.

CNI News

4 Nov 2022

Although Myanmar exports macadamia seed to China every year, the country has not been able to export the seed to its neighbour due to transportation issues, according to the Myanmar Macadamia Association.

China offered to import macadamia seeds from Myanmar but the country has not been able to export macadamia seed due to instabilities along the transportation route, Vice Chairman U Win Aung of the association told the CNI.

 A border gate between China and Myanmar. (CGTN)

He said, “We can’t do anything. China frequently closes its border gates. It was also impossible to export the seeds to Thailand due to instabilities and other problems. When transportation routes to Thailand were reopened, Thai merchants wanted to import ground seeds. We want to export the seeds to China and Chinese merchants want to import the seeds but the route has not been reopened. So, we have started selling the seeds to Thailand.

One ton of macadamia seed fetches as much as MMK 4 million. However, merchants have not been able to export the seeds for three years due to COVID-19 and instabilities.

A border gate between Thailand and Myanmar.

Although Thailand wants to import macadamia seeds from Myanmar, farmers have not been able to do so as they do not have standard mills to grind the seeds, U Tun Lin, a macadamia farmer in Ywargnan told the CNI.

He told the CNI, “They do not want to grind the seeds by themselves and prefer to import the seed endosperms. Endosperms of seeds fetch higher prices but it is difficult for us to grind the seeds. We can get less than 300 Kg endosperms from one ton of the seeds. As we do not have standard grinding machines, the endosperms were broken and we suffered losses. So, no one can export the seeds to Thailand.”

   Myanmar macadamia fruits and farmers. (Myanmar Nuts Macadamia)

Currently, macadamia seeds are being distributed to local markets and it is popular among the public because it is beneficial for skin health.

In October, Myanmar exhibited its macadamia seed at a trade fair in France and was able to attract buyers, according to the Myanmar Fruits and Flowers Producers and Merchants Association.

About 300,000 acres of macadamia is grown in Pyin Oo Lwin in Mandalay Region and Ywarngan, Lawksawk and Nawngkhio in Shan State and farmers are expanding the total acreage. Myanmar produces 10,000 tons of macadamia seed annually.

CNI News

4 Nov 2022

To attract domestic and foreign tourists, an ethnic traditional food fair will be organized in Shan State (North) in November, Chairman U Zaw Zaw of the Shan State (North) Hoteliers Association told the CNI.

The ethnic traditional food fair is the first of its kind to be organized in Shan State (North) and is an effort to attract tourists, whose arrivals to the area have been falling since the outbreak of COVID-19 and the political crisis.

U Zaw Zaw told the CNI, “In the past, the tourism industry focused on foreign tourists. As their arrivals have dropped for some time, the fair is also targeted at domestic tourists while foreign tourists are also welcomed. In 2019, our hoteliers association organized an exhibition of traditional costumes, traditions and utensils of ethnic groups on the Union Day. At that time, most of the visitors were Chinese tourists.

An archway to Lashio.

Myaungzi, Wa, Lahu, Lisu, Kokant, Palaung, Shan and Kachin ethnic groups took part in the exhibition. All these ethnic groups can also be found in Yunnan Province, China. So, the wanted to study the traditions of them in comparison with the traditions of their ethnic groups. The exhibition was very successful. The food fair will also be a success, if foreign tourists visit the fair. I think a lot of domestic tourists will come to the fair.”
Although the date for the fair has not been fixed, the fair will be organized for only one day at the Lashio Townhall, he added.

Ten ethnic groups including Shan, Kachin, Lisu, Bamar, Myaungzi, Wa, Palaung, Lahu, Manwun (Bamar) and Kokant will participate in the fair and each ethnic group will prepare at least three kinds of traditional food for 100 people to serve visitors.

Deputy Director U Sithu Kyaw of Shan State Directorate of Hotels and Tourism told the CNI, “When we travel to ethnic areas, we want to try their local foods. When we travel to Shan State, we want to try traditional Shan foods. We usually ask local people what kind of local food is unique. In Shan State (North), their local traditional foods are unique. So, we need to make them known to people from other regions and states. Although such fairs are not popular in our country, gastronomy travels and tourism are popular in other countries. People travel and try local foods. It is a chance for people who are interested in local traditional foods.”

Tourists in Hsipaw in Shan State.

He added that he had informed tour companies and operators of the fair and will invite domestic and foreign tourists to study local traditional foods.

Prior to the pandemic, Shan State (North), especially Hsipaw, was a popular destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

Plans are underway to arrange package tours to waterfalls in the areas and the tourism industry will be able to make some progress when the political situation has changed positively, according to the hoteliers association.

The Tazaungdaing Festival has been scheduled for 4th to 7th November and entertainment, free meals and hot-air balloon launches have been arranged.

CNI News

3 Nov 2022

China is wary of dealing with a US-proxy in its backyard, Chairman Dr Aye Maung of the Arakan Front Party told the CNI.

He also added that China seems to prefer economic and military stability in Myanmar and does not want to see it disintegrate into pieces.

He told the CNI, “From the Chinese perspective, the two countries share a very long border and it prefers political, economic and military stability in Myanmar. It does not want to see its neighbour disintegrate into pieces. It is for its interests and it is wary of dealing with a US-proxy in its backyard. So, China supports the stability and non-disintegration of Myanmar. When it tries to reunify Myanmar, it needs to review the root cause of the problem because the SAC is in power at present.”

UWSA leader Bao Youxiang and Sun Guoxiang. (AFP)

Currently, Myanmar is engulfed by armed conflicts and has faced political, economic, social, health and education crises.

Political Analyst Dr Aung Myo told the CNI that he thinks the Kachin Independence Army and the Shan State Restoration Council are closed to the US and China is worried about the issues.

He said, “The KIA has been a US sympathizer since the second world war. I think China has just come to understand that. So, the KIA cannot be allowed to get more powerful. Yawd Serk of the SSRC/SSA is also a US sympathizer. As a result, I think China is wary of them. I hope that the Chinese government can adopt correct policies on these issues.”

    Chinese special envoy Sun Guoxiang and Gen N’ban La of the KIA in Mai Jaryan in July, 2016.

China is worried that Myanmar refugees will spill into its territory and stability in Myanmar is in China’s interests, he added.

The two countries share a 1,300-mile-long border, where the RCSS, the KIA, the Shan State Progressive Party/SSA, the United Wa State Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Palaung People Liberation Front/TNLA are active in the border area.