CNI News

17 Mar 2023

Although the chairman of the State Administration Council said power would be transferred to the winning party in the upcoming elections, political parties are divided over the credibility of the claim.

SAC Chairman Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing promised to hold a general election and to transfer power to the winning party.

As there are only a few political parties that are registered to take part in elections in the entire country under the new political parties registration law and its new rules and the Union Solidarity and Development Party is likely to win the elections, the SAC would transfer power to the USDP, Spokesperson Naing Than Shwe of the Mon Unity Party told the CNI.

He said, "Under the curent circumstances, there are only a few political parties that will take part in elections in the entire country. The USDP and the NUP will run for election in the entire country. The NLD said it would not re-register with the commission. Other parties including the NUP will win in only a few constituencies. The USDP will win in most constituencies. So, the SAC will transfer power to the USDP."

 A demonstration calling for democracy.

Despite the pledge of the SAC chairman, a leader from an influential political party said he was doubtful about the promise because the military has a history of failure to honor its promises in the 1990 elections.

As the SAC has publicly vowed to transfer power to the winning party, he believes that the military will keep its promise, Chairman Sai Aik Paung of the Shan and Nationalities Democratic Party told the CNI.

He said,"The SAC has already promised to transfer power to the winning party, which will be elected to convene the parliament and to elect a president and form the government. After the formation of the new government, the SAC will transfer power to it on 1st November or April. I think so. I hope so."

The Union Election Commission has been preparing to hold elections in 2023 and has been inviting new political parties to rregister with it by issuing the new political parties registration law and its rules on 31st January.

A military vehicle patrolling along streets after the NLD government was toppled.

A total of 23 political parties including five parties that will take part in elections in the entire country have registered with the commission so far, according to a statement of the commission on 14 March.

Some political parties are still thinking about whether to take part in elections or not.

However, the National Unity Government has vowed to disrupt the elections scheduled by the SAC.

CNI News

17 Mar 2023

As more than 50 percent of the construction of Dala bridge known as Korea-Myanmar Friendship Bridge has been completed, the demand for properties in Dala Township has increased and real estate prices have skyrocketed, according to residents and property agencies.

Thanks to the bridge construction project, the demand for land plots have grown and property prices have increased month by month. The prices of land plots, which were sold at MMK 80 million per plot previously, have risen to MMK 150 million currently, Ko Min Min of MKTT Property Services told the CNI.

Ko Min Min said, "Depending on the percentage of completion of the bridge, people are interested in buying land plots in Dala. More than 50 percent of the construction of the bridge in Yangon have been completed. Another reason is the depreciation of Kyat. So, some people have invested in land plots. The demand for land in Dala has grown. Land prices have increased day by day. Land prices are rising by millions of MMK within one month. As a result, more people are interested in buying land plots in Dala. In the past, the price of a 20x60 land plot stood at MMK 80 million. At present, the price of such a land plot has risen to MMK 150 million within one month."

A scene in Dala.

The demand for land plots near the bridge in busy Tapinshwehti Ward and Kyansittha Ward are in high demand.

The property market has been booming since the beginning of the year and residents are selling their land plots as they fetch high prices and moving to other wards where land is available at cheaper prices. As a result, business is brisk in the property market, U Aye Win, ward administrator of Yazathingyan Ward in Dala, told the CNI.

He said, "Business is brisk in the property market. The demand for land plots is growing. Dala have developed to some extent. So, some people are buying land. Local residents are selling their land plots and moving to places where land is available at cheaper prices as they need money for investment in their businesses and other expenses. Therefore, land prices have risen in the market since the beginning of the year.

Yangon-Dala bridge under construction.

So far, 53 percent of the construction of the bridge has been completed and the bridge is scheduled to complete in 2024, according to the Ministry of Construction.

With the construction of the bridge, plans are underway to supply water from Gyuphyu Reservoir to Dala to solve the issue of water shortages in Dala, according to residents.

Residents and property services have expected the demand for real estates in Dala will be higher after the issue has been solved.

CNI News

16 Mar 2023

Due to unseasonal rains and strong winds, salt farms in Mon State have suffered huge losses, according to salt farmers.

Unexpected rains on 12th March night caused rainwater to flow into salt farms and salt on them was damaged.

Although rain was predicted, farmers were not able to move them due to labour shortages, resulting in losses, U Hla Tin, a salt farmer from Thanbyuzayat Township in Mon State told the CNI.

He told the CNI, " Heavy rains in our areas destroyed 50,000 visses of salt. Some farmers were aware of the unseasonal rains but others were not. We harvested salt but it was difficult for us to do so because of labour shortages. As a result, half of my salt farm was damaged by the rains."

A salt farm

It will take 15 to 20 days to recover damaged salt and each salt farm lost salt worth about MMK 10 million, according to salt farmers.

It rained unseasonally three times in Mon State during this salt producing season but farmers did not suffer losses in the two previous unseasonal rains. However, most salt farmers suffered losses in the last unseasonal rains, according to salt farmers.

As salt was damaged by rains, salt prices in the market have risen from MMK 120 to 170 per viss, a salt farmer told the CNI.

A salt farm

He said, "As salt production has dropped, prices have increased. At higher prices from MMK 170 to 200 per viss, it is profitable for merchants as well as farmers."

There are 4,200 acres of salt farms in Mon State and more than 400,000 tons of salt is produced from the farms. However, only about 200,000 tons of salt was produced in Mon State due to unseasonal rains.

CNI News

16 Mar 2023

Attempts to create a Bamar State is likely to create risks and disintegration of the union, Political Observer U Ye Tun told the CNI.

If Bamar State is to be established, some other ethnic minorities are likely to demand establishment states for them, he added.

He told the CNI, "It is dangerous to establish a Bamar State. Some minorities in some states are likely to call for the establishment their own states, leading to the disintegration of the union. So, leaders and politicians are required to understand the situation."

Ethnic youths in Maijaryan in July, 2016.

On the 76th Anniversary of Union Day, which fell on 12th February, Representative Lawy Poe Nge said that it was important to establish a Bamar State for ethnic equality.

During peace talks with ethnic armed organizations in 2022, the State Administration Council seemed to disagree with EAOs, which proposed the establishment of a Bamar State.

To build a federal union in the future, it is necessary to establish a Bamar State and symbols representing the Bamar people, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

Representatives of EAOs sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement on 15 October, 2015.

U Pe Than told the CNI, "In federal countries, regardless of their sizes, all states are considered as a unit. If they don't want to establish a Bamar State, it shows that they have the mentality of rulers. Bamar politicians and generals have had such a mentality in successive eras. Whenever other ethnic groups call for establishing a Bamar State, they have always said that will lead to disintegration of the union. This has nothing to do with the size of a state. It will be just a federal unit. Seven regions are likely to make up a Bamar State. However, we said some regions like Yangon Region are national states because all ethnic groups reside in the region at the parliament. If there is not a Bamar State, characteristics of a union will not be achieved because there is a Bamar State. When flags are flown in regions, they raise the union flags. There is no such thing as a flag or a symbol representing the Bamar ethnic group. Bamar leaders and politicians are using the national flag as their own flag."

At the same time as some ethnic groups are calling for the establishment of a Bamar State, some minority groups including the Shanni, the Pa-O, the Ta'ang (Palaung), the Wa, the Lisu and the NDAA are also calling for the establishment of their own states.

Myanmar is currently made up of seven states and regions, five self-administered zones, a self-administered region and a union territory.

CNI News

16 Mar 2023

Myanmar nationals in China have been forced to pay more than Yuan 2,000 (over MMK 800,000) per person to agents to return home illegally, charities in Muse told the CNI.

As Myanmar nationals working in China have been stranded there for almost three years due to the outbreak of COVID-19, authorities from the two countries have been taking measures to allow them to return home.

However, it takes more than one week or two weeks to return home through the process of the authorities, they are paying agent fees to return home illegally, Chairman U Htay of the Letkanku (Giving a Hand) Charity told the CNI.

U Htay told the CNI, "In some border areas, there are three to five layers of fences. However, in some places, they can pass the border from the water way and there are villages that lie on the borderline. A part of the villages is in the Myanmar territory and another part of them in the Chinese territory. In such villages, there are illegal routes made for various reasons. They are returning home through different ways and means. Some of them were arrested by Chinese police on illegal routes. Such people are jailed and put on the blacklist. They will be banned from working in China for five years.

Scrutinizing Myanmar nationals who wanted to return home

Myanmar nationals in China who want to return home can contact the Myanmar Consulates in China and the Myanmar Embassy in Beijing while they can also submit application forms to the Assistance Association Myanmar Nationals in Ruili.

As they have been stranded in China during the lockdown, documents of some of them have expired and Chinese authorities jailed them for one year and fined each of them Yuan 1,000 or 500.

As the penalties are too severe, Myanmar authorities requested their counterparts not to take such action against Myanmar nationals. As a result, Chinese authorities have stopped sentencing Myanmar workers. However, they are still fined Yuan 150 and have to pay document fees of Yuan 150, totalling Yuan 250.

A few days ago, some Myanmar nationals who tried to return home illegally were cheated out of their money by their agents. Those who are married to Chinese nationals are required to submit the permission of their spouses.

Scrutinizing Myanmar nationals who wanted to return home

As they have been stranded in China for three years, they should wait for a certain period of time patiently to return home legally, Chairman U Pho Htaung of Hnalone Hla (Beautiful Heart) Charity (Muse) told the CNI. He urged them not to return home illegally.

He told the CNI, "If they are arrested by authorities, we cannot help them. Whether a Myanmar national illegally enters China or returns home, they take severe action against them. Authorities first gather enough returnees to be repatriated to make the process easier. They are not delaying the process deliberately. One or two week is a very short period of time. We don't want to encourage them to return home illegally. If there is a problem, they will suffer huge losses."

At present, authorities are receiving Myanmar nationals who want to return home on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and Chinese authorities are sending about 100 Myanmar nationals everyday.

CNI News

15 Mar 2023

The 496 anniversary (seventh) of Shanni National Day was held at an area controlled by the Shanni National Army in Homalin in Sagaing Region on 13th March, 2023.

The ceremony was organized with the aim of inspiring Shanni patriotism and unity and achieving development of Shanni people.

Shanni national day falls on 12th Waning of 888 ME (2079 RE, 1621 SE, 1527 BC) and the ceremony is held annually.

The SNA has been launching an armed struggle for autonomy.

CNI News

14 Mar 2023

As chili prices are high both in the domestic and export markets in the 2023 chili cultivation season, chili farmers have been able to reap profits this year, according to farmers.

At present, wet chili prices stand at more than MMK 3,000 per viss and wet chilies are exported to China and Thailand, Chili Farmer Ko Min Khaing from Ayeyarwady Region, which has been selling chilies to exporter since the beginning of the chili harvesting season, told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "Chili prices have been hovering above MMK 3,000 per viss for nearly a month. Chili prices first rose and then dropped to MMK 2,000 per viss for five or six days. Then, the prices have risen again gradually. High quality chillies can even fetch as much as MMK 4,200 per viss. Normal quality chili prices have been hovering above MMK 3,000 per viss. During previous years, we did not get such prices. We have been selling chillies unceasingly since the harvest. Dried chili prices have also risen to over MMK 10,000 per viss or more than MMK 100,000 per viss. Farmers have been able to reap profits. This is the best year for chili farmers."

Chili plants

In 2020-2021, wet chilie prices stood between MMK 1,100 and MMK 1,200 per viss and dried chilies were traded between MMK 3,700 and MMK 3,800 per viss.

In 2023, wet chili prices hit between MMK 2,500 and MMK 420 per viss while dried chili prices are as high as more than MMK 10,000 per viss.

Although chilies require more fertilizer and pesticide than other crops, chili farmers, whose plantations were not destroyed by pests, have been able to enjoy profits as much as MMK 3 million per acre due to high prices, according to a chili farmers in Ayeyarwady Region.

He said, "Chili farmers, who spent between MMK 2.5 million and 3 million per acre, can get a profit of MMK 4 million per acre at the current prices. Profits also depend on feeds and care of plants.

A chili plantation

Those who took care of their plans can enjoy a profit of as much as MMK 4 million per acre. As far as I know, no chili farmers suffered losses this year.

Myanmar chilies are mainly exported to Thailand, China and Malaysia and commonly cultivated in Ayeyarwady Region and Mandalay Region.

As there are different varieties of chillies, chili farmers will be profitable if they grow export varieties. As chili prices are higher, farmers are likely to expand their chilie plantations in the upcoming cultivation season while somes farmers will carry out chili cultivation instead of the usual crops as some corn farmers are preparing to grow chilies rather than corn, according to chili farmers.

CNI News

14 Mar 2023

Some observers have been wondering how Myanmar migrant workers in other countries would respond to the elections to be held this year by the State Administration Council.

Most Myanmar migrant workers said that they are indifferent to the elections scheduled by the SAC as they think whether elections can be held or not does not have an impact on their lives.

Ko Moe Lay, who has been working in Thailand, said he had already cast his vote in the 2020 general election, he would not go to vote in the elections held by the SAC.

He said, "As we have elected our government, we would not vote again even if elections could be held. A people's government will not emerge from elections held by the SAC because people's power will no be transferred to the people. They are doing everything they want. Now, migrant workers are illegally coming to Thailand and apply for passports and pink cards by spending between Bhat 15,000 and 20,000. Then, they have to apply for CIs by spending between Baht 7,000 and 8,000. Again, they have to extend their visa by spending between Baht 3,000 and Baht 4,000. Not just that, they have to renew their work permits. So, it costs each of them between MMK 3 and 4 million within five months. Frankly speaking, the SAC is incompetent and has done nothing to offer assistance for them effectively. Myanmar nationals are getting into trouble not only at home but also in other countries."

Election results of the 2020 general election are being announced.

As a result, Myanmar migrant workers are of the opinion that their lives will not be different even after the new civilian government, he said.

Moreover, the upcoming elections are likely to intensify the conflicts and the political, economic and social crises will deepen, generating more negative impacts, Director General U Nyi Nyi Lwin of the Centre for Arakan Refugees told the CNI.

He said," If the election cannot be held, our lives will be as they are now. If they could be held, we would get into more trouble. We have nothing to choose. As elections would be held against the will of the people, the country would be more instable and migrant workers in other countries would face more intense hardship. Since the coup, about 200,000 people have left the country because of securiy situation of the country. Even if elections could be held, the National Unity Government will be in place and EAOs and the people will continue to fight against the miliary. Elections cannot be held forcefully against the will of the people. It will lead not to peace but to more conflicts."

Myanmar migrant workers preparing to leave the country.

In Korea, one of the countries where a large number of Myanmar workers are working, there are different opinions about the elections with some migrant workers feel that the current situation is unfair while others are indifferent to it, Ko Khant Nay Kyi, In-charge Ko Khant Nay Kyi of the Assistance Centre of Migrant Workers in Busan, told the CNI.

As South Korea is a country that promotes democracy and human rights, it is expected that the government will allow Myanmar nationals to continue to stay there after the elections, he added.

He said, "Unlike South Korea, neighbouring Thailand and Malaysia will not be easily decide whether they would allow oppositions to stay in their countries because their democratic norms are very low and they would advance their own national interests. So, they would support the winning side whether it is NUG or the military."

The SAC chairman has promised to hold a general election in 2023 and to transfer state power to the winning party.

Until 8th March, a total of 19 political parties have re-registered with the Union Election Commission, according to the junta media.

CNI News

14 Mar 2023

As armed conflicts have erupted in Myanmar for more than 70 years and there are multiple ethnic armed organizations in the country, how to resolve the Myanmar political crisis has raised a question.
Due to political changes after 1s February, 2021, armed conflicts that have been raging in ethnic areas have spread to central Myanmar.

People inside Myanmar will have to resolve their own conflicts by themselves and it is necessary to take the Panglong commitments as a baseline to resolve the conflicts, Chairman Dr Aye Maung of the Arakan Front Party told the CNI.

Members of the NUG and the PDF

He told the CNI, "As Myanmar is a multi- ethnic and religious country with various armed organizations calling for ethnic equality, it is very difficult to reach an agreement. The current ASEAN chair Indonesia may explain how the Indonesian army cooperated for creation of a democratic environment and its tactics and political and military concepts to withdraw from its role. In other words, the Indonesian model can give advice to the military. However, it is incumbent on people inside Myanmar to resolve the crisis of the multi- ethnic and religious country which has been engulfed by armed conflicts for more than 70 years. And it is necessary to take Panglong commitments as a baseline. I am referring not to the agreement but to commitments or Panglong concepts that led to the agreement.

Some organizations inside Myanmar, international organizations and the ASEAN are trying out ways and means to resolve the crisis.

Only after toppling the military, can the issues among the anti-junta forces be tackled by themselves, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

Members of the KNDF

He said, "We will have to overthrow the junta and we will have to address issues among us by ourselves.

At present, fighting has broken out between the Myanmar military and the allied forces of some EAOs and the PDF forces in Kayin State, Kayah(Karenni) State, Sagaing Region and Magway Region.

Due to armed conflicts, the country has faced political, peace, economic, health and social crises.

Then, there have been assassinations under various accusations and the rule of law has been undermined.