CNI News

4 Mar 2023

Myanmar escapees who left the country for Thailand in recent years are not likely to return to Myanmar due to security concerns, Thailand-based labour activists for Myanmar workers told the CNI.

The activists made the comments over a notification issued by the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok and the notification urged Myanmar nationals who left for Thailand in recent years over their security concerns to contact the embassy if they want to return home.

Internally displaced persons due to fighting

Consultant U Aung Kyaw of the Migrant Workers Rights Network told the CNI, "They are taking refuge in Thailand because their lives are in real danger. The public and civil servants will not believe the embassy's claims that they are inviting absconders to return home out of goodwill. They don't have any houses to live in their hometowns. They are questioning the embassy's claims of goodwill. Jobs are very rare in Myanmar and even if they can find jobs, they will earn MMK 4,800 per day. They earn more than MMK 10,000 in Thailand daily. In terms of incomes, they are better paid here. Moreover, no one can guarantee that they will be provided with work every day. And then, they can enjoy social security, healthcare services and everything humans need in Thailand. I don't think they will decide to return to Myanmar."

IDPs near the Thailand-Myanmar border.

Despite better job opportunities and wages in other countries, they don't want to return home not because of the better lives but because of security concerns, Thailand-based labour activists for migrant workers said.

They said that absconders will not return home as long as freedom and justice are guaranteed at home.

If authorities are really willing to receive absconders back, they should guarantee the latter's security, Ko Thar Gyi, a labour activist who has been helping Myanmar migrants in Mae Sot, told the CNI.

An entrance to a refugee camp in Ohnphyan, near Mae Sot. (RFA)

He said, "Everyone, including me, wants to return home. Whether they are legally working in Thailand by applying for passports or illegally working here or taking refuge, everyone wants to return home. However, we cannot return home due to security concerns. If authorities really want to take back its citizens abroad, they will have to guarantee their security by releasing all protestors they have imprisoned. Only then, will the people who have left the country for security concerns decide whether they should go back or not."

A large number of people have been taking refuge in neighbouring and other countries after the military assumed government responsibilities in 2021.

The information team of the SAC announced that those who are taking refuge in other countries can contact relevant embassies, military attaches' offices and consulates if they have never committed crimes.

CNI News

4 Mar 2023

Plans are underway to offer loans worth more than MMK 900 million to salt farmers and millers in Rakhine State in March, according to the Rakhine State Salt Entrepreneurs Association.

The loans will enable 30 to 50 percent of salt farms to start production and those who have registered as salt farmers are eligible for loans but those who have not registered yet are required to do so, Chairman U Than Win of the Rakhine State Salt Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "We requested the government to offer loans to registered salt farmers and mills and the government has approved the request. Authorities are currently scrutinizing the eligible salt farmers. After the scrutiny, we will issue the loans worth more than MMK 900 million in March and 30 to 50 percent of salt farms will be able to start production. I think there are more than 3,000 to 4,000 acres of salt farms but only about 1,000 acres have been registered. Those who have registered their farms will receive the loans. It is important for farmers to register their salt farms. They can tell us their difficulties transparently."

Salt farmers.

During the 2021-2022 salt production season, farmers produced 20,000 tons of salt from only about 1,000 acres of salt farm but salt farms have been expanded to 4,000 acres this year.

When the loans have been received, farmers are required to build salt storage facilities properly and the loans should only be used for production of salt, U Than Win added.

He said, "The loans must be repaid. If the loans are abused, the government will not offer loans to salt farmer for many years. If farmers repay the loans, we can request the government to offer loans to salt farmers again. So, we seriously request salt farmers to use the loans not for other purposes but for salt production. The government has stopped offering loans to salt farmers in other regions and states where salt farmers failed to repay loans. We need to prevent such undesirable scenarios.

Salt farmers.

The association will offer loans worth from MMK 300,000 to MMK 500,000 per acre at low interest rates.

Salt is mainly produced in Kyaukphyu, Sittwe, Myaybon, Thandwe and Gwa townships in Rakhine State and Myanmar salt merchants are holding discussions with their Bangladesh counterparts to export quality salt to the neighbouring country.

Before the year 2000, there were 10,000 acres of salt farms in Rakhine State but total acreage of salt farms dropped to only 1,000 acres later, according to the statistics of the association.

CNI News

4 Mar 2023

Shan State Restoration Council/Shan State Army troops and Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army troops clashed near Nantut Village in Kunhing Township in Shan State at 11 am on 2nd March.

SSPP troops encroached into the territory of the RCSS and the clashes erupted, RCSS Spokesperson Maj Sai Kham San told the CNI.

He said, "SSPP troops launched operations in our RCSS territory yesterday and clashed with our troops. I have not known the detailed situation on the ground. Clashes have stopped. Casualties have not been known. The fighting started at about 11 am yesterday."

However, the Tai Freedom of the RCSS reported that about 100 troops of the SSPP attacked an outpost of the RCSS from 11 am to 2 pm on 2nd March.

The CNI contacted the SSPP for comments over the fighting but the phone was switched off.

SSPP troops

Maj Sai Khan San told the CNI that SSPP encroached into the RCSS territory, and the RCSS had no plan to hold talks between the two Shan groups.

He said, "The clashes erupted in Kunhing Township, which is far from the border and is located in the interior territory of the RCSS. It was apparent that they wanted to encroach into our territory. They wanted to create a problem and encroached into our inner terrority."

The Joint Committee of Shan Monks and People called on the RCSS and the SSPP to stop fighting in Shan State in October, 2022.

The joint committee also said that the conflicts have exacerbated after allies forces from both sides are involved in them, leading to fiercer conflicts with more troops and more powerful weapons and serious human rights abuses.

The SSPP is a Shan EAO that has not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and the RCSS is a Shan EAC signatory to the ceasefire agreement.

CNI News

2 Mar 2023

The prices of pulse and bean varieties such as mung bean, pigeon pea and green gram increased in the late February, fetching higher prices than the same period last year, according to pulse and bean merchants.

Low stocks in the domestic market, falling yields and higher prices in the Indian market pushed up the prices of pulses and beans in the domestic market, In Charge U Nay Win Soe of the Ayeyar Trade Centre told the CNI.

He said, "Pigeon peas is fetching higher prices becase of the rising prices in the Indian market. First, pigeon pea prices in India fell and rose again two or three days ago. Although newly harvested pigeon peas have entered the market, prices are rising due to increased prices in India. Pigeon pea prices have risen to MMK 71,000 per basket today. Moreover, yields not only of pigeon pea but also of other pulses and beans dropped this year because of high cultivation costs. So, farmers were not able to grow pulses and beans as extensively as previous years. Farmers could not use as much pesticide as previous years. Mung yields dropped from 750,000 tons previously to about 600,000 tons this year."

Myanmar pulses and beans.

Pigeon pea prices rose from MMK 50,000 per basket to MMK 70,000 per basket this year while prices of mung increased from MMK 50,000 per basket to MMK 60,000 this year.

Mung and pigeon pea are mainly exported to India, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

As farmers could not use inputs sufficiently due to rising input costs, crop yields have dropped this year.

However, farmers are not as profitable as expected despite rising pulses and beans prices due to higher costs of  labour and inputs, U Tin Aung Cho, a pulse and bean farmer from Hinthada in Ayeyarwady Region, told the CNI.

Myanmar pulses and beans.

He said, "It is not profitable for us as expected because of higher costs for labour and inputs. Costs for harvesting and inputs like fertilizer and pesticide are higher than the previous year. The situation doesn't make a difference for us. We do not have other jobs and we will have to continue to grow crops whether crop prices are higher or lower or whether input costs are higher or lower."

At present, newly harvested mung, pigeon pea and green gram are entering the market and India is exporting more pulses and beans from Myanmar due to poor harvests there.

Pulses and bean merchants predicted that the prices of pulses and beans are likely to remain higher.

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CNI News
2 Mar 2023

A separate department should be formed to take action against illegal overseas employment agencies and agents, labour activists told the CNI.

As large numbers of Myanmar nationals are trying work abroad, the number of illegal overseas employment agencies and agents has increased.

Those who want to work abroad have fallen victim to illegal overseas employment agencies and agents and workers have been cheated out of their money or trafficked.

To make complaints against such incidents, it is necessary to establish a separate department, Labour Activists told the CNI.

He said, "When complaints are received, the standard procedure of our country is to report them to higher authorities. It is impossible to comfort the people who make complaints with such practices. Those who receive complaints can make phone calls at once in the era of social media. So, they need to resolve the issue in real time. They should tackle the issues immediately. Those who can address the issues on their own discretion should be appointed to do so."

Myanmar expatriates.

Even if such a separate department is established, the department is not likely to take actions against the illegal agencies and agents by taking bribes from them, said labour activists.

The new department should be free from corruption, labour activists suggested.

Formation of a new separate department to take action against illegal overseas employment agencies and agents will affect the illegal workers in neighbouring countries, Labour Activist U Min Oo of the Foundation for Education and Development told the CNI.

He said, "This also depends on the ability of the department and how they can take effective action against illegal overseas employment agencies and agents. At a time when domestic issues cannot be resolved effectively, it is difficult to tackle issues in other countries. There are laws on illegal migration and labour laws and anti-human trafficking. They can take action against illegal migrants under the three laws. Myanmar migrant workers are leaving legally or illegally by bribing security checkpoints and through agents. There are a large number of illegal agents."

Illegal worker detained by Thai authorities.

Moreover, some overseas employment agencies and agents are submitting fake documents to the Department of Labour, the department announced on 24th February.

The department said it would take action not only against illegal agencies and agents but also on illegal workers, according to the announcement.

To prevent Myanmar workers from illegally working abroad, it is necessary to process applications for working abroad more quickly, labour activists suggested.

CNI News
2 Mar 2023

Chairman U Sein Win of the National United Democratic Party told the CNI that he expected to create a well-established party by integrating with the People's Party.

He added that it was impossible for his party to achieve its objectives because the political parties registration law makes it difficult for political parties to run for election in the entire country.

U Sein Win told the CNI, "It is impossible for our party to survive without integrating with other parties. The flag of our party is khaki, symbolizing the self-dependence of it. We admire the colour of our flag. However, we understand that we will have make great sacrifices to carry out great tasks. So, I persuaded my party members to integrate with other parties and they accepted it. By integrating with the PP, we will be able to support the needs of each other. His party base is workers and our party's base is farmers. Workers and farmers are both sides of the same coin.

U Sein Win and U Ko Ko Gyi.

Unlike other countries, people in Myanmar are farmers at one time and workers at the other time alternatively. Therefore, integration of our parties will generate a potential to create a well-established party.

He added that plans were underway to integrate with other political parties.

A total of 13 political parties including five parties that will organize in the entire country and eight political parties that will organize in relevant states and regions have registered with the Union Election Commission.

U Sein Win continued to say that the party will resolve the political, economic and peace crises through political means.

He said, "We are integrating not for fighting but for strengthening our parties. We will try to create a well-established people's party for the entire country."

The SAC chairman promised that the general election will be held in 2023 and power will be transferred to the winning party.

CNI News

2 March 2023

As it costs MMK 100 million to buy an electric vehicle imported into Myanmar, business entrepreneurs are raising a question "For which social classes are EVs imported?"

There will be only a few social classes that can afford EVs as it costs MMK 99.9 million to buy an EV, businesspeople and economic observers said.

Batteries used in EVs lose capacity after being used for a certain period and the cost of replacing the battery is as high as MMK 100 million, which amounts to the same price of a new EV. As there are electricity outages, businesspeople are not willing to buy EVs and only those who are crazy about new things are likely to buy them, U Aung Pyae Sone, a vehicle policy observer, told the CNI.

He told CNI, "It is correct that we do not need fuel because we use EVs. It is also reported that we can use them for long distances. The problem is the battery life. We will have to replace the battery after a certain period, 10 or 15 years. The cost of replacing the battery is as high as that of buying a new EV. The difference between diesel vehicles and EVs is that the longer we use EVs, the lower the prices of them. So, we have used them for about 10 years, we won't get about MMK 1 million when we resell them."

A recharging station is being constructed in front of Nay Pyi Taw Thapyaygone Market.

A total of 26 companies have been permitted to import EVs and ten EVs will be operated as taxis at Yangon International Airport and Nay Pyi Taw Thapyaygone Market respectively, according to the National-level Leading Committee for Development of EVs and Related Businesses.

Although it was reported that the price of each EV was MMK 67.9 million, the price of a recently imported EV is as high as MMK 100 million. As a result, only a few people from the upper class can afford such EVs, businesspeople said.

EVs are likely to be used widely when production costs of them fall and they can be used for a long time, Economic Observer U Thet Zaw told the CNI.

BYD EVs made in China are imported into Myanmar

He said, "When battery life is longer thanks to further inventions and production costs fall due to mass production, market prices of EVs are likely to fall. We will have to wait for a certain period of time. When infrastructures have improved in about 2035 or 2040, a large number of countries will use EVs."

Moreover, roads in cities are flooded during the rainy season, it will not be convenient for users and there are no mechanics and part shops for them, car dealers pointed out.

Although the pilot project for EVs is scheduled from 1st January to 31st December, 2023, it takes more time to use EVs widely due to electricity disruption and other problems.

CNI News

2 March 2023

The one-sided accusations of the United Arakan Party/ Arakan Army do not contribute to the peace process, said Leader Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun of the Information Team of the SAC.

Although the ULA/AA has accused the Tatmadaw of detaining their members, the SAC had already released them, he said.

Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said, " The ULA/AA has been unilaterally accusing us of not releasing their members. However, we released 61 members on the sixth anniversary of the NCA. We again released 46 of them on the Diamond Jubilee of Union Day. In addition, we released 17 of them and 125 members of them on National Day. We have released not only them but also members of the KIA, the KN, the MNDAA, the RCSS, the SSPP and the TNLA. We have released 205 detainees for the peace process. Unilateral accusations like that will not contribute to peace."

The issue must be resolved through the negotiations between the ULA/AA, Arakan Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

Leaders of the AA.

He said," They agreed to release all prisoners within two months, according to the press conference of Khaing Thukha. It is necessary to release prisoners from both sides. They know who they are referring to. U Khaing Thuka is referring to  people who are charged under the illegal organization act of  17 (1) and (2). The AA thinks that those who are charged under the section 17 (1) and (2) of the law for contacting the AA must be released and the SAC is too slow to implement their promise. They should check whether they have detained such people and must release them. This cannot be covered up. If Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun denies that they have detained such people, they should hold negotiations."

ULA/AA spokesperson Khaing Thukha said that pressuring local residents in some townships in Rakhine State not to contact and support the AA will lead to armed conflicts.

Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said that Myanmar troops in Rakhine State are security forces which have been deployed before the ceasefire.

A road junction in Rakhine State.

He said, "The accusations that the military has been deploying more troops in Rakhine State cause doubts among local residents. Troops in Rakhine State are those who have been deployed before the ceasefire deal. We deploy the troops for the stability of the community and security control."

Fighting resumed between the AA and the Tatmadaw in August, 2022 after two years of ceasefire.

Then, both sides reached a ceasefire deal on 26 November, 2022 in consideration of the losses suffered by local residents.

CNI News

2 March 2023

As the Myanmar embassy in Thailand has raised fees for new passports to Baht 1,250, agent commissions for Myanmar workers are likely to rise, labour activists in Thailand told the CNI.

The embassy raised the fee for new passports from Baht 800 to Baht 1,250 as of 1st March. Myanmar workers who apply for new passports are required to pay Baht 1,500 including Baht 250 for OWIC cards to relevant bank accounts, according to a release of the embassy.

Although the embassy raised the fee by more than Baht 400, agent commissions are likely to increase disproportionately, Labour Activist U Min Oo of the Foundation for Education and Development told the CNI.

He said, "Raising the fee by more than Baht 400 is too much. However, workers will have to pay the fee in the same way as they pay exorbitant commissions to agents. As the embassy raised the fee, commissions will increase similarly. Agents will ask for more than Baht 400 and the fees will place burdens on workers. They will have to pay the fees even if they cannot afford them by borrowing money from others. They are being forced to pay exorbitant fees. Workers who apply for passports from the border cannot go to the embassy and if their employers do not help them apply for passports, they will have to hire agents. Different agents will ask for different fees. It costs them from Baht 8,000 to Baht 9,000 to apply for a passport. Workers from remote areas will have to pay more than tens of thousands of Baht just to get the passport."

People waiting to get passports in front of the Myanmar embassy in Thailand.

At the same time as the embassy raised fees, it should also increase the number of passports it issues each day as the move would be more beneficial for workers, labour activists said.

Although workers have to pay fees for OWIC cards when they apply for passports, the cards and passports are not issued together. It is difficult for workers to go and fetch the cards again at another place, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI.

He said, "Fees have to be paid at one place and cards have to be claimed at another place on the appointed date. It can be said that authorities are dishonest because OWIC smart cards can be issued at the same time and place as they use machines. It would be convenient for workers if authorities issue the cards and passports at the same time. Moreover, workers are forced to go to Maha Chai to get the cards. It costs them more money even if their employers allow them to be absent from work. Otherwise, their wages will be cut by their employers. The process causes unnecessary troubles for workers and is chaotic."

People waiting to get passports in front of the Myanmar embassy in Thailand.

Workers who apply for passports from mobile teams which go to factories and construction sites with large numbers of Myanmar workers are required to pay Baht 1,500 and their passports will be issued in the second week of March, according to the release of the embassy.

Workers whose passports will expire before 31st August, 2023 can make appointments at the embassy every Saturday, according to the embassy.