CNI News

29 Oct 2022

More people are likely to travel to resorts than pilgrimage sites during the Tazaungdaing Holiday due to the tragedy at the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda on 12th October during the Thadingyut Holiday, hoteliers and tour entrepreneurs told the CNI.

Hoteliers and tour operators have expected that more people will travel during the Tazaungdaing Holiday.

Chairman U Naung Naung Han of the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs told the CNI, “There are not as many tour destinations as before due to security reasons and instabilities in some regions. So, people will be crowded at the destinations to which they can travel. Rooms have been almost fully booked at Chaungtha, Ngwe Saung and Ngapali beaches. Some people travel to Kalaw and Taunggyi. More people will travel during the Tazaungdaing Holiday than the Thadingyut Holiday. Some people are shocked by the tragedy at the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda. So, they will choose to go to less crowded destination. More people will go to beaches than pilgrimage sites, which will not be as busy as before. Some people will travel to Myeik by plane to visit Kawthaung and nearby islands. It is learnt that tour packages to the destinations are also brisk.”

The number of domestic tourists has increased since the Thadingyut Holiday with many people visiting tour destinations even during weekdays.

A large number of rooms have been booked for the Tazaungdaing Holiday in hotels in Shan State, especially those in Taunggyi and Kalaw, Deputy Director U Shthu Kyaw of Shan State Directorate of Hotels and Tourism told the CNI.

 A scene at Chaungthar beach.
He said, “When we sought information from hotels as in a survey, many of them in Kalaw have been fully booked. Some of the domestic tourists are working guests. It is difficult to predict but more people will visit Shan State due to the Kyaiktiyo tragedy. The number of people travelling to Nyaungshwe will increase because domestic tourists from Taunggyi and Kalaw visit the destination on day-return trips for pilgrimage. We think we will receive more domestic tourists during the Tazaungdaing Holiday than the Thadingyut Holiday.

Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, most domestic tourists travelled to Taunggyi and PyinOoLwin because there were festivals in the hill resorts. However, there are no plans to organize the Tazaungdaing Festival in Taunggyi.
On the other hand, authorities are preparing to organize the Tazaungdaing Festival in PyinOoLwin from 4th to 8th November.

More people are likely to travel to such destinations than Rakhine State, Director U Tin Tun Aung of Rakhine State Directorate of Hotels and Tourism told the CNI.

He said, “More people prefer such destinations to Rakhine State during the festivals. However, we cannot surely say that they will not come to us but we will not receive as many domestic tourists as during the Thadingyut Holiday. During the festival, many people travel to Rakhine State as well as Bagan. More domestic tourists will travel to Taunggyi because they have to travel by plane to visit Rakhine State.”

If people can travel to the destinations without any worry for their safety and security during the Tazaungdaing Holiday, more and more people will travel to the destinations during the Christmas and New Year Holiday, according to tour operators.

CNI News

29 Oct 2022

China Customs has permitted Myanmar companies to export corn to China through the border trade, according to Myanmar Corn Industrial Association.

As more than 80 Myanmar companies have been officially permitted, exporters will not face seizures of their goods, Vice Chairman U Thant Zin Tun told the CNI.

He told the CNI, “As China Customs asked for the GACC data, more than 80 companies submitted their data and are now permitted to export corn. They have been allowed to export corn to China by contacting Chinese companies. In the past, they exported corn to China illegally and Chinese authorities sometimes seized their crop in China. Now, they will not face such problems.”

 Corn cultivated in Myanmar. (EPA)

Corn from Myanmar is mainly exported to China, Thailand and Vietnam.

As corn can be exported through the border trade, corn farmers and merchants will have more options and be more competitive, a corn merchant told the CNI.

He said, “They will have more options. In the past, corn was exported from Myawaddy or through maritime trade or supplied to feed factories. They have three options. Before corn was exported from Myawaddy, the crop was mainly exported to China from Muse, Chin Shwe Haw and Kanpaiti. Chinese authorities seized corn imported from Myanmar in China as of 2017 and Chinese importers stopped buying corn from Myanmar. So, corn was exported from Myawaddy. Now, merchants have four options and the market is more competitive.”

 Drying corn in Myanmar. (EPA)

The MCIA has urged corn farmers, merchants and companies to place emphasis on quality and pest control.

As corn prices dropped to less than MMK 1,000 per viss even before the harvest and input costs were higher this year, corn cultivation acreage has dropped, according to farmers.

As a result, there may be corn shortages when the crop is exported and corn prices are likely to rise this year depending on the demand and crop yields, according to farmers and merchants.

CNI News

29 Oct 2022

As the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Special AMM) was held without Myanmar in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 27th October, the country will not be bound by the outcomes of the Special AMM, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the SAC.

Myanmar was asked to assign a non-political representative to the meeting and the country did not send any representative.

Since Myanmar fully adhered to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and the principle of equal rights and obligations, Myanmar did not accept the invitation, which discriminates the level of representation among the Member States, the press release says.

It continues that the meeting was held with only nine ASEAN Member States without Myanmar, which is not in line with the principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter. Therefore, Myanmar will not be bound by the outcomes of the meeting.

The Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Special AMM) held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 27th October.

Since it assumed the state’s responsibilities in line with the 2008 State Constitution, the State Administration Council has been implementing the Five-Point Roadmap to restore the multiparty democratic system. At the same time, as a responsible member state, Myanmar has been constructively cooperating with the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair in implementing the ASEAN five-point consensus, according to the press release.

Since implementing the five-point consensus is a process, inserting additional pressure by setting a timeframe will create more negative implications than positive ones, the ministry said.

An ASEAN special summit was held in Indonesia on 24th April, 2021.

The summit reached a five-point consensus to end violence, to hold dialogues with all stakeholders, to offer humanitarian assistance, to release all political prisoners and to appoint a special envoy of the ASEAN.

As the SAC did not implement the consensus effectively, the SAC chairman and the foreign minister was not invited to ASEAN meetings. Instead, the regional group has invited a non-political representative to its meetings since then.

CNI News

28 Oct 2022

Blacklisting Myanmar by the Financial Action Task Force may aggravate the exploitation of Myanmar migrant workers in neighbouring countries, labour activists for Myanmar workers in neighbouring countries told the CNI.

The number of illegal Myanmar migrant workers who sneaked into Thailand and Malaysia has increased since the country was blacklisted and is likely to rise further in the future, according to the labour activists.

Malaysia is holding elections soon and the fate of documented and undocumented Myanmar migrant workers depends on the government change, Labour Activist U Babu Gyi, who has been helping Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia, told the CNI.

Myanmar workers deported to Myanmar.

He said, “There is a large number of Myanmar migrants including those who have been overstaying and new arrivals. They ask for my help almost every day. So, the number of illegal migrants is likely to rise further. The parliament has been dissolved for the elections. A new government will be formed after the elections. We will have to wait and see the policies of the new government. It may have good relations or bad relations with the junta in Myanmar. I haven’t heard anything about negotiations between them to hire workers from Myanmar. If the new government holds negotiations with the junta to hire Myanmar workers, the situation is likely to change.”

He added that the new government has bad relations with the junta, the conditions of migrant workers can be negatively affected.

Blacklisting Myanmar by the FATF affects not only the people in Myanmar but also Myanmar migrant workers in neighbouring countries, labour activists for Myanmar migrant workers in other countries told the CNI.

Thai employers have told agents to bring Myanmar migrant workers through illegal means to meet their labour demand and the number of illegal workers could rise in Thailand after Myanmar was blacklisted, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi in Thailand told the CNI.

A fishery shop in Thailand.

As a result, more illegal migrant workers will be arrested, he added.

He said, “There are exploitation of wages of workers and sacking without any reasons. Neither ours nor other organizations can take action against employers and their agents according to law because our workers are illegal ones. If we file cases against them, our workers will also be arrested. Blacklisting Myanmar could force more Myanmar workers to sneak into neighbouring countries. It is almost sure that more Myanmar workers will continue to sneak into Thailand. When they arrive in Thailand, they could be arrested or trafficked and blackmailed by agents. We will have to face such situations.”

Due to the depreciation of Kyat, wages of Myanmar workers in other countries seem to be large sums of money when the wages are exchanged into the local currency. However, migrant workers have to remit more money to their families in Myanmar as commodity prices are skyrocketing. Those who usually remit MMK 500,000 are having to transfer MMK 800,000 to their families at present.

Myanmar organizations in other countries should help Myanmar workers whether they are documented or undocumented as much as possible, according to labour activists.

CNI News

28 Oct 2022

Forcing internally displaced persons in Buthidaung in Rakhine State to return home under deteriorating security conditions will put their lives into danger, Chairman U Thar Tun Hla of the Arakan National Party told the CNI.

He added that some of the IDPs had no house to live in while armed clashes could resume at any time in Rakhine State.

He told the CNI, “There are no houses left in some villages because all of them were destroyed during armed conflicts. Authorities are forcing them to return home without any assistance to rebuild their houses and to restart their livelihoods. And villages are not safe. Armed conflicts can escalate again in Rakhine State. So, forcing them to return home amounts to putting their lives into danger. There is no conducive environment for them to return home.”

The entrance to Buthidaung. (Cape Diamond)

Authorities told in-charges of IDP camps to return home by 31st October.

The CNI contacted Rakhine State Attorney General U Hla Thein, a spokesperson for Rakhine State Administration Council, for comments but he did not answer the phone.

Authorities have not instructed IDPs in Maruk-U to return home and it is also impossible for them to do so under the current circumstances, In-charge U Nyi Pu of Sinbawgaing IDP camp told the CNI.

He told the CNI, “We haven’t received any instructions. It is impossible to return home at present because tensions have escalated. IDPs are worried about returning home.”

 A road junction in Rakhine State.

IDPs have lost their cattle for farming and forcing them to return home reveals lack of humanitarian considerations.

He said, “If there is fighting, IDPs cannot return home. It is important that there is no fighting in their areas. And there is unexploded ammunition left during armed clashes in their areas. It is very dangerous for them. Moreover, they do not have cattle and farming implements for their livelihoods. In the past, they carried out farming with their cattle. They have nothing. Forcing them to return home without any assistance reveals lack of humanitarian considerations over the people.”

Armed clashes between the military and the Arakan Army in August and September, 2022 displaced 16,000 people and the number of IDPs in Rakhine State has increased to 90,000, according to a statement released on 19 October by the UNOCHA.

CNI News

27 Oct 2022

Bananas will be allowed to transport not on trailer trucks but in containers through Kanpaiti Border Gate for China-Myanmar border trade in the upcoming banana harvesting season, according to merchants and freight transportation services in Kachin State.

Therefore, truck owners are making preparations to carry containers on their trucks, U Win Aung, a truck owner and banana merchant from Kanpaiti border trade camp, told the CNI.

He said, “We will have to use containers this year. Truck owners are taking down car bodies and making holes for locks. It is better for us because this prevents damage for our trucks. We will just leave the containers at the border trading camp. The arrangement is only for bananas. I think other fruits like watermelon will have to be transported in baskets.”

The system will be applied for exports of bananas and other export items like corn, rice and water melons will be exported as usual. About 700 trucks have been repaired to carry containers and there are only about 200 trailer trucks left.

 A truck under inspection for COVID-19 restriction at a Chinese border gate.

Banana merchants and businessmen have promised to hire a container truck at least five times a month, truck driver Ko Shan Gyi told the CNI.

He said, “We will have to be cautious about electricity lines when we enter or go out of the town. They promised us to hire a truck five times a month and agreed to pay transportation charges for five trips even if they fail to hire a truck five times a month.”

The arrangement was proposed during a negotiation between the Kachin State Freight Transportation Services Association and Chinese International Chamber of Commerce to facilitate the commodity flow and prevention of COVID-19.

Normally, truck drivers can travel to the border gate from five to eight times but they had to content themselves with only two trips to the border gate due to closures and restrictions imposed for prevention of COVID-19 last year.

It costs MMK 1.2 to 1.5 million to make repairs to carry containers on a truck.

CNI News

27 Oct 2022

The government should help develop a tour destination at a village, where most residents work as sculptors, in Dabain in Hlegu Township, Yangon Region and offer necessary assistance, the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.

Plans are underway to develop a tour destination for domestic and foreign tourists at the sculpture industry village, which has great potential for an attraction, Chairman U Naung Naung Han of the MTEA told the CNI.

 Carving a Buddha image in the Dabain sculpture industry workshop.

He told the CNI, “For foreigners, it is cheaper to buy sculptures in Myanmar and craftsmanship is better. So, many people buy and collect sculptures. If tour destination is developed in the village, it will be a precious destination in Yangon in the upcoming tour season. Foreigners are interested in Myanmar sculptures. Unlike buying sculptures at shops, they can see for themselves carving methods of Myanmar. It is difficult to study carving in workshops in other countries. Therefore, the village has great potential for a tour destination. If food and accommodation can be arranged for foreigners, they may visit the village on day-return trips.”

Only a few people know about the village and visitors rarely come to the village. Those who visited the village learnt about it from tour guides.

Therefore, it will be beneficial for the tourism industry if measures for developing a tour destination at the village are taken systematically, he added.

However, some sculptors from the village have moved to other towns and the number of sculptors at the village has decreased, Ma Ohmar Lwin, a sculptor who moved to Nay Pyi Taw from the village, told the CNI.

  An archway to Hlegu.

She said, “In the past, we could carve sculptures in our village. Now, wood has become rare in the village. So, we moved to other regions. There are people like us. About 75 percent of sculptors in the village have moved to other regions, where wood is available. They will return when wood is available at the village. We want to work in our own village without moving to other places when the market has recovered.”

The plan has been submitted to the regional government, the directorate of hotels and tourism, the department of archaeology and national museum and the department of small industries.

Although some villagers engage in other livelihoods, the majority of residents in the village work as sculptors.

CNI News

27 Oct 2022

With the movement to topple the military, there are differing views on the viability of the formation of a federal army.

The National Unity Government is working towards a federal army but it is not clear how much success has been achieved so far, Political Observer U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

He said, “The NUG is working under the slogan of forming a federal army but I don’t know how much success has been achieved so far. I generally understand that anti-junta forces are cooperating with one another. I think they have yet to reach the level of a federal army. It might be a viable option when their draft federal constitution has been adopted. Despite their claims, they have yet to achieve success.”

   An EAO Conference in Maijaryan in progress in July, 2016.

Member of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and NUG Foreign Minister Daw Zin Mar Aung told Myanmar Now on 21st March, 2021 that the CRPH had been holding negotiations with all ethnic armed organization to build a federal union and to form a federal army and about 80 percent of the negotiations had been completed.

It is impossible to form a federal army without reforming security policies, EAO Leader Col Khun Okkar told the CNI.

He said, “It is just a daydream. How will the security system of the country be reformed. In reforming the security system, security policy must also be restructured. Only then, will it be possible to form a federal army. A federal army cannot be built without reforming security policies. Security policies can be restructured when agreements have been reached in negotiations.”

The formation of the FUA in 2011.

To fight against the military, a federal union army (UFA) was once formed with 12 EAOs including the KNU, the KIA, the SSPP, the KNPP, the CNF in 2011 but it was not viable.

EAOs will converge into a united front during the Spring Revolution, China-Myanmar affairs analyst Dr Hla Kyaw Zaw told the CNI.

She said, “Working for a united front rather than a federal army will make them closer to each other. For example, some groups cooperate with the KIA while others join hands with the KNU based on their geographical proximity and launch joint operations. This may pave way for the future federal army. It is impossible to form a federal army overnight.”

Currently, clashes have erupted between the military and joint forces of the PDFs and EAOs including the KNU, the KIA, the CNF and the KNPP in Karen State, Kayah (Karenni) State, Chin State, Magway Region and Sagaing Region.

CNI News

26 Oct 2022

Although the tourism season has resumed, Myanmar can expect foreign tourists in 2023 due to instabilities in some regions in the country, according to tour entrepreneurs.

Foreign tourists were preparing to visit Myanmar but the arrivals have dropped due to shootout at the passenger station at the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda on 12th October and as a result, the country can expect foreign tourists in the 2023 four season, Managing Director U Thet Lwin Toe of the Myanmar Voyages International Tourism told the CNI.

Tourists in Bagan.

He said, “I think we will have to conclude this tour season with domestic tourists. Thais are preparing to visit the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda in October and November but they cancelled their trips due to shootout at the pagoda. I can’t even think of making pilgrimages to Sagaing Region at the moment. It is also the case with Mrauk-U, and Kayah State. Foreign tourists may want to visits the areas but we have to take everything into account. There are risks. When stability has been restored in 2023, it may be possible for them to visit such areas.”

About 80,000 foreign tourists visited Myanmar in 2022, according to SAC Chairman Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing but the arrivals amounted to the number of visitors arrived in one month when the country was stable, according to tour entrepreneurs.

Moreover, foreign tourists have not showed up even at Bagan, one of the most popular destinations for them, this year and hotels and tour operators in the region have to rely on domestic tourism, Chairman U Zaw Wate of Bagan Zone Myanmar Hoteliers Association told the CNI.

The Therapa Gate in Bagan.

He told the CNI, “It is difficult to expect foreign tourists. Domestic tourism visited Bagan. We have arranged everything for foreign tourists because they usually visit the town in October, November and December. However, we have to be content with domestic tourists, who will visit the town during Tazaungdaing holiday and new year holiday. Only a few visitors in other period.”

Myanmar has offered visa exemption for Russia and eight ASEAN countries and it is expected that they will visit Myanmar in 2023. Some tour companies are seeking information to visit aboard cruise liners, according to tour entrepreneurs.